Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-07
RAIN IN MAffoHURIA
DRAGON GOD IS FLOODING THE
COUNTRY a,
A Lull in War Operations is, Expected
by The Stars War
Expert. %

1.-The report that the co,nmander of the
Russian forces at Ta-tche-kiow recently
had a narrow escape from drowning in :.
flood" said The Stars military expert to-
day, lis an indication of the state of at
fairs in Manchuria during the rainy season.
The annual rains are said to cause much
suffering spreading devastation far and
wide, running the crops and sweeping away
the homes of the people. Prayers to the
dragon king to stop his rains are offered in
state by the officials. Very little business
is done during the rains although indi-
viduals may find 1t possible to get about
To set in motion the great machinery of
an army is well-nigh impossible. Probably
there will be a decided lull in war news
for couple of months.
For both combatants the difficulties of
maintaining themselves as they are will be
great. The Siberian railroad, hastily con-
structed, without ballast, has within It's
brief existence been washed out for miles
at a time. Just now, when suspension or
traffic for single day must be felt through
out the entire five thousand miles OF rail,
we can see how seriously the floods may
affect the Russians. On the other hand,
the Japanese are trying to supply their
armies, many miles from the base, by
means of cooie carriers. When we con-
slider that the cooie must carry his own
food for the round trip, as well as his
difficulties of that means of transportation.
The Russian Position.
THE Russian position, coincident with and
running along parallel to their line of re-
treat. is unique, and has many elements of
danger, but it has its good points as we'll.
II Is safely protected from any designs of
the Chinese in rear by the Great Lao
river; the railroad can be used to communi-
70 h<,fI Ro,, Ito tn inf or fo
withdraw large forces quickly; In front are
the defiles of the Fen-Shui mountain which
ere too far apart to afford concert of action
among the japanese who hold them. thus
limiting the concentration and hindering
the deplOyment of large forces. The noun
tain pass, like the spigot of BARREL dis
charges the contents slowly. and 1T is ques-
tionable II the Japs will be able to de-
bouch In sufficient numbers to make per-
manent Judgment on the Russian line OF
retreat.
THE recent Japanese successes in the
mountains. however. have placed them
very near to the railroad, and If they have
missed 1t they have done SO by very mar
row margin.
ut would have been easy enough for
Kuropatkin to avoid all these elements OF
peril by retreating to the north, but this
would be to abandon country which he
fondly hopes to regain, and the cost OF
which he knows will be great. He would
also have to abandon the most important
tends his lines to hundred and twenty
miles, concentrates upon his exposed right
flank and permits the enemy to get within
twenty miles of his line of retreat. If he
has calculated his chances with sufficient
accuracy the Japanese advance may be
stopped until the rains are over
The next stage will be winter. when YIN
kow harbor will be frozen and useless as
port If Yinkow could be used now as a
base the campaign might continue notwith-
standing the rains.
Siege Operations and High Explosives.
The siege of Port Arthur may furnish
some surprises. 1t has been long since any
new developments have been made in the
progress of a siege. In all the history of
war this branch has been the slowest. Now,
If the offense can neutralize the defensive
power of intrenchments by high explosives
new phase will be developed We have
seen something of the efficiency Of the field
gun, and we may expect corresponding
effects from the heavy siege guns. OF
course, this matter Of high explosives has
been under discussion and experiment for a
long time, and the Japs in using sitose are
merely giving their own name to one Of
many forms Of explosive. All the warlke
nations are supposed to have something of
the kind. but there is suspicion that the
russians have been more conservative and
backward than other nations. If they have
not kept up to date in this respect 1t will
probably be regretted. The reports Of the
effects of these Japanese explosives are
startling, showing thousands of fragments
now where hundreds were obtained before
Charge Of Cruelty.
Now come bitter charges of violations
of the rules of war, preferred by both
sides. There Is very good way to settle
these controversies and that Is to permit
the military attaches and war correspond
ents to go to the front. 1t is not likely that
the world will believe the protestations of
either combatant, but the statements of
those disinterested representatives will
certainly be credited. Meanwhile it must
create an unfavorable impression to read
accounts of dead outnumbering the
wounded, and of battles fought in which so
few prisoners are reported. 1t cannot be
were taken in our civil war even from
victorious troops, such as A. P. HIPS d.
vision on the first day at Gettysburg.
Mobilization in Russia.
ut is difficult to understand the object Of
recent orders for mobilization in Russia.
Upward of half million of men have been
called to the colors. This would perhaps
indicate an intense purpose to prosecute the
war to a finish, but it does not appear that
such number of troops could be trans
ported to Manchuria in less than year.
LIGHT VARIABLE WINDS.
Occasional Showers Tonight and Fri