Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1904-02-24

RUSSIANS CROSS YA[U RIVER

AuOnlhuO UnUOO lhLU MILh
ARMY WILL TRY AND CAPTURE
CITY or sEouL.
Their Campaign Has Been Fully Map.
ped out-WiII Abandon Port Ar.
thur-concentrats 100000 Men at
Harbin-Weather 10 Very Cold
Land Travel Impossible.
The Russian. advance has begun.
Soldiers Of the car have already
crossed the Yalu river and the ad-
vance guard of the army is moving to-
ward the ultimate capture Of Seoul
and possession of the entire Korean
peninsula. 1t is learned here that the
Russian plan of campaign has been full
ly mapped out, in accordance with
plans made weeks ago. 1t includes
the prictical abandonment of both
Port Arthur and Vladlvostock and the
concentration of the army Of 100000
men, under. general command of Gen.
eral Kouropatkin, at Hardin. With
this mass Ct 100000 men, Russia aims
slowly to force the Japanese back, es-
lablishing bases as 1t goes forward.
and ultimately driving Japan from the
mainland and taking formal posses
sion of Korea. which will be made a
Russian province.
Native reports say Chinese pirates,
since the outbreak of hostilities, have
oeen displaying so much activity in
eastern Asiatic waters as to almost
paralyze coasting trade.
The British minister at Seoul has
presented the emperor with mass
I'VE silver loving cup forwarded as a
present from King Edward in COM
.nemoration of his 10th anniversary
.eign.
Both the Americans and British are
endeavoring to arrange removal of for
sign women and children from Ping
Jang and Anju to Seoul. There are
many Americans and English in both
places.
Great difficulty is experienced on
account of severity of the weather.
there is ice of shore, and land travel.
except for the hardest, is impossible.
Assurance is given, however, that all
Americans, British and other Euro
peans are absolutely safe.
The situation in Seoul is the same
as If besieged, prices of everything
amounting to famine rates. Most alb
surd prices are asked for ordinary
commodities. Under assurance of for
eign ministers and consuls the popu.
alton are resuming ordinary work.
rhe Japanese are strengthening ali
positions in the neighborhood.
General Kou:cpatkin has been re.
ieved Of his functions as minister of
war, and has been appointed commar-
der in chief of the Russian army in the
tar east.
The Japanese who attempted to
GLOW up the bridge over the Sungari
liver have been hanged. Bands of
Chunchus ,bandits) have been OBJ
served under Japanese leadership and
are being pursued.
The czar, according to those who
have access to his presence, feels
keenly the outbreak Of hostilities. and
sorrows at the burdens the war entails.
According to the terms of an i'm
perial order Just issued political sus.
poets under police surveillance are
permitted to enter the Russian army
in the field as privates. after which
the minister Of the interior and the
minister of justice can order the with.
irawal Of police supervision over such
persons.
There has been appointed commit.
10 censor all kilograms from the seat
Of war with the object of preventing
information useful to the Japanese
from getting out.
Gen. Miles on the War.
One Of the most important elements
Of war is the lines Of Communication
or the avenues from the base of an
army to the army in the field. It is
considered that where an army has
to leave its own country and every.
tning has to be transported by water,
especially If the distance is great, it is
placed at great disadvantage.
The problem at present in the far
east has some Of the same conditions,
yet the main features are of quite a
different character. Japan has but a
narrow body of water to cross, and ii
she were absolutely mistress of the
seas she could put 100000 men In
Korea or Manchuria under cover of
her sea guns, but that little word "if"
very often comes in as quite a factor
on movements Of such great import
ance. The conditions are in some re-
spects the reverse of those prevailing
Turing the Crimean campaign. There
Russia was acting on interior lines
and her prancipal opponents had to
move their forces for long distance
Dy sea.
Now her opponent, Japan. is acting
On very short line or communication,
but constantly in jeopardy SO long as
the Russian navy or any part of it re-
mains formidable.
Gen. Wheeler on the War.