Gilpin observer., 1904-04-07
CAPS HOLD KOREA
RUssI~Ns REPORTED TO HAVE
BEEN DRIVEN ACROSS YALU.

Togo Falls to EffeetuaIly Block the
" channel-EverythIng Points to Act
Nve Operations on the Yalu River
soon-scouts Enter Wiju.
London, April 5.-Eight weeks from
the opening Of war sees Japan with
out any real fighting apparently in
complete possession of Korea and the
FIRST stage of the campaign ended.
The Times correspondent at Che
Foo says there was another lombard
ment of Port Arthur April 8. but that
there are no authentic details OF the
engagement available.
According to the Nails Kobe, Je-
Ian, correspondent, who telegraphs
under date of April 4, Ping Yang
dispatch has been received there con-
firming the report from Shanghai that
Japanese scouts entered Wiju, Korea.
at IL q. m. and the Russians appar-
emily rctreated beyond the Yalu river.
but no other news of any kind Is to
hand throwing light on either land or
sea operations. Everything is re-
garded as pointing to the imminence
Of important developments.
/rhe Mails Seoul correspondent tel
Pegraphs that the landing Of Japanese
} troops at Chinampho has now ceased.
but that the port is guarded by large
feet and the Japanese base has
moved north from Ping Yang. where
only a few troops now remain.
The Posts Toxic correspondent
says that Japanese torpedo boat,
scouting around Port Arthur, discov-
cred a channel which still admits
passage of vessels.
According to advices from Port Ar.
thur the Russians have laid many
Lao river. The general staff his or
dered the arming Of the forts and bat
teries at Libau.
According to a st. Petersburg cor
respondent General Misktchenko and
Colonel Pavloff have telegraphed Gen.
eral Kouropatkin that they will dis
appear for some time with their Cos
sacks. but will soon reappear at
locality which is kept a secret.
The Times correspondent At sea. in
a wireless message, via Wei Hal Wei.
says: II am cruising in the vicinity
of Port Arthur and have discovered
no evidence Of vessels OF either bel
1igerents. The impression is gaining
ground that the Russians were not
totally shut In by the Japanese at
tack OF March 27.
Russia Preparing for Land Operations
st. Petersburg. April 5.-As the
time approaches for the opening Of
land operations on q large scale. the
Russian authorities are exercising
greater vigilance to prevent the news
of their plans for the movement to
and the disposition of troops in the
theater of war from going abroad
y6ere It might be of service to the
enemy. For ten days not q scrap Of
real information. except such as is
contained in sofficial dispatches. has
been given out or come from the front.
II Is as II an impenetrable curtain
Aad suddenly been rung down on the
sAge Of the war In east Asia. Be-
hind this curtain the greatest activity
prevails. General Kouropatkin. at his
Temporary headquarters in Lao Yang,
Is directing the execution OF his plans,
moving the troops. Strengthening the
positions selected and looking after
the organization and innumerable
wants Of the army in the field. When
the prologue Is over and the real
drama opens the curtain which shuts
out the view Of the spectators will
rise and not before.
That General Kouropatkin's plan Of
campaign involves the playing OF a
waiting game until the disposition of
the army has been completed can be
stated positively. It can also be
stated that these plans are progress
ing even more rapidly than expected.
Every day Is considered a distinct
gain for the Russians and as a distinct
loss for the Japanese. For this rea-
son It can be confidently predicted
that the Russians will not do more
than harass the Japanese advance in
Korea. The gradual withdrawal Of
khe Russians does not mean anything
as determining the fighting capac-
tiles Of the men of the respective
armies as this is part of the Russian
tactics.
A Japanese fanking movement Is
Nexpected at the Lao Tung gulf near
New Chwang. and everything there is
being prepared to receive the enemy.
but for tho present the Russian mill
tary authorities believe that the Japa-
nese game at this point has been
blocked by the failure of the attempts
to bottle up and render immobile the
feet OF Vice Admiral Makaroff. which.
while free. will be too great menace
TO the movement OF Japanese trans
ports into the Gulf of Pechili. An
other effort to block Port Arthur is
consequently expected daily. One Of
the principal reasons for Viceroy
AlaYiefY,s visit To Port Arthur In ad-