VLADIVOSTOK'S SEA RAIDERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 179, 2 August 1904, Page 3

VLADIVOSTOK'S SEA RAIDERS.

TRINITY OF PHANTOM BHIPS. JAPANESE IN PURSUIT, LONDON, July 31. The Vladivostok squadron was east oiiheTsugaru Straitsiat one o'clock on Saturday. It is reported that four Japanese warship? are chasing it, and other vessels are in the vicinity. PRIZE BROUGHT TO PORT. CAPTURED ARABIA REACHES VLADIVOSTOK. LONDON, Ju\y3l. Admiral Skrydloff reports that the Arabia has arrived at Vladivostok. Her cargo included 1200 tons of railway material consigned to Japanese ports, and 20,500 sacks of flour, FUEL POP. THE RAIDERS. Bid PURCHASE OF WELSH COAL BY RUSSIA. LONDON, July 31. Russia has purchased 200,000 tons of Welsh coal for delivery in August and September. It is 'believed the bulb of it is intended for Vladivostok.

REVISED INSTRUCTIONS, SENT FOR ADMIRAL SKRYDLOFF'S GUIDANCE. (Received August 1, 11.59 p.m.) LONDON, August 1. 'Owing to the sinking of the Knight Commander revised instructions respecting suspected neutrals have been Sent to Admiral Skrydloff. A DISAPPEARING SQUADRON. ESCAPE IN DIRECTION OF HOME PORT. (Received August 2, 0.6 a.m.) LONDON,, August 1. The Vladivostock squadron has passed through the Tsugaru Straits, making good its escape. The cruisers made off on a westerly course.

THE KNIGHT COMMANDER. SINKING OF THE STEAMER VINDICATED. (Received August, 2, 0.51 a.m.) LONDON, August 1. A Vladivostok telegram vindicates the sinking of the Knight Commander, on tbe ground of tfie great distance of tbe scene from the Russian base. Other circumstances are also specified, and the Russian prize regu--5 lantonsand marine status are referW< re 4ifii while it is stated that cargo, and as far as possible the papers required for. purposes of investigation wore, saved from the sunken vessel. THE RAIDING VESSELS AND , • THEIR WORK.

-"■', ' Though the Russian navy has failed ■ ■■■ completely when opposed to the Japanese navy, .it attacks merchantmen v . , wit|a great courage. There, was the KisnnuMaru tragedy, and others " something like it, in tho first and sec- ■. and raids. The Vladivostok squad- . Ron has now sunE the British steamer Knight Commander Just off Tokio, and captured a German steamer, as well as the British steamer Arabia, *• which has just, it is reported, been taken into Vladivostok as a prize. These events took place near the Isles of Izu. If the squadron is allowed to remain in condition to carry on active work, it will do immense damage to Japan. It will be able to •ink and capture many welt-laden . steamers. No report has come to hand of a coal depot steamer accompanying tie cruisers. If they have not a coal store-ship with them, they cannot remain loivg at sea, as their combined- bunker capacity is 7000 tons—not more than enough for from ,two to three weeks' cruisi«£. The trip from .Vladivostok and .back would oc- . cupy them eight to ten days, so that they have not a great margin f»r raiding, ~,, . To meet these tares cruisers the Ja- .. ~ panese would need to employ a strong '.. aqiuadron. The Gromoboi is an armoured cruiser of 12,336 tons, and karries 61a belting. She has four Bin and 16 6in guns, and 44 smaller ,«uns, and two torpedo tubes. Her •orninal speed! is 20 knots, and her ttrew numbers 800. The Rosaia is a , belted cruiser of 12,200 tons. Her guns are similar to those of the Gromoboi, but she has five torpedo tubes. Her Crew numbers 735. She has a •peed of 20 knots. The Rurik is of 10,940 tons, and, like the others, has four Bin and 16 6in guns. Her other .*■• guns are six 4.7 in and 22 quick- ' firera. Her crew numbers 768. The Speed of the squadron is determined by the speed of the slowest vessel and the Rurik can do only 15 knots'