Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1904-10-01

st. Petersburg The general stan
has received the following dispatoh h
from Gen. Sakharorf, dated Sept, 81:
The enemys vanguard consisting
OF one battalion and two squadrons OF
cavalry, has assumed the offensive,
probably for a reconnaissance, In the
district between the mandarin road and
the heights of the village of Toumplsa.
His advance was stopped by our
troops. The enemy retrcated along the
whole line, pursued by Our cavalry. The
enemy has not yet advanced north OF
Davan, on the left bank of the Lao
river, but an increased force has been
observed in the neighborhood of Sian.
chan. Japanese cavalry have appeared
in the valley of the Lao river"
The foregoing dispatch apparently
shows that Field Marshal Oyama has
begun to move up his left. having
reached Davan, on the west bank of the
Lao river. Oyama's armies now ap.
parently cover front of sixty miles
for enveloping movements.
Although an official announcement Is
not expected Immediately, the designa.
ton of Grand Duke Nicholas Nicholaie-
witch, inspector-general Of cavalry, as
commander-in chief, is regarded as vir-
tually settled
Some of Gen. Kuropatkin's friends
still cling to the hope that he may yet
be appointed. especially if he now
achieves notable success against Field
Marshal Oyama. But the idea is not
shared in the best.informed circles.
The situation at the front with two.
and perhams ultimately three, big
armies is considered to demand above
all else that the supreme commander
be of such personal authority as to be
beyond jealousies and the possibility
of intrigue on the part OF subordinates,
and such man the emperor now real
ICES can only be supplied by member
of the imperial family.
Grand Duke Nicholas Is regarded as
being extremely we'll fitted for this
great responsibility. He has youth
and an iron constitution, but, above all,
resolution and untiring energy. With
these qualifications, whatever he lacks
in military experience and ability as
strategist can be supplied by placing
at his disposal the most able military
advisers of the Russian army.
The suggestion that Kuropatkin
might become chinef OF staff. and thus
in fact, IL not in name, the real com
mander of the armies, as Field Marshal
Won Moltke was the actual commander
of the German armies, although nomin-
ally only Emperor Williams chief OF
staff, is generally rejected.
Crank Duke Nicholas will not rely
upon a single adviser, but on staff
comprising the ablest strategists or
the general staff, who in reality Will
constitute board of direction of mill.
tary operations. Moreover, the officers
who are best acquainted with Grand
Duke Nicholas believe he may develop
military genius Of high order.
Viceroy Alexieff is regarded as al
most certain to return here. The re-
port that he may become Chancellor
of the Empire. however, Is exploded.
He Is more likely to retain his title
and come to st. Petersburg nominally
in the capacity of adviser of the En-
peror and will thus efface himself as
a factor of the military situation in
the far east.
The Emperor left st. Petersburg for
Odessa today to review the Eighth
Army Corps.
The Commissariat Department Is
prepared to furnish winter outfits for
half a million men. About 47S,OOO sets
of fur caps, cloaks and boots are on the
way to the far East.