Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-03
AN OUTPOST AFFAIR
THE EXPERT OPINION OF RECENT
ENGAGEMENTS.
Probable Next Movs of Victorious
Japanese mmander-Progress
of Events So Far.

who was inclined to submit star-gazing re-
ports: I don't want any more of your re-
ports. Send In your list Of killed and
wounded So when I saw these stories of
desperate battles for five days-an hun
dred thousand men engaged on a front of
four miles, an artillery duel of seven
hours, and all that-the first thought was to
hunt up the casualties. The total count
for the five days fighting, from April 26
to 30. was los. On May the total loss on
both sides is stated by the commander Of
the victorious Japanese at fifteen hundred.
OF which he claims seven hundred for his
own side BY every estimate of strength
this would be much less than per cent of
the force engaged. To those who are dis
posed to think that the history of the
world Is being made now on the Green
Duck river, as the London papers seem to
be proclaiming, I would point to the case
of the 1st Minnesota at Gettysburg, with
loss of II officers and 2O7 men out of 262
in all. and no missing; or the list Texas at
Antietam, with loss of 1876 out Of 226, and
no missing. Harrow's Brigade at Gettys-
burg numbered 1.2f6 officers and men. and
lost 1853 Of them-more than this victorious
army of 10000. and almost as much as this
vanquished army of 10000 lost in six days
battles. If this is big war the next stage
will be the bloodless battles of the middle
ages, and history will repeat itself.
An Affair Of Outposts.
AS a matter of fact this seems to have
been heavy affair Of outposts, which the
Japs have rushed in very fine style. If it
is true that the Russians lost their artillery,
and 1t is officially claimed by the Japs,
then it is an out and out defeat because
the artillery Is only taken after the cavalry
and infantry have been beaten.
THE Japs crossed the river with three
divisions amounting to 5000 men at least,
and it is probable that they have two adj
ditional divisions on the ground. The Jap
anese commander claims that he fought the
entire third division and two regiments and
Mischenko's Cossacks-wfich would amount
to $4,000 men. This is not at all probable
in view of the small amount of loss on
both sides. 1t is difficult to change from
line of battle to column of route in the
face of the enemy. In this case the road
to Feug-hwang is a mountain cart track
and it would have been an all days task
under clear skies and shooting. In
viey of the evident defeat of the Russians
they would have lost thousands OF prison
ers in retreat under such conditions. me
claim that there ware not more than o,coo
men engaged seems probable, but that these
were pretty badly used UP is also likely.
THE disadvantages of the Yalu as de-
fensiye line have been evident for long
time Few military men had any idea
that the Russians intended to make Sc
rious attempt to hold it. The defensive
line was so long that it required large
army, Wnlle the COMMUNICATIONS were 81
poor that the question of supply was al
most an impossible one. 1t could only be
held by force which was prepared to
stand siege which was evidently not the
intention of the Russian commander. The
line of retreat led to the rear toward the
exposed right flank, where a lodgment of
the enemy would endanger the safety of
the entire defending force. Defeat of
considerable Russian force on the Yalu
meant very big disaster, while success
was not to be decisive. No strategic advan-
tage was gained by the Russians there,
and the Japs find victory there without
result But all this 1 have said before.
THE Russians have now learned the les
son that if they had intended to make as
serious defense as they did they should
have had an army large enough to hold a
strong but any extended position. If the
Russians had counted anything on the eff
feet of a bold front unsupported by re-
serves of men and horses, they will cease
to do SO. The maneuvering ability of the
is panese commander in this affair shows
that he is quite at home with a force of
50,0 600 men, while his army seems to be
responsive and quick to act.
The Next Move.
1.-The next move of the Japs is likely to
come quickly. Having shaken off their
lethargy, there is no reason why the events
of the next ten days should not be full of
Importance. To the west of the present
japanese position Is Takushan, Great
Orphan Hill. 1t has the best landing place
between the Yalu and Talien-wan, and
opens a road to any point you wish in the
Liao-tung peninsula From Orphan Hill
the Korean gates can be thanked, Port
Arthur proceeded against, and an advance
made on the railroad at Hatcher and on
Yinkow 1t Is an important point, and
should be defended by the Russians.
1T is probable that the Japanese COM
mander will push out a force on the road
to Feng-huang, in order to mask the Rus
slams, which have retreated in that direc
ton, IN that he will march on the Orphan
Hill from his present position. An attack
from sea and land can then be made under
advantageous conditions 1t is at Taku-
shan where Kuropatkin will have to decide
whether he will fight for the Liao-tung
peninsula or not.
Progress Of Events.
ION February g. at the time of the attack
on two Russian warships at Chemulpho,
there were three japanese transports load
ed with troops ready to land Eighty days
afterward, on May 1, the Japanese have
moved three hundred miles further to the
north and have an army ready for action.
"a progress of less than four miles per
day in nearly four months is slower than
the camp align Of Napoleon III against the
Austrians in 1859. 1t is not as slow as our
own civil war, but we had not introduced
modern schemes of mobilization In the
present case however, there seems to be
little hope for a quick solution. In the last
war 1t was four months from the Yalu to
Kinkow, only a trife over a mile per day,
which was much slower than the advance
is up to Gen. Kuropatkin to demonstrate
that before the Japs get there again
Full many a banner shall be torn
Ana many knight to earth be borne'