The San Francisco call., 1904-04-04
KuPOkS Army Now in Position to Attempt the Invasion Of
ManChurd Whenever He Mdg Elect to Strike.
Special Dispatch to The Call

ing good progress in improving roads
and until next winter the land army
will not have to experience such cold
as was endured by General Imoye's
army in the march to seize Pingyang.
Latest trustworthy reports show that
the main Russian concentration is on
the line from Liaoyang to Haicheng,
south of Mukden, and that arrivals
from the North and depletions from
the Port Arthur garrison are concen-
trated there at a convenient point for
dispatch to the Yalu. There is also a
mobile force in readiness to meet any
other threatened Japanese advance or
landings.
NAVAL STATUS OBSCURE.
OF the naval situation it is not easy
to give correct estimate, as 1 do not
know whether the whole Russian
squadron was in Port Arthur last Sun
day when the Japanese sank the mer-
chantmen, and, if it was, whether the
harbor was successfully blocked.
Those who participated in the attack
think that it was. but Admiral Togo
expresses a doubt, though he attaches
ing that if the channel is open. the
reason is that the number of ships sunk
was not sufficient.
l passed within a clear view of the
Port Arthur entrance yesterday morn
ing. / could distinguish no smoke and
met no Russian vessels outside. This.
however, is not conclusive of anything.
Considerable fogs are frequent over
these seas, and it is possible that under
their cover Admiral Makaroff will at
tempt to put into practice his own
theories of destroyer tactics. He still
possess eleven seaworthy vessels of
this class.
RUSSIA BUYING CANNON.
PARIS, April 4-The ST. Petersburg
correspondent of the Figaro says that
Russia has ordered $50 cannon in Eng
land for the Manchurian army. He
adds that the Tenth and Seventeenth
army corps will not start for the seat
of war before the end of the month.
The St Petersburg correspondent of
the Echo de Paris telegraphs as fol-
lows:
Rumors are current in high circles
of fresh disSensions between Viceroy
AleXieff and General Kuropatkin. 1t
is alleged that the Viceroy wants his
views on the subject of the quickest
way of ridding the country of japanese
adopted, whereas General Kuropatkin
insists on retaining some response
bility for the conception and execution
of military operations. There is reason
to believe that General Kuropatkin will
be left free, Viceroy Alexieff being too
judicious to create trouble on account
of mere supposed slight"
YINKOW WELL DEFENDED.
LONDON, April 4.-The correspond
ent of the Times at Newchwang under
yesterdays date says that the Russian
gunboat at Sivoutch failed three times
in attempting to leave the dock. He
says that the British residents at New
chwang are satisfied that the depart
ure of the British warship Espiegle
will be indefinitely delayed.
A correspondent of the Morning Post
at Yinkow says that the position there
is daily becoming stronger A fort
night ago the Japanese could have
landed with comparative ease, while
now they would experience great diff
ficulty.
The correspondent says he has re-
ceived trustworthy information that
the concentration of troops along the
railway has been so rapid that it is
now impossible for the japanese to
carry the war into Manchuria with
any hope of success, and that the most
they can do is to isolate Port Arthur
and possibly Vladivostok.
The statement that the captain of
the Russian cruiser Boyarin is to be
court -martialed is regarded as CON
frming the report that the vessel was
blown up by a mine.
JAPAN HAS FOUR ARMIES.
SHANGHAI, April st is credibly
here that the Japanese are
operating in an irregular, lozenge-
shaped area, whose corners are intend
ed TO be Antung, Newchwang, Kirin
and Vladivostok
One force of los, 900 troops has been
landed opposite Takushan, in Southern
Manchuria, and is marching north and
northwest. Another army of 10000
men was landed in Northwestern Korea
and is marching toward the Yalu River.
A third force. whose number is un-
known, has been disembarked in
Northern Korea and is marching to
the west. 1t is supposed another force
will attack Newchwang from the south
west, and news of an engagement is
daily expected.
The ice on the Yalu River is thaw-
ing and the Russians are slowly retir-
ing northward. Good authorities here
estimate the total Russian force in
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