The San Francisco call., 1904-12-31
Allows More Lat
itudG TO Cor
respondents.
Writers From
Front Return
on China.

Two war correspondents direct from
the front arrived from the Orient yes
tercay on the liner China Franklin
Clarken has been with the japanese in
Manchuria, representing the New York
Evening Post and Alexander Graham
Simpson Of the London Daily Tele-
graph was with the Russians until the
Jepanese captured him at Laoyang-
Ciarken is the first correspondent to
come home without grievance against
The japanese. Before he left The front
the bars behind which an army of war
correspondents rusted for so many
months were let down and with few
restrictions the men with the pen were
given the run Of the fighting zone
Clarken Witnessed the battle Of the
Shihliho and there saw the japanese
infantry and artillery in full action
for six days.
The japanese would not allow the
correspondents TO see their cavalry, Of
which they are not particularly proud,
in action and stipulated that though in
every other respect the newspaper
mems movements would be unrestrict-
ed, they must always be accompanied
by a Japanese officer. The reason for
this. says Clarken. is that many Of the
japanese troops have never seen a
white man To them all not Japanese
are Russians and as these untraveled
Japs are in Manchuria for the purpose
Of Riding the land of the Cars sub
jects. none Of the correspondents were
anxious to take chances Of a nlix-up
in identity.
Clarken does not believe there will
be any winter fighting unless the Rus
slams take the aggressive. The Japan
ese army in Manchuriae he says, is
sadly in need OF a rest and most Of the
regiments are mere skeletons of their
original strength The veterans must
rest and recruits are a necessity as
the Russians are slowly but surely
gaining in strength. Many troops have
been Withdrawn from Manchuria and
taken TO Port Arthur, the siege Of
which has been terribly expensive in
japanese lives.
Alexander Graham-SimpsOn was with
the Russians but has little praise for
the Slav Kuropatkin, he says, is one
the worlds greatest generals, but is
handicapped by the poor material Of
which his army is composed The Rus
sian officers are incompetent, says the
British correspondent, and the men
woefully ignorant Few Of the men
know what they are lighting for and
the rest do not want to fight OF the
Russian enlisted men only 25 per cent
can read or write Many Of the Cos
sacks. he says, had expected to find
the Iapanese armed with bows and
arrows and were greatly surprised to
find a foe that not only carried up-to-
date arms but knew a few things
about their use
Graham Simpson believes that Rus
sian supremacy in the Orient would be
q real peril TO the rest Of the world and
declares Russia the most warlike ma
ton on earth
The London Telegraph's representa-
tive was captured at Liaoyang. AS
a Britisher he is leisurely in his move
ments. The Russians retired with some
haste and before Graham-Simpson re-
allied that a retreat was in progress,
he found himself in the middle Of the
Japanese army. He was sent under
escort back to Japan He was treated
kindly. he says, and as his capture
came at a time when he was growing
very tired Of Russian companionship,
he rather enjoyed the experience.
Another passenger on the China was
Commander VI. Tanaka Of the Japan
ese navy, who is going to London to in
spect certain purchases Of war supplies
for the AIikado's navy. Tanaka says:
II understand no English and with
bows and smiles declares. in panto-
mime, that upon his word Of honor,
that small sentence is the limit Of his
acquaintance with the language Of his
very dear friends. the American news
paper men.