The Red Cloud chief., 1904-10-14
THREE SHIPS SUNK
Russian Ships Put Out Of Action
at Port Arthur.
RUSSIANS TAKE OFFENSIVE
General kuropatkin In the Field Per-
sonaliy Directing Advance of the
Great Russian Army.

II IL reported at Toxic that the
Japanese recently centered n fire from
the land positions and from the fee
blockading Port Arthur on the ives
harbor with the object of destroying
the Russian feet and succeeded in
sinking three vessels, the names and
characters unknown. The failure OF
the Port Arthur feet TO make a sortie
is creating the impression that the
Russians intend destroying their ships
Just before the fall of the fortress In
preference to taking the risk Of q
sortie.
The emperor has issued a brief re-
script urging the japanese people TO
exercise patience and steadfastness
In pursuance of the war. Its text is as
follows:
Since the outbreak Of the war our
army and navy have demonstrated
'"Vh' p'o'tiy dhu ioNdl's' NHilc Dotb
officials and people have acted in uni
son In support OF our cause.
Success so far has attended our
cause, but its ultimate accomplish
ment being yet far distant. IL is neces-
sary to be patient and steadfast in
pursuance Of our action and thus aim
at the final accomplishment of our
purpose"
The justification OF the last ten days
regarding the exact situation is cleared
up by the knowledge that the Russian
army is taking the offensive and ex-
plains the puzzling Mukden dispatch
OF the Associated press reading:
Something unusual is in the wind.
A great hustle is now noticeable The
streets are thronged with hurrying
crowds and innumerable cars and pack
mules"
A Russian victory will only be GER
tain when the Russians re-enter Lao
Yang. II Is necessary to study the
Japanese dispositions. telegraphed to
the Associated press. In order to appre-
ciate General ~Kuropatkin's task. The
Japanese armies are prepared to meet
the Russians. and the advance Of the
latter Ia expected to develop quickly.
The decisive movement Of the cam
paign liz close at hand.
General kuropatkin Is in the field
personally directing the forward move
ments of the army, which, Il Is under
stood, is divided into two strong col
umns. moving on each side OF the rail-
o whence they will draw their sup
plies, their tanks being assured by no
less than $50 squadrons Of Cossacks.
The Russians are operating along a
front of between forty and forty-five
miles, extending from Kaoutou pass
to Bentsiaputze on the east and across
the Hun river to the left bank of the
Lao river on the west. They are
taking every %precaution against pos
~
sible counter-attacks, throwing up en-
trenchments az they advance south
ward. Field Marshal Oyama, however,
has not yet shown a disposition to
strongly hold its outer positions. The
evacuation OF Bentsiaputze left the
flank Of the Japanese position at the
fental mines unprotected and news of
the abandonment Of the mines is,
therefore, hourly expected.
The Japanese appear to be concen-
trating their forces in the Notifications
formerly occupied by the Russians on
the right bank of the Taitse river.
which are exceedingly strong and they
have an equally good defense north
and south. The japanese retired from
bentsiaputze almost without a strug-
gle. fearing that General Mistchenko's
Cossacks would surround the position
and cut them of.