Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-04-15
RUSsO-JAPANEsE WAR.
Nothing Doing, but Great Expecta
tfons.

| lions.
Russia seems anxious to force
Chlna into war as pretext for in
vading her territory.
1t is said to be Russia's purpose to
avoid big battles until the middle of
the summer, when she ey poets to be
able to strike crushing blow that
will drive the Jsps into the sea.
The Russian soldiers, who, are
naturally superstitious, have bee n
deeply Influenced by wide spread
legend that the Japanese possess
magnetic stones capable of rendering
their adversaries powerless.
Poor horses and inability to man.
age them properly was pointed out
as the cause of much delay on the
part OF the Japanese armies in Korea.
it being believed in Chefu that il
will be two weeks still before the
real fighting begins.
The Japs have completely overrun
Korea. The Yalu river divides
Korea from Manchuria. On the
north bank are Russians by thous-
aDds and on the south bank are the
japanese. The Yalu will shortly
see some terrific fighting.
The car is furious at the discoy.
cries OF gross corruption in the Rus
sian navy yards, where the new bat
tleships and cruisers intended To
strengthen the far eastern SQUADRON
are being built. Wooden riyets have
been discovered in some of the ships.
Russian sharp shooters landed on
An island in the Yalu and surprised
patrol of fifty japanese scouts lust
as the latter were approaching the
island in three boats. The Russians
allowed the Japanese to land and
then fired on them. Nearly all the
Japanese were shot, bayonetted or
drowned aud their boats sunk. Rus
slams sustained no losses.
Russian military circles no longer
anticipate japanese landing at the
head of the Liao-tung -nlf. They
believe the Japanese E.ce missed
their opportunity, the Re- ans being
now too strong. A Russian officer
said "lf the Japanese attempt to land
anywhere within striking distance of
New-chwang we can easily concen-
trate a force to oppose them faster
than they can disembark."
RUSSIA TO MOVE ON SEA.
Russia has placed an order in A
merica for the immediate construction
of dozen little submarine torpedo
boats. The terrible little fighters
will be struggled through Europe in |
sections and put together at Port
and Vladivostok.
Russia recognizes that Japan now
has preponderating naval strength in
the far East. Therefore, it is essen
tisl te reverse the present japanese
preponderance. This will be attempt
I'd by two distinct moves.
First. Urgent efforts will be
made to have naval concentration
1t Port Arthur, the Baltic, Red Sea.
and Vladivostok fleets joining Vice
Admiral Makaroff's cammsnd if
possible. and thus giving the combin.
81 fleets preponderance over Vice.
Admiral Togo's.
: Second. 1t is foreseen that il will
be difficult and probably impossible i
70 effect this concentration, Ms Admi-
,al Togo may intercept the Baltic
ieet before it's arrival at Port Arthur.
IN that event the Baltic feet, which
. comparatively small, will attempt
he perilons task Of engaging the
arge Japanese fleet, in the hope of
some Of the Japanese ships.
md thus reducing the Japanese eff.
ectiveness. According to the Rus.
Ian calculation. the Baltic fleet NAV
infer snnihilation in such an un.
quail combat, but it will have served
valuable end if it is able to cripple
sufficient number of Japanese sbips
o reduce Admiral Togo's navel
trength below that of Admiral
dakaroff,