Page:The Pacific Monthly vol. 14.djvu/127



A Review of tne most important activities of the

montli in Politics, Science, Art, Education

and Religious Xnougnt

Another Armada

Eussia, vanquished on land, twice driven from strongholds, once from one of the greatest fortified cities in the world, completed her disgrace in the Orient by a defeat on the sea which was not even palliated with heroism. Eojestvensky and Nebogatoff, with their combined fleets, entered a Japanese trap off the Corean coast. May 28, and were forced into an inglorious defeat after three days' fighting. Eojestvensky is accused of having hidden in the bottom of a torpedo-destroyer, and Nebogatoff siurrendered his portion of the fleet without attempting to defend himself. The Eussian vessels were undoubtedly hard-pressed, and were not in fit condition for fight- ing after the long sea voyage, but from the accounts of the battle which have gone abroad they did not make use of even those advantages they had. Nebogatoff is said to have surrendered when he had plenty of powder, and his men were perfectly capable of fighting. Eojestvensky wrote ruin for his hopes of escape by hesitating in his movements when

sudden and violent action would have alone brought success.



Mosquito How the battle was planned is not known, as the Japanese will not give

Fl f' \X/ Ir ofiicial information, and the Eussians were mere dupes. All that is ^ known is that on the morning of May 28 the Japanese sighted tne Eus- sian combined fleet, which they were evidently lying in wait for, off Laincourt Eock, be- tween Japan and Corea, in the most hazardous portion of the progress of the Eussians. Immediately the whole Japanese fleet divided itself into squadrons, under the general command of Admiral Togo, and proceeded against the advancing Eussians from every side.

The Eussians were moving on steadily in double column, Japanese vessels swarming in from every side. The Eussians opened fire and immediately the command went through the whole Japanese fleet to attack. From that moment for three days the Eussians were not given a second 's respite.

All the most modern methods of naval warfare were used, proj'^ctiles taking dis- astrous effect in many cases and, when this means failed, torpedoes did the work from underneath. The first day's battle left the Eussians edging off to the northwest, making headway, but decidedly '"groggy." The Japanese did not interrupt their attack, and during the night the Eussians were less able to hold their own. The second day the advantage was all with the Japenese, and the Evissian?? were on the run. On the second night the destroj'ers and torpedo boats completed their deadly work, and the Eussian fleet was practically annihilated, with twenty-two vessels lost.

Roosevelt as Peace Maker

The Eussian fleet, nothing but jnnk, and that in the hands of the enemy, President Eoosevelt was the first to begin talk of peace. Boosevelt seems to take the stand that Eiissia's pride will prevent her from de- liberately suing for peace, and that an outsider must intervene. This humanitarian view is shared by the powers, but they leave the work to this country's President, and he seems more than willing to take it up. His first move was to call Count Cassini, the Eussian Ambassador, to a private conference, exj^laining to him what a hopeless thing it is for Eussia to continue the war with Japan and the uselessness of such dreadful loss of life. Count Cassini listened to the friendly advice, and gave the strange-sounding retort that Eusbia had not really lost any ground in the East, and that Port Arthur itself was only leased. Such sophistry may be well enough to ease the wounds of a nation's pride, but in the light of actual events is foolish. Eussia has experienced nothing but defeat and loss in the Orient. The destruction of armies and of fleets is something in itself, though the mediaeval carelessness of life of the Eussians would make this weigh less. Count Cassini spoke of the loss of territory as being suffered by China, but the memory of Kuropatkin turns this to ridicule. Meanwhile Eoosevelt received an actual rebuff. Word came from St. Petersburg that the news of the terrible disaster removed all possibility of talking peace with