The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-05-13
IN THE HANDS OF THE MIKADo
lie VIII. Apparently, Soon Control the
Lao Tung Peninsula.
lBv the Associated Press. }


ST. Petersburg, May 12.-3:S5 a. m.
(Thursday) )-Impendin events of
Importance TO the military situation
in Manchuria are foreshadowed in
official dispatches given out late last
night by the War Commission.
On May the japanese forces eau
tiously moved from Feng-Wang-
Cheng towards Hai-Cheng, which is
thirty-two miles east by north of
New Chwang, and it is the opinion of
the general staff that they should GER
tainly reach their destination within
two days. If the Japanese occupy
Hai-Cheng, with Port Arthur effective
ly cut off, New Chwang, which the
Russians have already dismantled,
would pass into their hands. The en-
thire Liao Tung Peninsula. in fact
save Port Arthur, and perhaps kai
Ping would be commanded by them.
The satisfaction felt at the re-eStab-
Iishment of communication with Port
Arthur is cccasioned by the knowledge
that a train of ammunition has been
safely delivered TO the fortress. This
was dohe in the presence of the
enemys army, which landed at Pitse-
Wo, and which is apparently on the eve
of being reinforced by another divi-
sion on beard thirty transports now
living oft Port Adams. The troops
sent by General Kurold TO the south
west of Feng Wang Cheng
established. do not belong to third
army. none having landed at Taku-
shan. crossed the Tayang river, May
9Th and should by this time be operat-
ing in the Lao Tung Peninsula. pro-
vided they continued as is regarded
probable, the plan being to complete
the mastery OF southern Manchuria.
Movements of Kurol<i.
nj IiNr in
southern Manchuria and moving on
Hai-Cheng, General Kuroki kept in
mind the necessity of outflanking
General Kuropatkin at Lao Yang. as
is shown in the fact that onthe morn
ing of May 10, he started formidable
force, consisting of "a division of in
fantry and forty guns and loo cav
airy toward Saimatsi, (SaimadZa y.
In view of General Kuropatkin' s state
ment that an examination May 10th,
of the line between Sailnatsi and
Feng-Wang- -Cheng disclosed the pres
ence of Japanese, the authorities are
puzzled as to where the Japanese force
came from. A Japanese detachment
is reported officially to have occupied
Kwan-Tein- -Sien May 6. but it is be-
lieved likely to be small scouting
party belonging to General kuroki
army.
considerable philosophy on the divi-
sion by General kuroki of his army
into three separate commands, for
they expect General Kuropatkin
promptly totake advantage or the
numerical inferiority of the enemy
The fact that ii was considered
necessary to send a train load OF am
munition to Port Arthur has aroused
comment, and il is accepted in Ger
tain quarters as an indication that the
Russians have not sufficient supphes
| of war material there.
| With such a large force of the
| enemy before Port Arthur. Ii is weli
| understood here that it is question
| OF days, perhaps hours. before COM
munication is again cut off. 1t is
predlcted that there will be a daring
attempt at repetition of Lieutenant
! colonel Spiridonoff's plan to get am
munition into Port Arthur.
One fact mentioned in the official
! dispatches on which the authorities
lay stress is the action of the Chi
nese IN saving a Japanese detachment
! from Cossack ambuscade. Such in