Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-07-18
ALEXIEFF A MENACE.

London. july l6-A most sensational
report is at hand, from Chinese quarters
this morning, which states that General
Kuropatkin is in serious dilemma. He
is said to haze inadequate forces with
him to properly cope with the japanese
and is retreating from point to point,
hoping against hope that he may thus,
by avoiding a serious clash, eventually
reach point where heavy reinforcements
will reach him, and thus rescue him from
the position, strategically weak, in which
he is at present. Ifthis remarkable state
ment is authentic, Kuropatkin's present
stand near Tasch'-Kao must indicate that
the japanese have him in tight fix from
which he can only escape by fighting.
The dispatch adds that mnch OF his
trouble is due to the acts ofViceroy Alex
iefi, who, it is said, is hampering kuro-
patkin, his old time enemy, in every way
possible. Alexief' is said to have stopped
reinforcements en- route for kuropatkin's
headquarters on the fimsy pretext of de-
string to look them over and see If they
are in efficient fighting condition.
This attitude Of Alexief is thought by
many to be likely TO prove a serious
menace to Russian success in Manchurla.
The Times reporter at Berlin send dis
patch this morning, which he says con-
tains news received IRON Niuchwang and
which contains serious charges against
Alexief The correspondent says: "The
viceroy.' appears to assert his right to
retain a considerable body of troops
around his person at Mukden much to
the disgust of the officers, who are said
to refrain from mutiny only from the
consciousness that the representative OF
the Gar cannot be gotten rid of by vio-
lent means. Admiral AleXief himself,
lives in his state car on the railway. A
roof has been constructed over the car,
and flowers have been planted, around il.
The viceroy countermands military or
ders and detains reiniorcements by in
specting them, while his chief of staff is
sent two or three times a week to Taschi-
Kao in order to observe the movements
and disposition of General Kuropatkin.
The telegram from Niuchwang, declares
that only the immediate recall OF Alexieh
can amelorate this undesirable state OF
affairs, since, at this juhcture, the vice.
roy's presence in the far East is not
only useless, but positively dangerous"
Toxic, July 16.-The War Office de-
MES the report current for several days
past that thirty thousand japanese
were killed or wounded in an unsuc'
cessiul attack on Port Arthur.
london, July 16.-A dispatch re-
ceived this afternoon reports that the
British steamer Malacca has been seized
by the Russians in the Red Sea and
taken to Suez. No reason for the act is
given.
St. Petersburg, July 16.-Lieuten-
ant General Sakaroff, who is with Gen
eral Kuropatkin's force, reports that
the japanese during Thurday and
Friday occupied many positions, and
placed cannon on the heights near the
railway, north of Kai-Ping. There
have been but few skirmishes thus far.
Berlin, July l6.-The North German
Lloyd liner Prinz Heinrich has been
stopped by the Russian volunteer
cruiser Smolensk, in the Red Sea, and
compelled to surrender 81 sacks of
letters and "a sacks Of parcels destined
for Japan.