The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-10-05
A new FRONT.
Russians Now Expect an Attack
From the West.
Much Uncertainty Regarding
Japanese Movements.
HOPE ON PORT ARTHUR
Oyama May Be Forced to Send
an Army Southwark.
Not Much of a Fight Is Expected
at Mukden.
HOPE ON PORT ARTHUR

The expected battle between the Rus
sian Manchurian army and Marshal
Oyama's forces has not yet taken place
and the days advices do not indicate
any development of an important char
acter on the part of either army The
opinion seems general that the next
battle of a decisive nature viii occur
| at Tie Pass.
Lieutenant General Stoessel reports
that the Japanese losses in the attacks
on Port Arthur from September 10 to
% were 10000 men. He adds that the
Japanese are now working actively and
approaching by entertainments and a
tunnel. The success of the Russian re-
sistance at Port Arthur is believed in
st. Petersburg to have a bearing on
Oyama's failure to attack Kuropatkin.
ST. Petersburg, Oct. 5.-12: 35 p. M
The military critics at st. Petersburg
shared in the general uncertainty as 10
how to size up the situation at the front
! if Field Marshal Oyama makes his an
! ticipated advance. They seem to agree
| that strong screening movement is in
progress Immediately east of Lao Yang.
| that probably a front will be made from
the west and that the tactics of the
japanese at Lao Yang will be repeated
and that General Kuroki will try wide
! hanking movement from the east.
! Some of the critics point out that the
conditions at Port Arthur may force
a change of Oyama's plan of campaign.
The continued failure of the attacks on
| the fortress and the enormous losses
sustained by the besiegers they think
may compel Oyama to dispatch some
veteran troops from the Manchurian
army to General Nodzu's support, as the
| reinforcementS arriving at Port Arthur
are mostly reserve men. Unstinted
| praise is bestowed on Lieutenant Cen
eral StoesseI for the heroic defense
I
! is increasing the hope that the fortress
may hold out. In the meantime General
kuropatkin is receiving reinforcements,
especially artillery. Nevertheless all
the experts express great doubt wheth-
er Kuropatkins contemplates more than
a pascive resistance at Mukden, where,
they say, the Typographical conditions
are unfavorable for defense.
1t is considered significant that the
critics generally agree that Tie Pass
is a better position both for defense and
offense being protected by the Lao
river on the west and offering strong
positions on the Kama range on the
east. The general conclusion is that the
Japanese forces will show their hands
in a. very short time. Evidence is
accommodating that japanese officers are
at the head of the bands of Chinese
bandits operating on Kuropatkin's right
flank and the continued reports of agi-
anti-foreign propaganda are increasing
the feeling of anxiety. These factors
will soon have to be severely reckoned
with by Russia.
Japanese Beaten Every Time.
Mukden, Oct. 5.-A Russian cores
pondent of the Associated Press who
has just returned from Major General
Mistchenkos division with whom he
has been since September "a, says:
There have been constantly recur-
ring skirmishes in which the Russians
have regularly defeated the japanese.
although the engagements have never
hoo 1lF-c 11-K oI T
witnessed was on October 2, when the
Japanese made several tentative move
ments, but were driven back on every
occasion by the Russians.
I'm this fighting, Captain Lepekhin
Chertorogoff was wounded and also a
few Cossacks. The Japanese lost one
officer, several privates and some
horses. Fresh developments are now
expected"
The correspondent was with Major
General Mistchenko's division during
the engagement reported October 1
near Toumytsa, north of Yentai- The
Japanese there occupied an entrenched
position on Toumytsa hill but the Rus
sian artillery, opening fire at 10 o'clock
in the morning Shelled them out and
the japanese fled after light resistance.
Cossacks galloped up and occupied the
position. The Japanese were followed
to within two-thirds of a mile of Yen
tai station and the Russians came into
contact with them twice during the
day. They tried to surround the Rus
slams by means of a turning movement
but supports came up and the Japa-
nese were beaten off The Russians
finally retired slowly to the north. hav-
ing collected information as to the
whereabou of the japanese and MAX
ing no attempt to hold the positions
gained.
Japanese EnIisting Cinnamon.
St. Petersburg, Oct. 5.-A special
dispatch from Mukden. under date of
october 4, says:
regular recruiting service has
been formed by the Japanese army
volunteer militia The Japanese are
also assisted in this work by Lin See,
a prince of the Chinese imperial
household. The men are paid by the
japanese, but not armed by them with
the Japanese modern rifles. They use
old muskets of enormous calibre.
The Russians have come in contact
with them several times and their
bravery is incontestable. The Jap
anese are said to make no secret of
this organization. documentary proof
of which is said to have been procured
by the resolutions in the shape of a !
letter addressed by the Japanese gem |
eral Vitche, to THE chief of the Chi |
nese militia.
Russians Are Fortifying.
Toxic Oct 5.-6 D MT is evident
that the country which is embraced by |
an irregular triangle, the apex of
ming from Mukden to Fushun on the
upper reaches of the Hun river, will
soon be the feature of extended and
extensive military operations
The Russians apparently are using |
Tie Pass as their main base. and are i
constructing a series of defenses to
shield it from the south and the east
Two roadways approach Tie Pass from
the south. One of these roadways is |