The San Francisco call., 1904-02-29
Troops of Russia
OVerrun the
Frontier.
Moving Southwark
From the YaIu
River.

|
Plug, chief OF staff OF Viceroy Alex
/ ieff. that Russian cavalry had crossed
| the Yalu River. is expected to be fol-
! lowed shortly by news Of rather heavy
land fighting, as, according TO SEEM
ingly trustworthy reports. General Len
evitch has sent an entire army corps
| or infantry to support the COssacks.
who have penetrated to point below
! Anju and who are reported to have
beaten the Japanese in several skir-
mishes- Nevertheless, il this move
ment in force is progressing. IL must
not be assumed that the Russians have
taken the offensive, but rather that
they are taking up a strong position
in Northern Korea in order to check
the advance of the formidable army
Of japanese landing on both shores of
| Korea, while the concentration of Rus
! sian troops behind the Yalu is being
completed
This concentration is making better
progress than is generally believed
abroad. The movement of troops east
ward over the Trans-Siberian railroad
viii be greatly accelerated hencefOrth,
as telegraphic reports say that the ice
railroad over Lake Baikal was COM
pleted to-day. Up TO this time the
the soldiers marching from the termin-
us of the line to the other shore
CHINA'S SINISTER COURSE.
Major General Plugs report that
General Mas army is west Of the Lao
River agrees with the statement Of the
special correspondent of the Russ at
/ Tientsin that the Chinese War Minis
ter is hurrying large bodies Of troops
TO the northeastern frontier of PechiH
This report says the troops are not go
ing by rail, but are marching by night.
The military situation will be greatly
complicated if General Mas army is
really moving to the rear of the Rus
sian position with the intention of max
ing common cause with the japanese,
as it will expose both Russian fianks TO
attack.
The blockade OF Port Arthur cOntin-
ues. The Russians seem resigned for
the present not to expect to accomplish
much by sea, realizing that the Port
Arthur fleet Is Overmatched in both
ships and guns. but they hint that
things may be different in the spring
if the Baltic fleet goes out and effects
a junction with the Port Arthur fleet.
Serious consideration also is being
given to the feasibility of spending
about s5.000,OOO on torpedOboat de-
stroyers. to be sent in sections TO Vladi-
vOstok and Port Arthur.
Three hundred mechanics and dry
dock yard artificers were sent 10 the Far
East last week. and experts declare
that the boats could be built, sent and
fitted out in eight months.
HOPE CENTERS IN ARMY.
After all. however. the hope of the
Russians is centered in their army. and
with General KurOpatkin at its head,
although he has not faced a foe since
the siege of Plevna. victory is consid-
cred assured.
The war excitement here and
throughout Russia generally seems 10
be dying down. The patriotic demon
stratiOns which everywhere followed
the outbreak of hostilities have been
succeeded by calmness on the part OF
the people, but the crowds still eagerly
gather about the bulletins from VicerOy
Alexieff. which are posted in various
parts of the city and which are issued
soon after they are received The
frankness with which the Government
publicly announced the initial reverses,
as we'll as the stringent measures taken
to prevent the dissemination Of all false
reports of successes, is perhaps the best
evidence of the complete confidence
which the authorities have in the 10y
atty of the people.
An interesting incident occurred on
the day the news was received Of the
sinking of the four steamships with
which the Japanese sought 10 block the
entrance TO the harbOr of Port Arthur.
The original report was TO the effect
that four battleshiDs and two trans
ports had been sunk and this caused
so much enthusiasm that a session Of
the council Immediately ordered a te
deum. A member Of the council just
from the Winter Palace burst into the
session and said:
md ha
Only four old steamers were sunk. The
Emperor does not wish a thanksgiving
service to be held"
PAINTED LIKE WARSHIPS.
In connection with this attempt OF
the Japanese on Port Arthur a story
is current here that the steamships
sent in were painted % represent war
ships and that on arriving close to the
channel they dropped contact mines.
This story, however. lacks confirmation
from any authoritative source.
Grave rumOrs were in circulation
here concerning the suffering OF the
troops crossing Lake Baikal and were
communicated to the officer in charge,
who telegraphed that there were no
cases of severe frOstbite OccasiOninG
either death or amputatiOn. He says
that the journey of twenty-five miles
which takes twelve hours. is broken at
a Teldy SldllOn III lllc CGHNcI VI NlAT AdNrs
where a hot dinner is served. and that
particular care is taken of the weaker
men during transit.
A decision of the Council Of Ministers.
approved by the Emperor and pub
lished to-day. extends for a period Of
one year the tariff on European imports
to Russia. which was fixed on February
26 1908. A similar extension Of time 3
made in the case Of the free admission
OF tin plate used in the manufacture OF
kerosene barrels and also on packing
cases used in the export trade.