The Savannah morning news., 1904-11-29
KUROPATKIN
USES AN AUTO
ADVANTAGE OVER SKATER
Is ENJOYED BY THE COMMANDER
OF THE RUSSIANS.

General KuropatIxin Wants Twenty
soaciaIIy Constructed Automobiles
tn Convey AmmunitiOn-HOw the
Armies Lie Facing Each other.
The Men Are Snugly Housed for
4hs Cofd Weather-BeIieve Port
Arthur VIII Hold Out.
Che Foo, Nov. 2S.--Gen. Kuropatkin
IS the possessor of a new twenty horse
mower automobile, with which he is
able to rush at high speed from one
mart to another of the line, twenty
Ave miles long, according to M. Ravoir,
who reached here to-day from Muk-
den.
M. Ravoir spent three weeks with
Kuropatkin, who wished to secure
twenty automobiles specially construct
ed to carry ammunition speedily in
emergencies. He will only use them in
winter, when the .Manchurian roads
are in excellent condition. On his first
trip in the new automobile, Kuropat-
kins only comment was: Il have the
advantage of Gen. Shafter."
The Chinese now regard Kuropatkin
and his machine with superstitious
awe, believing the latter to be an afro
ciously powerful specimen of the for
eign devil"
SOLDIERS Living in Caves.
NJ Ravoir said: 1.-The two armies lie
facing each other, each having three
fortified lines. The soldiers of both
armies live mostly in caves behind
their trenches, which when covered
with snow. have the appearance of a
great host of polar bears waiting to
spring at each other. The caves are
warm. even without fire. The Russian
troops are in the best of spirits and
have unlimited confidence in their
leaders.
Il do not excep. Kuropatkin to at
tack during the winter. The Russian
forces now number 100000 men. The
cavalrymen from the Don district are
superior to their Siberian comrades.
The former are intelligent, brave and
active and have fine, powerful horses.
There are only a few hundred
wounded at Mukden and 10000 wound
ed at Hardin.
Il came out on the Siberian road,
which seemed to be doing tremendous
work smoothly. The warehouse at
Mukden and Harbin are full or sup
plies which are almost untouched, as
up to the present the army has sub
sisted chiefly on the country.
The handling of the Russian artil-
lery is improving. while the Japanese
artillery fire seems less effective.
Originally the Russians did not con-
ceal their artillery. which the Japa-
nese quickly disabled. Now the Rus
slams handle and conceal their guns
with perfect science.
THE belief is general at Mukden
that Port Arthur will hold out till re-
lieved, no matter how long the ex-
pected Russian second Pacific sqaud-
ron may take in reaching the Far
East.
KuropatIxin Is Satisfied.
Gen. Kuropatkin is not talkative.
His only reference to the war was:
1.-The war is progressing as l wish
"He still lives in his railroad car,
and the light in his office is burning
night and day. 1t is commonly stated
that the general never sleeps. His
officers are not surprised at being call
ed to conference at any hour of the
night. The generals only relaxation
is at dinner time, when the officers
who are his guests number scores.
Wine is plentiful but Kuropatkin
drinks mineral water. Every Russian
officer seems to have an unlimited sup
ply of money, the government being
lavish in its expenditure.
1t is my opinion that Kuropatkin
will never retreat from Mukden unless
defeated decisively, and l think the
next battle will be a Russian victory