New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-23
WAR VIEWS OF EXPERTS.
Russian Sortie from Port Arthur
Puzzles american Officers.
rrRoM THE TRIBUNE BUREAU


Washington. May 22-The St. Petersburg &C
count of the Russian sortie from Port Arthur Is
more or less mvstifying to American officers who
are making a long range observation of the war
situation So far as 1t goes. 1t confirms the ear
lier Impressions that the japanese are not IN
such force in the Liao-Yang Peninsula as mas
been held in some quarters. 1t is evident TX the
report is true that the invaders are not occupy
ing DaIny with any such security of position as
was supposed, else 1t would hardly have been
possible for the troops from the Port Arthur
garrison to get so far north as Kin-Chow with
out moIestation. 1t is certain. however. that the
Japanese are in sufficient strength still further
north to interrupt travel and to intercept COM
municatfon because from the Russian capital
comes the statement that the news from Port
Arthur comes through the unsatisfactory chan
mel of rumor.
Army officers are particularly interested in the
announcement that the Japanese failed to effect
a landing at Kerr Bay. which is said to have
been planned as a concerted movement with the
Japanese troops on land TO attack Port Arthur
1t has been matter of wOnderment TO army
officers especially how the Japanese landed from
transports, if the Russians had any such force
as they have asserted at points of possible de-
barkation The simple method of submarine
mining would have been one way to prevent that
form of invasion, and certainly artillery on land
can do very effective work against an enemy
wading ashore or landing from small boats. The
loss TO Invaders in these circumstances ought TO
be vital.
The experts here do not regard OF much I'M
portance In a military way the engagements
which have been taking place on the Liao-Yang
road beyond their confirmation Of the theory
that the Japanese troops are an advance guard
which is encountering detachments OF the Rus
he Ia indicating
that the Russians have at last made their stand
and that the japanese must shortly present
themselves IN force II they intend TO penetrate
north OF Iiao-Yang.
The dispatches contain no further reference 20
the japanese army which had sandwfched itself
between the Russian troops at Moukden and the
greater body at Hardin. IL difficult for
American officers TO understand the sagacity Of
any such movement the part OF the japanese.
to say nothing of the physical difficulties OF get
ting into that country with artillery. the pres
enee of which would be absolutely necessary to
carry out effective campaign on an enemy's
grounds.
The experts can only Judge OF the dimensions
OF an engagement by its casualties. and they
point 10 the reported wounding OF two Cossacks
and the killing OF a horse TO show that the fight
of May 10. southwest OF -Wang-Cheng. was
an encounter of scouts. which IS the character OF
much OF the fighting which has been done so far
along the Liao-Yang road.
The experts nothing in tO-day's dispatches
which causes them to change their opinion that
the first great engagement will occur in the vi
cinity OF Liao-Yang. possibly south rather than
north OF that point. Each day. of course. means
the strengthening of the Russian forces at MOuk-
den. II it could be known 10 what degree the
opponents have fortified themselves numerically
in the last month"; the experts would be able TO
guess with more accuracy. All they have to
judge by are the rumOrs and such deductions as
are possible from the Port Arthur sortie and
the scouting between Feng- Wang Cheng and
IiaO-Yang