Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-03
PORT ARTHUR RELIEF
KUR0PATKIN EXPECTED TO TAKE
SUCH STEPS.
Gear and War Council in Conference
Reach This Conclusion-A Des-
perate Undertaking.

! ~
A Paris cable says: The correspondent
of the Echo de Paris at st. Petersburg tele-
graphs: 49, AZ
"viceroy Alexieff ana General Kuropatkin
having asked the emperor to settle their
dispute. his majesty summoned & council OF
war. including Minister of War ,Sakharon.
Marine Minister Avelian and Minister of
the Interior PIehve. The council debated
for several hours at Tsarskoyeselo.
ct have reason to believe that the neces-
sity of preserving the naval base at Port
Arthur and the loss of prestige that the fall
of Port Arthur would entail were the argu-
ments which prevailed In the council. Gen.
eral Kuropatkin has. therefore. been adj
vised to attempt to relieve the fortress, put
to act with the greatest prudence.
"a general whom / interviewed on the
subject Of the council said:
II Kuropatkin Is weak enough to ad-
vance he Will commit "a serious blunder.
The number OF his troops is Insufficient, and
the conditions under which he would act
are unfavorable. He might meet an al
most irreparable reverse and Port Arthur
be further from relief than ever. If we try
to relieve Port Arthur we will be doing ex-
actly what the Japanese hope"
The Rumors Confirmed.
LONDON, June 3.-Telegrams from DIFF
ferent points seem to confirm the rumors
that General Kuropatkin is attempting a
diversion In the direction Of Port Arthur.
Russian reinforcements, according to a dis
patch from Tien Tsin. are moving south
ward from Kaiping toward Wafangtien un-
der General Stalkenburg. They comprise
battery of artillery four Siberian regi-
ments and a company of Cossacks, aggre-
eating 1900 men Another brigade is fol-
lowing, the intention being to engage the
japanese now attacking Port Arthur in
their rear.
The Standards correspondent at Tien
Tsin. sending the same news, says:
THE Russian force in the engagement at
Wafangtien May 30 is supposed to have
been formed of four Siberian regiments
which were reported to have left Tachia-
chao May %. being the first portion Of a
relieving column for Port Arthur The
Wafangtien, but is. completely destroyed
from there to Pulaptien.y The Japanese are
unconcerned over this demonstration being
convinced that 1t will be impracticabIe for
the Russians to move sufficient force to
prove effective"
A Desperate Undertaking.
These reports are received with a certain
measure OF skepticism. in London. The be-
lief here is that If Cen Kuropatkin is UNI
dertaking such desperate move he can
only be doing so In difference to the strong
est pOIIcal pressure anu against his own
better Judgment. ls1s
The Daily Mails Niuchwang correspond
ent, cabling under da.e of June 2, says:
Gen. Stalkenburtz With 14OO0 Russians,
made up of artillery cavalry, and infantry,
has marched south Of aianyang in the d.
rection of Wafangffen.
Large forces of Ehinese bandits are col
lecting in the hills, northeast of the Lao
river. and are preparing to cut the railway
north of Mukden."
The correspondent of the Daily Express
at Nagasaki cables that transports loaded
with troops continue TO- leave western Jap
anese ports daily for the theater of war. A
large proportion Of those dispatched during
the past week, he says. were to reinforce
Gen. Oku. So rs
Japanese Plans Secret.
No further news of any kind has been
received about the movements of the Jap
arese forces. Both Gems. Kuroki and oku
are working in the utmost secrecy
The Daily Telegraph's well-informed
Tokyo correspondent estimates the total
defending force in Port Arthur as 10000
This Is a most formidable army" he
SAYS "and 1t will be marvellous achieve
ment to carry by assault such place with
more than a score of great landward forts,
disposed at a distance of fifteen miles from
the harbor. Still the reduction OF the place
can be undoubtedly accomplished"
respondent the Russians have completed
eleven fortresses at Liaoyang, and are lay
ing mines at distance of 5000 feet around
them.
rr.l. Mc Ks.%.r