The Fleet Demoralised.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7836, 31 May 1905, Page 2

The Fleet Demoralised.

Togo's fosterly Skill. A SIOAUUHINO OItDEAL. , RUSSIAN l OHTITLUK PIUISEU. SI RHENDEU INEVITABLE. (Received May 81, 0.8 a.m.) U)XI)O.\, May J». The Times' expert, reviewing Admiral Toko's re|>ort, says the Ko»sian fleet wus defeated when ill unity and concerted action were Interrupted. This was the case with Admiral KozlHlettLvensky on' tin) owning of tlio 27th ; 'then came a grun4 opportunity /or the torpedo craft. Evidently Admiral Ro?hde«tveosky'h slender torpedo force was dealroy ed from the very outset, but Admiral Togo kept his torpedo boats well In hand until the psychological moment, when he hurled thorn into the midst of llut alnpud.v shaken and demoralised fleet, thus completion the work the larger craft had begun, and reducing the fleet to a mere herd of fugitive, discomfited units. Admiral Togo, he say*, bettered tho doctrine which favours letting loose the torpedo boats before the general action, und shook the enemy by an attack in force, thin impairing the armament intended to resist a torpedo attack, and then torpedoed when the enemy's moral and material power of resistance wax at a low ebb. 11m moral effect of an attack under such, circumstances must have been tre. mendous and, overwhelming, Tho export adds that the interpre-tation-b^'naval circles.in St. J'etersburg of a panic is doubtless substantially correct. The dteeonaftttitv completing the break-up nude gur- '' ! render a foregone conclusion. Admiral ltozhdestvenskys luen haw . undergone an ordvivl more mjarcWng .than any modern seamen have underf gone. The ixpiit was not entitled,. tie said, in default of experience to the contrary, iosay mat any oU»or modern seamen cou.d endure it with. greater fortitude or with greater success. Tho Russians were outnumbered. oul-fought, oycrpowered, and utterly defeated, but went manfully and straightforwardly into tho conflict.