Waterbury Democrat., 1900-11-15
THE RI5SIANS N CHINA.
Reports Differ as to the Success
 Of the Russian Army.

Cold Weather May Put an End to the
 Operations Going On Over There
 Caravanto Coal Districts in Pelzin
 Has Put an End to the Fear
 of q Coal Famine-British Have
 Abandoned One Camp and Men
 Have Been Tut in Winter Quarters.
 Iien Tsin, Oct 1J.-.ine .neagre. ac- counts which reach here of Russian operations to the north indicate that they have the situation Tlirly well in hand. The reports are lacking in de tail and coming from Russian sources are considered as incomplete. Little is known of the campaign along the Amur river. The Russians assert that they have generally been successful but news pcrcolatiug in from traders and other indirect sources does not bear this out. It i" runorcd that Sev- eral small commands auu garrisons have suffered severely. New Chwans was taken September -, though there are few details of the affair. Around Tai Chenk they have been strengthen-
 ing their positions making occasional demonstrations to the north and west as 1t was rumOred that q heavy force was descending on Moukden. In the latter part Of September the Russians occupied An Shan Shat and Liao Gang and on October , entered MOukdpn Il., f,;- ,.. heSr information shows that no resist an"" was offered at Moukden, where 1t was anticipated a strong stand would be made In the vicinity of the city many lawlesS bands of native robbers are said to be operating ants fhe country generally is restless and dangerous. Above New Chwang on th" upper river. pirates are still d source of annoyance and have recent lE made attacks on river craft. Their depredations have practically stopped commerce and the Russians are deriv- ing but little revenue from the GUS toms
 Tn the opinion of military men there is little likelihood that recently rp- newed operations will be prolonged after the cold weather has fairly set in. Few of the troops now here are adequately equipped for winter cam nalGnlng and this region cannot be re- lied on for any supplies. Little grain was harvested as the harvest season occurred after the trouble began and the laboTcrs were driven out. Recent foraGing parties extending to conSfd- eraDle distance have found few herds and the allies are forced to rely eu- tircly upon their own commissaries. Tn" military situation is naturally de pendent upon the progress of diplomat ic negotiations. but at the same time tt iS not believed that a failure of the c0mmencement of these will result in much further activity for the troops. Ii is known that Count Won Naldersep, the commander of the allies iS COnsid- cring the adviSability of removing his winter quarters to Shanghai. and this is taken to indicate that the allies will not cndcaVOr to prOlOng operations ill the north. Prior to his departure fer pelin it was unof1icially intlmatod that his plans contemplated Shanghai as the most available point for the win ter. and ill the event of his removal there it is considered as probable that the commanders of at least a part of the cid forces will 90 also. There
 
 sources. however. of a strong inclina- tion on the part of certain of the le- cations to leave pekin. unless a satis- factory commencement of negotiations looking toward a settlement is effect l ed before the river freezes The fears of d scarcity of coal in | Pcllin have been somewhat relieved by the organization of a caravan to the coal districts. Tho supply, however, | is small. and even with the eXertion of all possible efforts TO secure fuel. it l is believed in military circles that the winter will Ee severe on the troops. both here and in Pekin. An early win ter is generally predicted. The tenn perature fell suddenly to 34 degrees last night which is unusually low for | this season.
 The British have abandoned their camp on the plains to the southwest, and with the return of the PaO Ting Flu expedition will put their men in buildings for the winter. The bulk Of the German force is being rapidly sent forward to Pellin. but those still 1 here are in tents and the scarcity of l lumber probably will preveiit the erec- tion of winter barracks.
 The inadequacy of the railway facil- ities is a source of much embarrass-
 nent. As indicated in the dispatches of the Associated Press, there is no l Likelihood that the road from Yang Tsu to Pekin will be ill operation this winter, consequently the allies are de pending on the river for transporta- fion The Americans fearing that the rapid fall in the Pei Ho will impede navigation, are using wagon trains to rush supplies to Pekin.
 1 There are the only force equipped with wagons and animals. General l Humphrey, the chief Quartermaster, is sending four mule teams up as fast 1 as possible, and the bu:K of the sup 1 plies for the American garrison at Pe
 kin is already under way or safely stored in the capital. Little progress l has been made by the allied forces 1 who, with the exception of the Rus sians. will maintain a large garrison at Pekin. As result. the opinion is gaining ground that q portion of the present estimate of troops may be