The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1904-10-15
JAPANESE AGAIN ASSUME
THE OFFENSIVE.
Russian Advance Stopped-A Des-
perate Engagement at Yentai
Kuropatkin Causes the En-
envy to Fall Back, but
Reinforce m ents
Turned the
Tide.

battle is now raging about six miles
north of Yentai railroad station.
The Japenese on Sunday fell back
along the whole front, and the Rus
sian advance guards crossed the
Schili river, about half way between
Mukden and Liao Yang, and came
within three miles of Yen,ai; but
yesterday the Japanese received
strong reinforcements Of infantry
and artillery. and not only held
their positions, but even assumed
the offensive. F{
London, Oct. 1.-The British
government is closely watching to
discern the cause and effect of Cen
eral Kuropa,kin's forward move.
ment. Baron Hayashi, the Japan.
ese minister here. conveyed such in
formation as he possessed to Foreign
Minister Lansdowne on Monday,
Baron Hayashi deprecates the ridi.
fcule that Is being showered by the
English Press on General Kuropat.
Ekin's proclamation. 'ssa q
/ Given the assumption of the ia.
Eitiative," said the Japanese minis
ter, s'must benefit the Russian for
ces: I no more believe that Gener
al Kuropatkin's move Is a bluff
than believe that Marquis Oya
mas lack of aggression is due to al
attempt to lure Kuropatkin into 6
| trap. The situation seems quite
simple. Oyama, adopting the NOS
lcautious method, has been fortify
ing, step by step, and never adyanc
ling unless be was able to assure tn
absolute safety of his CONSTANT,
). lengthening lines of communication
He must have had great difficult,
in bringing up sufficient supplies
and ammunition for his large army
which were depleted greatly at th
! battle of Liao Yang. If he hat
been ready, he would doubtles
have taken that advantage whicl
belongs in all warfare to the ag
gressor and attacked Kuropatkin a
Mukden. 1t is point in Kuropat
kin's favor that he was ready to re
treat.
"a week from now there shoul,
! be a decisive battle, and is likely t
I occur at Liao Yang or on the TAFT
I river. Skirmishes will take plac
! meanwhile. but, unless I am YER
much mistaken The Japanese will
! not make determined stand unit
Kuropatkin reaches the scene of hi
! recent defeat. Our lines of com
!! munication and our supplies an
! ammunition could scarcely hav
: reached perfection to any poir
north of Lao Yang.
SIT does not matter much whett
er Kuropatkin has assumed the o
fensive upon orders from st. Peters
burg or by his own desire. He hs
taken a tremendous risk, and it
mot for me to say whether he ws
justified or not. 1t is all very we
enough to say that the Russia
commander leaves his commune,
tions open to- attack; but only
very large force can adequately di
turb such lines as Kuropatkin po
sesses. I hear on good authorit
that he has got men standing a
most shoulder to shoulder along Il
railway. I would not be surprise
if Kuropatkin, instead of contin1
ing frontal attack, should laune
the whole of his army against Gs,
eral Kuroki's flanking force.
would be bold stroke and precip
tate great struggle, but the Ru
slams are not accustomed to moul
tain fighting and would be hand
. capped, even though superior
: numbers. .ss--
Mukden, Oct. 1.-THE bait