The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-07-31

MUKDEN, Monday. May So.-For
tlfe last two hours the atf has been
filed with the whistling of locomo-
tives on the railway. which runs at
short distance from the Lama temple,
IN which am writing. and this sound
will probably continue, with hardly a.
break, for the rest Of the day and for
all the coming night, as it has con-
tinued Cor months past
Sc e1et1mes IL is a short, sharp
scream; oftener It is a prolonged wall
But, whatever form it takes there is
no sound save the sound Of guns that
excites more interest and apprehen-
sion IN Mukden at the present mo-
ment than the whistle Of the ordinary
railway locomotive.
I need not point out why thissts the
case, for in no war that ever was
waged has the railway been such an
important factor as In the present
conflict. On a single line of railway
Russia depends entirely for success;
on the chance OF that railway proving
INADEQUATE Japan declared war in Feb
ruary last.
Russia has accordingly told off an
arnnv merely to guard that long rail-
way. while I'll Japan's efforts, the at
tacks on Port Arthur, the invasion of
AIanchuria and the landings along the
Liaotung coast have had for their OBJ
feet the cutting of that frail but for
midable line Of steel.
SOLDIERS GUARD BRIDGE.
To attention the Russians have be-
stoweI on their railway since the out
break Of the war has been such that
the Chinese might be excused for be-
lieyBi that the railway locomotive is
the Europeans god" and that if not
watched day and night by fervent
worshipers with rifles in their hands
that iron deity might infict some
dreadful punishment on its recalci-
trant worshipers.
After Japan began the wag some
thing likS a panic seized upon ethe
Russians with regard to their railway
and Cossacks used to ride along the
lire by night carrying flashlights, by
means of which they could ascertain
if the rails had been tempered with
anywhere.
Admiral Alexieff even issued a proc
lamation. calling on the Chinese to
protect the line, but 1 do not think
that this proclamation had the slight
est effect.
The elaborate measures taken to
protect the bridges are already known
to the public. A considerable body OF
soldiers is generally stationed on each
side of bridge, which is also protect
ed by at least one field piece. The ap-
proaches to the bridge are lined by
sandbags, which sometimes extend
down the river bank for a distance OF
several hundred yards. Nobody is al
lowed to approach the bridge unless
he is a Russian officer in uniform and
/ is provided with all sorts of permits
signed and countersigned by dozens OF
officials. .
Every beam Of bridge ds watched
day and night by anxious eyes, the
owners of which are we'll aware of the
fate which awaits them in case the
bridge sustains injury while they aFe
not looking. .
Even LITTLE bridges only few yards
/ across are protected by two soldiers
swho watch in turn, the man off duty
/ reposing in a little straw hut just cap
able of accommodating two persons
and a tea kettle, built close to the
railway track.
STOPPED BY SENTRY.
Although provided with full creden-
/ tials as a war correspondent and with
a conspicuous red brassard, have