The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-12-03
PREPARE FOR INEVITABLE
Russians See in Fall of Hill Approach
of the End

st. Petersburg, Dec. 3.-With the con-
frmation of the news that the Japanese
have occupied 2O37meter hill and the
later report that the Russians unsuccessz
fully attempted its recapture, officials
at the war office are beginning to pres
pare themselves for the Inevitable. ss
Eand dominate seS. meter hill, but the OFF
fcials say that If the Japanese succeed
in mounting ~ heavy guns upon the latter
days or weeks before the fortress falls.
| Still, there is not the slightest idea
among General Stoessel,s friends that
he will surrender, even is he should be
e6ds1ed to DO Is Peasse bas
that he will literally make good his
threat to hold out to the last man and
the last cartridge in Port Arthur.
The ships in the harbor, it can now
be. stated on high authority, are Ell in r no
falls IA It is understood that the vessels
will be taken outside apd sunk IN deep
water in order to prevent the possibility
/ of their ever being of service to the
enemy
May Send Black Sea Fleet.
The question of the advisability of re-
| Enforcing Vice Admiral Rojestvensky g
squadron with the Black sea feet is
again being agatsd dI by sSme Of the pa
4 argues that, with the addition of the
4 Black sea vessels, Roiestvensky will
have a superiority which will insure
J victory over Admiral Togo's fleet. Tho
{ Novoe Vremya calls attention to the
J fact that Japan was not one OF the
signatories Of the treaty closing the
Dardanelles, and asserts that there is
nothing in the treaty to prevent the
exit Of the Black sea fleet to fight some
power which is not involved in the
treaty.
Kuropatkin May Advance.
The situation of :. the, armies below
Mukden is again attracting attention.
There was heavy bombardment today
{ which might indicate that General XII
:. ropatkin is preparing to assume the Of
fenslve.
Among some of the best-informed
3 officials a suspicion exists that Field
Marshal Oyama is trying to work
: Kuroki around east of n-tsin-tin with
: a view to striking the Russians above
a Tie pass, with the object of again try
: ing decisive coup; but no positive
!: Eevidence Of such a move has yet APP
9 May Be a Trap.
r Reports the last few days indicate
t that General Rennenkampff is hotly
r following up the japanese retreat, meet
Z ing with comparatively little resist
h ance; but some fear is expressed that
r he may be running into Japanese
|. trap formed with the hope OF cutting
It off his command. 80,
1t is believed he cannot possibly hold
a position so far south as the Tal-tse
river.
Rumor stirs England.
:, London, Dec. 3.-The possibility OF
Y Russia's trying to send her Black sea
4 fleet to the far east strongly engages
the attention Of England, in view o. 9,
the complications which would result
l. If such an attempt were made. 1t i
10 understood that at the beginning OF tht
in war Baron Hayashi, the japanese MN
re lister here, questioned Foreign Minis
a ter Lansdowne on the subject ans
re received the most formal assurance
es that Great Britain would oppose an.
d. attempt of the Black sea fleet to pas
IL. into the Mediterranean sea.
lg In Constantinople, according to a Gus us
~ patch to the Standard, it IS taken 70
granted that both Great Blltaln an!
Turkey would resolutely oppose the e1l
Of the Russian Black sea fleet