New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-20
RUSSIA HOLDS BACK MEN
Force of 10000 in East-Changes
in Commands


ments. A prominent officer of the staff added
that the dispatch of troops to the Far East has
been suspended for the present. General Baron
Slakelberg has been placed In command OF the
First East Siberian Corps. to which belong the
advance forces, General KashtaIinsky being in
command of the Third Division, at the Yalu
River.
General Stakelberg is ffty-three years old.
fought In the Turkestan campaign and Russo
Turkish War. and was corps commander dur
ing the suppression of the Boxer uprising. He
has never been wounded. He succeeded Cen
eraI Vladimir Sakharoff. brother Of the War
Minister. Sakharoff becomes General Kuropat-
kins chief of staff. He is the only Russian
general without ribbon, although he has sew
eral honor decorations.
The Emperor has ordered three machine gun
battalons to be attached to the First. Third and
Fifth East Siberian divisions.
Captain Reitzenstein. who commanded the
vlad1vostok naval squadron. has arrived at
Port Arthur and has hoIsted his pennant on
board the cruiser Askod. commander of the
cruiser division He is succeeded at Vladivostok
by Captain Yensin.
The correspondent OF The Associated Press Is
unable to secure confirmation Of the runored
purchase by Russia of four American ships. al
though he was informed that the sale had been
arranged through the agent Of a well known
Philadelphia shipbuidlng concern
FEARS FOR vLADIvOsToK SQUADRON.
There are rumors about the vladivostok
squadron. concerning which no information has
been received for more than ten days.
1t is positively asserted that the railroad
! around Lake Baikal was connected few days
ago. Construction trains pass over it.
but the line Will not be opened to troop trains
or passenger traffic for two months.
he Admiralty the damage O the battle
ship Pobieda is slight and will be repaired.
1t is now asserted that the Pobeda did not strike
, a mine. but was rammed In the confusion fol-
lowing the disaster to the Petropavlovsk.
No confirmation has been received here Of the
reported arrival Of big feet Of Japanese trans
ports IN the Gulf OF Pe-Chi-LL Reports differ
widely as TO the destination Of the fleet. Kin
Chou. above Port Arthur: Kai-ChOu. south Of
New-Chwang, and New-Chwang itself being
mentioned. An attempted landing at the head OF
the IiaO-Tung Gulf has been anticipated for
some time. but recently the Russians have been
inclined to believe that they have so strength
ened their position there that the japanese had
abandoned the idea Of landing more than a raid
ing party to cut the railroad to Port Arthur
The chances OF effectinG landing in neutral
Chinese territory on the coast west OF the Lao
Tung Peninsula are now regarded remote. as
the Russians do not believe the Japanese VIII
bring down upon them the condemnation OF the
powers. whose good opinion they striving to
obtain. II a heavy landing occurs now. except
in Corea. the Russian authorities are disposed
! to believe that It Will be near Taku-shan. Jap
anese transports are expected daily at the
mouth OF the Yalu River
MOVEMENT ON woNsAN DENIED.
The reports that there FIVE thousand Cos
! sacks In the neghborhood Of Wonsan are de-
MED. Russian cavalry is scouting along the
/ east coast OF Coroa. but not far south as
! wonsan.
While there Is almost constant diminishing
! along the Yalu. the Russians do not anticipate
| important land fighting for time. believing
that the japanese will not seriously attempt
/ crossing the river until their advance can be
/ supported by two corps. which. their advices In
dictate, about represent the strength OF the SOL
diers IN Corca- The general stan is OF the opin-
| ion that the japanese rear must be protected
/ and that third corps must be landed and IN
| trenched in line across the peninsula before
| the real forward movement can begin. Lack OF
| transportation facilities. according to the Rus
! sian advices. is delaying the japanese. Both
! in Japan and Corea the roads are in a dreadful
! state The Japanese horses dying by the
| hundreds. it will be impossible to bring up regu-
! lar field artillery. and they will have to rely on
! mountain guns.
! General Kuropatkin's dispositions, the general
| staff says, are going on rapidly and satisfac-
| torly. The troops for points below Moukden
/ are being sent to their allotted positions About
/ thirty thousand are employed in guarding the
/ railroad, and this number is considered sufi-
| Client. They are mainly on duty about the
| bridges and cuts. where serious damage could
! be done by explosions. There IS no need for a
heavy guard along the ordinary roadbed. where
! damage could be repaired in a few hours The
Russians know the Japanese are making des-
perate efforts 70 cripple the road by blowing up
bridges. number OF Japanese officers have al
ready been caught.
ADMIRAL SKRYDLOFFS WELCOME.
Vice-Admiral Skrydloff arrived here to-day or
his way to the Far East. where he will take
command OF the Russian fleet at Port Arthur.
The admiral received a popular welcome the
scenes rivalling those witnessed at the time of
General Kuropatkin's departure for the Far
East The Nevsky Prospect was crowded from
end to end. and the station was almost taken by
assault The admiral was accompanied by
Lieutenant Shishlo. whose brother was lost on
board the Petropavlovsk, and who begged for
the privilege OF taking his brothers place
Admiral Skrydloff married a Jewess. and
many prominent Hebrews were among the
crowd at the station.
Admiral Skrydloff called the Grand Duke
Alexis. high admiral, and Vice-Admral
Avellan, chief of the Admiralty. Tomorrow he
Empress. The admiral said that he would
main in ST. Petersburg for four days. return to
Sebastapol and thence go to Port Arthur.
Addressing deputation which called at his
hotel, the admiral said:
It is we'll understood what Russia expects ut
this difficult hour. The Emperor has conflded to
me a trying post. l going to summon all
my strength and knowledge to serve the EN-
I and 1frN TIn