The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-03-27
BY CAPTAIN HUGH J. GALLAGHER

BY CAPTAIN HUGH J. GALLAGHER
Of the General Staff. [. S. Army.
New York, March 26.-The field within
the theater of war in the East which.
judging from what has already taken
earliest great conflict on land lies with
in the thirty-ninth and forty-second de-
grees of north latitude.
The japanese are devoting great energy
10 the completion of the railroad from
Fusan to Seoul and beyond. in the direc-
ton of the Yalu. They have made Ping
Yang 12O miles north of Seoul, their north
ern rendezvous.
We hear of skirmishes between Russian
and Japanese outposts in the vicinity OF
Anju, which is situated In the direct read
to Wiju, about fifty miles north of Ping
Yang
This skirmishing indicates that the Rus
slams, in addition to gathering their forces
in position for the great crash, are sending
out their scouts across the Yalu down to-
ward the enemy to observe, annoy and de-
lay him as much as possible. The Japa-
nese are meeting these tactics by pushing
forward patrols to keep the enemy's
scouts from observing their movements or
ascertaining their strength.
RUSSIANS TO WITHDRAW
ACROSS THE RIVER.
When the Yalu River opens. the Rus
sian forces south of it will probably with
draw, and Japan will then find herself
face to face with the first great military
problem in her land operations-the cross
ing OF the Yalu in the face of an active
enemy
In this movement she WILL no doubt, re-
ceive the assistance of her navy. If the
Russians remained south of the Yalu they
would have to fight battle with the river
behind them, and that river probably pa
trolled by the enemys warships.
The landing reported TO have been ef-
fected by the japanese at Taku-Shan, on
the north coast of Korea Bay. If made at
all, was probably made in small force and
with the object Of creating a diversion.
During the war with China the Japanese
landed large force upon this coast about
thirty miles from Taku-Shan, in the direc-
ton of Port Arthur. They met with no
opposition. They can scarcely hope to
meet with equal good fortune under the
present circumstances. 1t may safely be
assumed that the points along this part of
the coast, where landing is possible, are
well occupied by the Russians. and plans
for reinforcing any threatened locality
have been carefully arranged. Conse-
quently Japan could not hope to accom-
plish anything in that field without
strong force.
To attempt to land and maintain such a
force in the face Of an enemy would indi-
cate an estimate OF that enemy which the
present circumstances would decidedly not
warrant.
JAPS KEENLY ALIVE
TO CHANGED CONDITIONS.
That Japan is fully alive to the differ
ence in conditions as they exist now and
as they were ten years ago is beyond
doubt. The Chinese had no great railroad
to protect and Port Arthur did not then
possess the Importance for them that It
does now for Russia. A slower method,
and one presenting greater chances Of
success of penetrating into the enemy's
country, will probably commend itself to
the japanese.
Reference to Niuchwang has been quite
freoue 1t in the press dispatches of late. A
knowledge of its situation and the reasons
for the Importance with which 1t was re-
garded would not now be amiss.
Like many harbors In the Orient, 1t is
situated upon a river, at some distance
from the sea. The Lao River empties up
on the northeast coast of the Gulf of
iao-Tung and at about fifteen miles from
its mouth Niuchwang is situated. Boats
drawing seventeen and one-half feet cas-
py ascend the river at that point It Is
the only port OF consequence on that part
of the coast, which fact makes It the main
gateway to the heart of Manchuria-
Eiuchwang is garrisoned by Russian
troops, and from reports that appear re-
liable the garrison Is being rapidly
with men and guns.
NIUCHWANG OFFERS
GOOD LANDING PLACE.
Should the policy of Japan be to hold
the line of the Yalu with force sufficient
for defense alone and make a landing
with large army upon the coast Of Man.
churia. NIuchwang offers many advan-
tages as point for such landing. These
advantages are political as well as stra-