The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-05-10
Much Depends on Kuronatkin

o. petersburg May 5.-1:OO D. M
IGeherai kuropatkin has gone to tba
lioht from Liao-Yang to inspect tho
SITUATION personally. Troops are he
ing hurried forward from the Lao
ang and Mukden line to a position
neal Fens-W ang-Cheng.
All the Russian wounded have bee,
sent back toward Lilac Yang i'm or6ar
TO cucumber the operations Of the
russian army. 1t appears evident
that General kuropatkin is preparing
to give battle 60 General Kuroki's
army If circumstances warrant.
Descents or attempted landings are
momentarily anticipated near New
ChWang and the head Of Korea bay.
occupying an interior line and pursu-
ing the tactics Of Napoleon, Kuropat-
lkin's problem will be to prevent a
lJuncture of the enemy's forces. 1t is
necessary for him to await the de-
lVelopment of the japanese plans and
ascertain the direction, strength and
whence the other column will come
before deciding how to fight his adver-
lsary in detail.
1t is believed here that the Japa-
lnese plans for concerted action have
embarrassed by their failure to
block the entrance to Port Arthur
Tuesday and a repetition Of the attack
on the Russian Gibraltar is momen-
ltarily expected. Vice-Admiral Togo's
fleet was sighted off Port Arthur, and
Indeed unconfirmed runners cay he at
tackled at daylight this morning and
THAT fighting is now in progress there.
At least the cutting off of Port Ar
thur, If not the fate OF the fortress,
depends in h opinion of the general
Istaff of General Kuropatkin's pre-
venting "a j%uncture of the japanese
forces. I
1t is understood here that Zassa-
meme has already been relieved of his
command for d~isobedience of orders.
ana mat his action is under investiga-
ition.
In connection with his obstinate
stand made on the Yalu, against in
Struct1ons, and in face of an over
Whelming superiority of men, and es-
Ipeclally of guns an interesting bit of
history of hat occurred during the
lm~anoeuvres near st. Petersburg last
summer is being recounted, which IL
illustrates this trait in General Zassa-
lltch's character. He commanded ar
infantry division and insisted or
lstorming heights commanded by artil-
lery and in face of a fire which the.
loreticaHy wiped out his command
IThe judges were so Disguised tina
they rewarded the blunder with a ze-
no mark against the generals name
Under the dc rules and traditions
Iof the Russian army, the second and
third batteries of the third artillery
brigade n the third battery of the
third brigade, which lost their gun;
lat the battle of Kiu-Lien-Cheng. would
lbe stricken from the army list for.
lever. The names of batteries losins
tguns and those of regiments losine
their colors or otherwise d~isgracins
themselves formerly disappeared from
the list. This was the case of TIL,
celebrated immortal Hussars in 1925
(which participated in the conspiracy
against Emperor Nicholas Only
flew years ago, the regulation wa:
l~rescinded. owing to a realization O
1.-THE fact that il would work great in
Justice in the case of batteries anC
regiments forced by circumstances t.
sacrifice themselves as vas the cas-
on Sunday.
No further official new Ia beer
received regarding the Russian losses
hut General Kashtlinsky's estimate o
I2.e00 men is accepted as. representa-,
practically their full extent. It i
lgenerally believed that the Japanes
lost between three and four THOUSAND
Imen. This is based upon reports o
leye-witnesses.
Not a single newspaper dispatch ha
wet been received beyond the severa
icolor'ess kilograms from the Russian
HEADQUARTERS at Liao-Yang, which
lsimply repeat n official news.
A correspondent of The Novosti