OCR Text |
Show SQUADRON WILL ESCAPE, Russian Fleet Will Not be Captured If Port Arthur Fall. It can be snfely predicted, aaya a St. Petersburg dlnputch, that tho Russian squutlron at Port Arthur will not wall until the last moment buforo going out. Tho admiralty seems (o enturtaiu no fear. If (he situation tbore bo-cotncB bo-cotncB dospt'i'tito, (hat tho squadrcn will bo caught iiko a rat In a trap. Rear Admiral . Wlitaaeft' dlspetob gave assurances on this point, a por- ' ' (Ion lit which ha not been made pub- 1 lie. and nnld Hint overy ship except tho Pnblcda wua now ready to go (o sea at a- moment notice, and that the channel was clonr. lie conllinied thn belief which existed In St. Petersburg that tho Jiipaii'se will continue their elloils to block thn channel before the dcclnlve moment to storm the fortress on the lund sltle arrives, and bus maile plana accordingly. In tho opinion of thu most competent military critics the land fortlllcntlons must be brent bed before a general assault can ho rlskntl, ami (his Is no( considered possible in loss (ban (en weeks. |