The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1904-05-10

CURRENT EVENTS: THE DRIFT OF THINGS AS
WE SEE 1T,
WE SEE 1T.

great land engagement occurred when the Japa-
nese succeeded in their long struggle to cross the
Yalu River-the stream already famous in history
as the scene of the great naval battle between
Japan and China ten years ago. Perhaps the best
summary of the results of Sundays engagement
is that given in the New York Outlook of May
7th: "For some time the Japanese have been
gathering on the east bank of the Yalu River.
Their troops have been strung along the river for
some eighty miles, to disguise the point of concen-
tration. In the Yalu there are two islands, near
the mouth of the river, one just above Wiju, the
other just below. From one the Russians were
driven, from the other the Russians, on being at
tackled, withdrew. With these in their possession,
the Japanese, though harassed by the Russian ar
tillery, constructed a pontoon bridge and began
crossing the river. By Saturday night the twelfth
division of the Japanese army had reached the
right bank of the Yalu. In the meantime, Jap
anese %gunboats in the mouth of the Yalu assisted
the army in its passage of the river by scattering
some of the opposing Russian forces. On Sunday
morning the Japanese charge began. From An
tung there runs a road northwest to Liauyang:
About parallel to this road and north of it, there
flows the Tho, a tributary of the Yalu, flowing
from the northwest. The Japanese in making
their charge crossed the Tho, breast-deep, stormed
the Russians position on the heights, and swept
them back across the plateau. The Russians made
two stands, but were forced to abandon Antung,
which they burned. The Japanese loss is reported
as 700, the Russian as 500. The Japanese are now
in a position to march up the road from Antung
to Liauyang. IF their progress is successful, they
will be able to occupy the railroad at Liauyang
and cut off communication between Mukden and
Forth Arthur" The Outlook is in error, however,
in it's estimate of the Russian losses. A later re-
port of General Kuropotkin to the Gar places
the Russian losses at 1000, and of course the
Cossack commander does not overestimate the
number. AS this is written, it appears that a
titanic struggle for the control of Port Arthur is
impending, further particulars being given in our
press dispatch on this subject.
Panama Canal Property Transferred to the United
States.
One of the most noteworthy events of last week
was the formal transfer of the Panama Canal
property from the French Company to the United
States Canal Commission. Thus the great task of
cutting the waterway has practically begun. Prof.
Burr, a member of this Commission, recent
ly gave out the opinion that it would take eight
years time and $144,O0O,O00 to complete the work.
Prof. Burr also expressed the opinion that the
canal would not pay, as a commercial enterprise;
that is, that the tolls, or revenue, derived would
not equal the cost of maintaining the canal, but
the indirect benefit to the United States and the
direct advantage to the commerce of the United
States would be so great that the government
could well afford to sustain the loss of the differ
ence between the amount of revenue derived and
the cost of maintenance.