The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-04-05

Chicago, April "A special cab.e
from a Chicago Daily News staff cor
respondent from Toxic says:
Field Marshal Yamagata. who after
the emperor, is first in command Of the
Japanese forces and was the original
organizer of the Japanese army, said
today that the Japanese may have to
fight odds of two to one and that the
clash may come at the Yalu river. The
marshal said:
Russian troops have been coming
south for a long time and it is evident
that a conflict must result. As matters
have turned out it would nave been
better if the war had occurred when
the Russians first occupied Manchuria
because ever since they have been
strengthening their position in that
province Our statesmen however
wish to preserve peace as long as pos
sible. 1t is difficult to say where the
first big land battle will take place.
The Russians seem to be in force be-
tween Lioa Yang and Kaiping on the
Manchuria railroad They may cross
the mountains and possibly meet US at
the Yalu.
Bridges and roads of Aniu have been
destroyed by the Russian troops, and
therefore the Japanese advance will be
difficult. No doubt if the Russians de-
stroy the Manchurian railroad it may
not be difficult to repair it for the use
Of the Japanese troops. We might even
place other material with New 81 but
the difficulty is to reach the railroad.
Five months ago the Russian generals
planned to put $4,000 in the field. They
must have contemplated supplying them
with ammunition and food
1.-TWO rivers that empty into the Arc
tic sea run near Lake Baikal. They
are navigable in summer and can be
used for transportation. The Russians
in this way need not rely entirely on
the railroad. The large supplies of
American flour have been going to
Vladivostok for years and we must ex-
pect to meet a we'll equipped and we'll
nourished army of $4,000. 1t is a diffl-
cult matter to fight a nation with
Z. 600 900 soldiers. We have 10 lay our
plans very carefully.
There is no doubt that the Cossack
will worry the Japanese army, which
was originally intended for home de-
fense in the mountainous country and
| is mainly composed of infantry, We
must work with the material we pos
| sess. When the japanese army is COM
pared with other armies it must be re-
| membered that it only has been lately
| organized. I had no small share in its
organization and therefore 1 see its
| faults and try to improve it. but never
| find that it reaches my IDEAL"
Russian Line of Communications.
st Petersburg, April General Le-
vaskoff, director of military commun-
| ications of the general staff. in an in
| terview. gives interesting facts about
| the Russian line of communications
He says:
The transport of troops over the 81
| berian and Manchurian railroads work
ed without a hitch. except for six
hour stoppage caused by a collision.
There will be no difficulty over the ir.-
| pending stoppage of the ice railroad
across Lake Baikal. The lake genec
| ally is free from ice about the middli
| of May, but long before that time ice
and the ferries will be running regJ-
| larlv.
Correspondents at New Chwang.
New Chwang. April 2.-The author
ties were considerably aroused today
by the arrival of press boat, indis-
creetiy bearing two Japanese servants
/ who were arrested and probably vii
not he released for several months.
! Or account of the fact that the Rus
slams have not yet arranged the loca
status of correspondents. such indis
cretions are apt to be interpreted a
indicating cooperation with interest
inimical to Russia. which may tnspir
erroneous conceptions of the situation
in the minds of the war correspondent
The crew and the staff of the pres
boat are under surveillance and tn
vessel must leave on the first favorabl
tide.
To Hold Annual Meeting.