The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1904-05-21
THE RUSSO JAPANESE WAR.

No fight like that which took place when the jap
anese crossed the Yau and attacked the Russians
near Antung marked the progress of recent events
in the Asiatic war, although dispatches give ac-
counts of engagements at points that are misead-
! ing to person seeking them with his index finger
Waiting the map.
From two objects will be of spccial in
| terest First, the siege of Port Arthur and sec
ond the struggles between the Russian and Jap
anese armies. Port Arthur, according to the Rus
sian reports is strongly fortified and we'll provis-
Toned, 1t has garrison sufficient for defense and
therefore, not unnecessarily large. The Russians
declare the fortress to be impregnabe but there is
no fortress that cannot be TAKEN if those attack
ing be given sufficient force and sufficient time
story comes that the Russians tried to send into
the beleagured city carload of balloons but this
plan frustrated by the enemy. On top of this
story comes another about balloons which the Jap
intend to float over Port Arthur and from
which dynamite will fall upon the beleagured city
If such is DONE it will be the first battle il mid
air ever fought in history.
Russian refugees at Chefoo report that during
the bombardment of Port Arthur on Monday a
Japanese cruiser and battleship struck mines and
sank. No more Importance should be attached to
these refugee stories than the reports that came
to Paddy O'Day during the Fenian invasion of
Canada. FIRST heard" says Paddy, was
O'Neill had taken Toronto; and next, that Billy
Boland had stormed and taken Quebec. Sorra
place taken at all, at all"
The question a few days ago was whether Gen
eral Kuropatkin would be able to muster sufficient
force speedily to enable him to make successful
at oft
That is not the question now. The Russian com
mander has decided to avoid decisive combat
with the japanese the present stage of the game
and is making preparations to fall back on Muk- |
den and then on Hardin. While the superior num-
bcrs of the enemy compel a retirement it does not
follow that General Kuropatkin will not strike
singing blow should strategical mistake be made
which will enable him to throw a stronger army
upon of the advancing columns of his an
tagonists. The most exposed portion of General
Kuroki's command is that which has moved directly
northward, evidently with the intention of gaining
the road to Mukden, down which it will march as
soon the other columns are within supporting
distance. Unless caution, heretofore the conspcu-
Gus feature of the Japanese is observed this col
mn, it is believed, will fall the victim of its
emerity, as General Kuropatkin is known to be
holding it especially under close surveillance.
The general belief among military experts in
England Germany and the United States is that
he japanese will succeed in capturing Port Ar
hur before Russian naval reinforeenents can be
ent from Europe, and that the japanese will be
justified in paying high price in lives, if neces-
airy, to secure this important advantage.
X
Since the above got in type, the report that two
arge japanese batteships coIlided in fog off
Port Arthur, May 15 seems to be confirmed Ad-
liral Togo sent the dispatch. The Kasuga rammed
he Yoshina, sinking the latter in few minutes.
Ninety of her crew were saved. The admiral
dds: "The same morning the Hatsuse. while
ruising off Port Arthur, covering the landing of
oldiers, struck mine ten knots southeast of the
arbor entrance. She signaled for help. and in
family struck another nine. She sank in half an
our. Three hundred of her crew were saved by
orpedo boats"