Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-29
BIG BATTLE CERTAIN
Russians Await News With
Breathless Interest.
NO USE FOR STRATEGY
CONFIDENCE EXPRESSED IN IN
FLUENCE OF CARS NAVY.
Emperor Inspects Ships of Squadron
Destined for the Far East
Officially Greeted.
NO USE FOR STRATEGY


The whole city is awaiting with breathless
interest news from the opposing armies in
southern Manchuria, grappled in the de-
cisive battle of the campaign. But those
fully appreciating the almost impassa BILE
country through which the Japanese col
umns are advancing and the difficulty of
moving large bodies of troops into position
hardly expect the battle to begin In earnest
inside of several days. although admitting
that heavy fighting between the advance
FORCES may now be in progress. The papers,
with the exception of the army organ and
the Novoe Vremya. are unanimously of the
opinion that a pitched battle Is now GER
tain. The former is silent on the subject
which may be significant. especially as
General kuropatkn's movements are
shrouded in mystery. The Novoe Vremya
says:
are now on the eve of tactics Not know
Ing the exact position of our forces we
cannot state what kuropatkin intends to
DO. 1t is possible he may consider II un-
timely and Improbable to enter upon a
decisive engagement of all his forces in
which event, while engaging the enemy
VINO Is pouring troops down upon him. he
may retire northward to meet his reinforce
ments."
Tone Generally Improved.
hO tohc III DUtn PUBIC and OfflCtal cir
cles has greatly improved. The report that
the Port Arthur squadron has successfully
put to sea and that no ship has actually
been sunk seems to have removed the de-
spondency and developments on land and
sea are looked forward to with increased
cheer1uiness. Confidence is manifested in
tue influence the navy will have upon the
campaign, and many people are inclined to
attribute the Japanese precipitancy to get
at kuropatkin to the fact that the SQUAD
ron at large threatens the japanese army's
sea communications
Special dispatches saw IL rae M,Ior Cow
erai Mlstchenko's division which has been
engaged In constant lighting in the vicinity
OF the mountain passes over which the lam
ahese are advancing. One dispatch says
the country is almost impaSsa BILE Mistchen
ko retiring only when the enemy anneared
IN overwhelming numbers. The correspond
ent considers 1t doubtful whether General
kurokl VIII advance all three columns. as
TINS would disunite his forces He is more
likely to push home his attack from Siu-
Yen upon Ta-Tche-Kiao exclusive of Cen
eral Oku, The correspondent figures that
kurok has 10000 troops the Japanese com
msnder being in personal command of 25-
600 men at Dalin pass
General kuropatkin has issued an army
order insisting on the kindest and most
humane treatment of Japanese prisoners
and wounded notwithstanding the tales of
atrocities committed by the Japanese The
order, which directs that the same respect
and honors be paid to the brave foes as If
they were Russians is favorably comment
ed upon by the Novoe Vremya, which says:
The Japanese apparently are unable to
restrain their instincts. As the military
operations develop and our reverses null
tlply they seem to become more savage.
God grant Japanese barharism may not in
fuence our soldiers to give way to feelings
of vengeance hut that they will preserve
the good reputation which always has dis
tir guished the Russian soldier
Emperor Makes Inspection.
The emperor today inspected the cond-
ton of the ships of the squadron destined
for the far east. High Admiral Grand
Duke Alexis. Commander-in-ChieP Grand
Duke Vladimir and Marine Minister Avel-
Ian and many officers of the admiralty were
rived there a yacht from Peterhof.
Rear Admiral Won Voelkersam, junior
flag officer of Vice Admiral ROjestvensky's
squadron. had hoisted his flag on :he
armored cruiser Admiral Nakhimoff. which,
with the other vessels of the squadron now
In commission. fired an imperial salute.
The Admiral Nakhimon has been greatly
changed in appearance since she visited
New York in 1S93. Masts and rigging have
given place to the fighting tops, and she
has been altogether retitted as a modern
fighting ship
The emperor thoroughly examined the
battle ships Alexander ILL., Knlaz Souvarof
Orel and BorOdino. which were moored IN
side the basin. He expressed himself
pleased with their condition and addressed
the workmen. who cheered him Justify.
The emperor said lie hoped the workmen
would devote all their energies and duties
to the patriotic cause of completing the
warships at the earliest possible moment,
and concluded with doubling their pay for
the day The emperor did not visit Ad-
miral Won Voelkersams y division, the Ad-