The Van Buren press., 1904-03-05
A REVIEW OF THE
WAR SITUATION
The Wires From the Seat Of War
Practically Silent--It May
Indicate Activity.
The MOVEMENT ON PORT ARTHUR
MAY Be ACTUALLY IN PROGRESS.
The Capture of the Fortress and Its
IliminRtion From the Seat of
Activity Essential to the carry
ing Out of what il Conceived to
BE Japnn's Plan of Campaign.

London, March 3.--The wires from
the scene of war are practically silent,
and in some quarters this silence is
interpreted to indicate that Japan S
combined movement on Port Arthur is
actually in progress and that conse-
quently the use of the wires has been
discontinued.
It is known that the Japanese
have seized the island Of Hal Yang
Tau, one of the Elliott islands in Ko-
rea bay, northeast of Port Arthur. They
have converted Thornton harbor, in
Hal Yang Tau, into a navel base
From Thornton harbor they have
moved to the northeast to the Man
chuTian post, Takuskan, and no doubt
landed there in force.
Have Landed Large Bodies.
The Japanese have landed large
bodies of troops at Chinnampo, in
northwest Korea. These troops are
engaged in establishing a line of strong
Notifications along the banks of the
Tsitnog river, and are making other
preparations to receive the force
which landed at Chemulpo and are pro-
ceeding north
All Of these steps are preliminary to
the advance on Port Arthur
A dispatch from Toxic, dated March
TO e
esese army sailed on that day for Che
mulpo 1t is not at all likely that this
statement Is exact, either as to date Of
sailing or the destination. 1t is more
likely that the general staff sailed
some time ago and that these directors
of the campaign are now on the ground
in charge Of the movement under way
against Port Arthur,
An Essential Feature.
The capture Of Port Arthur Is es-
scntial to the japanese plan, and Mill
tary men here agree that the attempt
to take possession Of IT, by a combined
sea and land attack will not be de-
layed an hour beyond the time necesSa-
ry for the contamination Of the pre-
limInary movements.
Russia is now moving with increased
celebrity Every day now adds to her
power in Manchur!a, and increases the
task before the japanese,
Russin's New base.
Russia's new base of field operations
Is Lao Yang. on the railway between
Port Arthur and Mukden II is now
essentially a military city, An area
| comprising three and third square
miles adjoining the railroad has been
closed for a military camp and mag
a2Ine purposes There is also a mill
tary camp at HaI-Cheng, Manchuria
Ga miles from New Chwang) which,
with its defenses, covers I 900 acres.
From this base the Russian lines ox-
tend to Port Arthur on the south and
70 the Yalu river on the east
Most accurate information from Port
| Arthur states that already the town
is on very short ratIons and that the
prices Of foodstuifs is going higher
and higher,
Situntion NJ Port Arthur.
The japanese fleets repeated attacks
have produced decentralization among
the garrIson--the soldiers, who before
the war were loudest in prohpesying
the heroic deeds they would perform
The remarkable address Of Gen
Stocrsol 10 his troops In the fortress,
explaining TO them his determination
uevor to surrender, * taken to mean
bat the general regards his situation