Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-13
ARENOW ON THEPLAINS
JAPs' THREE ARMIES HAVE PASS
ED THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS.
Heavy japanese Loss From Port
Arthur Mines Reported-Advance
Mystifies Russians.

cablegram from Tokyo last night
says: The three Japanese armies oppos-
ing Kuropatkin have now emerged from
the mountainous country through which
they have hitherto been marching. and.
unless driven back, will henceforth De
operating on the plains by the Liau river.
The first army, by marching 100 miles
from kiuliencheng and capturing MO-
tien-ling and falling, reached. on June ".
positions looking down on Liao-yang and
menacing the railway between Liao-yang
and Mukden.
The second army under Gen. Oku. by
advancing 115 miles from Kinchau and
capturing Kaiping highlands. July o.
reached the fiat lands stretching from
Tashihchiao to Ying-kau.
The third army, under Gen Nozu. by
moving so miles from Takushan. crowned
the eminences eastward of Hai-cheng, by
forcing Fensh- uiing, on June -. Hence
forth the operations of the Russian cav
airy will assume new interest
Kuropatkin's Strategy.
Kuropatkins strategy at Kai-ping Is
much discussed in military circles of ia
pan, where his original intention was in
terpreted as a Napoleontc program to
crush the three Japanese armies In de-
tail, first striking Oku's corps. then turn
ing on the Takushan force, and afterward
finding himself on Kurokfs left flank
But the Russian commanders action at
kai-ping wholly devoid OF offensive
initiative especially on the last day when
the main armies were engaged.
kuropatkin seems to have aimed chiefly
at securing his army's retreat, inasmuch
as having abandoned heights to the east
of the railway with little resistance, he
obstinately held to the eminences on the
west until noon, thus covering the car
riage of wounded to fing-kau, and finally
maintained an artillery action till pm
from the heights north of town pending
the infantry withdrawal northward.
Action Was Inconsistent.
This strategy was plainly inconsistent
with any plan for striking crushing
blows, therefore 1T is conjectured that
Kuropatkin felt pressure on his left flank
from the Takushan army. and official re-
ports just received show that the Taku-
shan army moved in coordination with
Oku's force by advancing against Tanchi
and Tomuc hing.
On July 8 the fighting lasted two days
and ended in the Russians being driven
back but details as to the casualties have
not been reported. Evidently this operation
of Takushan army on kuropatikn's left
flank destroyed his resistance and defeated
of Takushan army on Kuropatkin's left
strongly concentrating at Tangchi which Is
between Tashihchiao and Shahata whittier
the left of the TakuShan army intends to
extend.
japanese Casualties From Land Mines
A cablegram from London last night
says: The Morning Posts Shanghai CORE
spondent says that the Japanese casualties
by land mines at Port Arthur Sunday night
reported to have been IS 900 men, but
none of the many other special war dis
patches mention a japanese disaster at Port
Arthur.
cablegram from ST. Petersburg last
night says: A dispatch from a Russian cor
respondent at Mukden, dated July II, says:
According to intelligence received here
the Japanese last night attacked positions
near Port Arthur and were repulsed with
enormous losses, not less than 80 600, ii is
said, being killed or wounded by our
mines"
Up to 7:30 o'clock this "wednesday
morning the general staff has received no
information regarding the reported attack
on positions near Port Arthur, and the loss
of 10000 japanese killed or wounded by
Russian mines
Mystery in japanese Advance.
The japanese advance to Ta-tche- kiao is
shrouded in mystery. No kilograms have
been received by the general staff or the
admiralty since Lieut.. Gen. Sakharoffs dis
patch of July 10. with the exception of a
report from Gen. kuropatkin covering the
events detailed by Gen. Sakharoff which
was delayed because it had followed the
emperor on his journey to the Volga region.
The special commission of censors sat for
only one hour last evening because it was
holiday {the festival of ST. Peter and st.
Paul., and left without receiving or giving
out single dispatch. The lack of news