Durango semi-weekly herald., 1904-02-22
RUSSIAN AND JAPANESE AR
MIES LINING UP FOR
BIG BATTLE

ST. PETERSBURG, Feb. 20.-Re-
ports reached here today that the ar
mics OF Russia and Japan are almost
tace to lace in central Korea. and any
hour may bring news OF the first great
land conflict OF the war.
Reports have already reached here
of shirmishes between the opposing
forces. but they are merely tritiing
preliminaries tor the big conflict that
must soon come,
The Russian forces include 1000
Cossacks well mounted, 5000 Russian
infantry and great army marching
eastward 1t is known the Japanese
have about 10000 in the vicinity, the
irst oI the troops having landed al
Chemulpo. In the skirmishes, the
Cossacks did excellent duty. They
have driven back their foes and cap
tured several daring Japanese spies
with maps ana papers.
russia continues TO push troops to
the lar East, and the hope of the EN-
pire is for u conflict on land which it
is thought Will be decisive.
PORT ARTHUR. Feb. 20.--A picket
line. composed OF Cossacks encounter
ed a small party OF Japanese on Kor-
can territory recently and several
Japanese with maps and papers were
captured.
CHEZ FOO, Feb. Authorization
reached here today that Russia is
%,
Nleuchwang. Troop trains are report
ed 10 be arriving with considerable
precision. the Port Arthur garrison
is said 10 have recovered its spirits.
ST. PETERSBURG, Feb. 2o.-An
imperial ukase has been issued nvit-
ing political suspects TO enlist in the
army as priyates, with promises of re-
lief from police supervision.
LONDON. Feb 20.-A correspond
ent OF the Birmingham Post says he
has seen the contents of letter from
Russian government official at st.
Petersburg which says that confusion
exists in practically all the govern
ment departments save the admiralty,
which appears stunned or dead ow-
ins to the Japanese onslaughts and the
TACT that the ships destroyed or dam
aged cannot be replaced.
Regarding the war the department
says:
During the past two years provis
ion was made ior any eventuality. but
now when the time arrives for its use
L. 40 ,Ia .,Y
Stores and ammunition have complete
T. disappeared"
ne4erring to the governments f.
nances, the letter says The idea
that Russias reserve was large
enough to pay the cost of the war for
the first year is exploded, and doubt
exists If the funds will even cover
the preliminary campaign"
LONDON, Feb. 20.-Count Benc-
kendorff, the Russian ambassador,
left today for Ostend, from whence he
will proceed 20 st. Petersburg. NJ.
Cambon. the French ambassador, lett
for Paris this afternoon.
LONDON, Feb 20.-The possibility
Of a clash between England and
France was the subject OF much com
ment in England today. The depar-
ture of the Russian and French am
bassadors has increased the talk. The
majority of the newspapers discredit
any chances OF clash.
BERLIN. Feb. 20.-Jews here have
rpraiypI infprnatInn
sian government has expelled the en-.
tire Hebrew population in all the
towns on the Siberian railway, fearing
they were not loyal Russians They
were not even allowed to use the rail
way and have begun long tramp
through the snow and bitter weather
to places of safety. Three thousand
are affected.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2O.-Minister
Allen at Seoul, Korea, was instructed
today to see to the safety of 100 Amer
leans employed in the smelter in the
Yalu river valley.
BERLIN, Feb, 20.-The storm In
which 600 Russian troops persisted
swept over the lake just at the mo
ment when the spur from the main
trans-Siberian line was being laid ovei
the ice.
The Russian troops have still tc
make the journey in sledges. press
ing into use every available horse and
dog. AT this time Of the year the