Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-26
NOT READY TO FIGHT
Hostile Armies in Manchuria
Maintain Their Positions.
AT WORK IN TRENCHES
CAUSE OF THE DELAY IN ATTACK
NOT EXPLAINED.
Weak Effort of the Japanese to Take
Lone Tree Hill Reported-Kuro-
patkin's New Honor.
AT WORK IN TRENCHES

Advices from the front today indicate |
that the Russian and Japanese armies are
not yet ready for the predicted great strus-
gle but the delay is not explained. The
two forces hold their positions in entrench-
ed lines within short range and maintain a
continuous sniping and artillery fire. Sew
eral unmportant affairs are reported,
among them what is described as "a weak
effort" on the part OF the Japanese to re-
take Lone Tree Hill. which was repused. |
Beyond the general statement that the POSI-
tions OF the two armies are unchanged no |
light is thrown on the disposition of the |
forces.
ST. PETERSBURG, October 28.-The |
quiet now prevailing at the theater OF war |
is considered to be only the calm before |
storm. There is every Indication OF the |
imminence of the resumption of fighting on
a large scale, the proximity of the two |
armies make 1t impossible for them to
much longer defer a renewal of the battle.
The correspondents at the front are
strangely silent concerning the coming de-
velopments. but from the slight move
ments reported and the continual recon-
notering of the Japanese position it is re-
garded as certain that General Kuropat- |
kin has a perfectly free hand accorded
him by his elevation TO the post of COM
mander-in-chief and that he is about to
undertake an offensive movement. Field |
Marshal Oyama is reported to be fOrtify- |
ing his whole line south Of the Shakhe |
river, showing that he is preparing to meet |
the Russian onset Not a ray OF light as |
yet has been shed upon Kuropatkins plans. |
Desultory Firing at the outposts.
MUKDEN, October 2d.-The situation is |
one of great tension for the troops on both
sides. General Kuropatkin and Field Mar
shal Oyama seem to be watching each |
other like hawks. 1t is impossible to tell !
which Will make the first serious move. |
There are occasional exchanges of desul- |
tory firing at the OutpOsts, but nothing of |
great Importance has transpired On Sun
day night the Japanese made feeble at
tempt upon Lone Tree HILL but the at
tack was not pressed. The Russians used
several siege guns of great range Monday,
bombarding the Japanese positions near |
Shakhe. The Japanese replied with shi- |
NOSE shells. The Chinese say the Russian |
fire destroyed three japanese field pieces |
The Japanese have evacuated Shakhe |
railroad station. but 1t and the railroad |
bridge between the lines are in the field Of |
fire on both sides.
Although it is reported that there is no |
activity on the Russian left flank, little is |
really known concerning the situation
there. A japanese movement from the
west along the railroad is reported, but this
has not been confirmed. The general state
OF uncertainty breeds many rumors On
Monday quite heavy artillery fire was
heard westward.
The Japanese prisoners say the cold
weather Is causing an increase of illness
among their troops.
The tree which gave its name to Lone
Tree Hill has disappeared. 1t was cut down
Monday night for firewood.
There was no incident of Importance yes
terday. Both armies are resting and pre-
pairing to resume the slaughter.
Ihere is a rumor among the Chinese at
Mukden that the japanese are ready to at
tack.
Advices From Kuropatkin.
Gen. Kuropatkin telegraphs that there
was no fighting of Importance yesterday.
He adds
"A desultory artillery fire was maintained
all day long upon the front of our right
flank by both the enemy and ourselves
On the night of October "a Russian volun-
teer sharpshooters ambushed advancing
Japanese outposts and forced them to re-
tire southwark. Another detachment re-
cove cred Russian gun carriage.
"On the Russian center a detachment
drove back the japanese advance near the
village of Yautchai, but upon the appear
ance OF strong Japanese reinforcemenls the
detachment returned to the village OF
Shakhe after burying the bodies of several
Russians killed during previous fights and
collecting large quantities of arms and am
munition."
Gen. Sakharon telegraphs that there was
no general fighting during the night of Oc-
tober % and 70. but the Russian sharp
shooters harassed the Japanese during the
right along the whole front.
Position of Armies Unchanged.
GEN. OKU'S HEADQUARTERS, October
% via Fusan. October 26.-The position of
the opposing armies is unchanged. Yester-
day Russian cavalry drove back a Japanese
outpost on the extreme left, in turn retlr-
ing before a detachment OF Japanese cav
airy.
Desultory artillery fire continues daily
and shipping goes on between the infantry
in the trenches. Information regarding the
reason for the delay in making further
movements is not obtainable.
Working Hard on Intrenchments.
YENTAI COAL MINES. October -. via
Fusan, October 26.-The two armies remain
confronting one another at close range
along the entire lines. Both forces are
working hard at the construction of strong
intrenchments.
On the japanese left the artillery is ex-
changing bombardments.
Maj Prince Carl Anton Won Hohenzollern,
the representative of the German emperor
with the Japanese army, has arrived at
I,iaOyanR and will soon visit the front