Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1904-02-20

st. Petersburg--The rigid censor
ship imposed here upon all news from
the far east completely masks the
movements OF Russian troops and the
plans OF those In command, but what
Is being done is evidently satisfactory
to the authorities here, as they mani
fest the utmost confidence that when
the proper time arrives the enemy
will be crushed,
They say that the preliminary sea
victories of the japanese will then be
speedily forgotten.
Russia was taken unawares at the
outset and some little time will be re-
quired to complete the mobilization of
Russian troops.
There will be no disposition to meet
the evident wish of the Japanese to
rush matters to a decision.
Russia can afford to wait" is q
common expression heard here, anu
time and patience always have been
strong allies of the empire OF the
north.
Moreover, the excessively severe
NihaCI "CoNhCh VI WIG cNOhS Vi "o't
it is averred, also fights on the side
of the cars legions, as it did in the
days of Napoleon, when the Russian
proverb. January, February and
March are among the emperor's ablest
generals" was coined.
At Port Arthur today the thermo-
meter registered two degrees below
zero.
The concentration of Russian troops
will proceed as rapidly as possible,
but II is fair to assume that Vicer0y
Alexieff will not take the aggressive
until he feels certain Of his ability to
administer decisive defeat.
Therefore, in spite Of the extensive
landing operations of the Japenese in
Korea, an important land fight Is not
considered here to be imminent, al
though it is believed that the passage
of the Yalu river by the Japanese will
be disputed.
1t is reported in st. Petersburg that
Viceroy Alexieffs headquarters may
be changed to Moukden, which would
be nearer the centre of military activ-
ity, but this Is not certain.
In the t,..ms .mmsealaptipRe % front from all
parts of Russia, and some distin.
guished officers in the service of the
czar are leaving for the far east.
These include Gen. Zhilenski, who
is to succeed Maj. Gen. Plug as chief
of staff to Viceroy Alexieff; Gen.
Liapanoff, governor of Sahalin island
in the north Paci8c, and Gen. Tser.
piysky, Gen. Won Sosonkampf has been
appointed to command the trans-Bai.
kal cavalry, which was reported as 60
ing out under Prince Louis Napoleon.
The various societies throughout
Russia interested in the Red Cross
movement are showing remarkable ac.
tivity, and judging from the prepare.
tions which are being made for the
sick and wounded, the war is destined
to be long and bloody one.
Voluntary contributions to replace
the ships already destroyed by the
enemy are already assuming large pro-
portions, one man having given the
sum Of 100000. 1t was through sim.
liar movement that the present volun-
teer fleet was started after the Rus.
so.Turkish war.
The report of massacre OF Jews
near Kieff is denied by the minister
of the interior, and the Associated
Press is authorized to say that the
affair was confined to the infiction of
slight injury upon three Jews. Last
Monday. while crowd was indulging
in patriotic demonstration at Kieff,
some Hebrews began shouting Down
with the czar." and the crowd prompt.
~ punished the culprits who were res
cued from worse fate by the timely
arrival of the police.