NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE stars in their courses are fighting against the Russians. On April 13th, according to official accounts received at St. Petersburg, Admiral Makbaroff, perceiving a small Japanese fleet on the horizon, moved out from Port Arthur to attack it. The smallneis of the fleet was, however, only a lure; the Japanese received reinforcements until they were twenty-nine strong; and Admiral Makbaroff, either alter a distant engagement or without one, retired to the shelter of the roaastead. While doing so his flagship, the Petro- pavlovsk,' a battleship of 11,000 tons, was either struck by a torpedo, as one account suggests, or encountered a submerged mine. The consequent explosion caused a sharp list, the Petro- pavlovsk' wpsized, and in two and a half minutes disappeared with Admiral Makharoff and all her crew of seven hundred and twenty men, only seven junior officers, one of whom was the Grand Duke Cyril, and thirty-two men being saved. The loss of the Admiral is of itself a terrible blow. He was the best officer in the Russian marine, he bad reinspirited the fleet in Port Arthur, and his disappearance has produced a profound if momentary, demoralisation in the besieged fortress. It is difficult to read of the tragic close of the gallant sailor's career without being moved to a profound sense of compassion, which we are glad to note is fully shared by the Japanese. But this is not by any means the total sum of the disasters suffered by the Russian fleet on Wednesday. The battleship Pobieda' was struck—we quote the official telegram—" by a mine amidships on the starboard side. She was able to regain the port by herself. None on board were killed or wounded." As she is not reported to be still fit for service, we must assume the contrary. Further, a destroyer, the Beztraschni,' was sunk, probably by Japanese torpedo-boats. Admiral Togo has now his opportunity, and it is probable from his character that he wall deliver a great, possibly a final, assault. Rumours of this are already current, but no official confirmation had by Friday afternoon reached the West.
