The Minneapolis journal., 1904-10-03

Shanghai, Oct. "a Russian war
ship, supposed to be the armored cruiser
Bayan Of the Port Arthur squadron, is
reported to have anchored off Gutzlaff
island in Hung-chau bay. Two tugs
have proceeded thither to bring her to
Shanghai.
st. Petersburg, Oct. "A dispatch
was received today from General Sakha-
rolf, announcing that the Japanese have
strengthened their advance posts at
Feng.tia-pu,- sixteen miles southeast of
Mukden; Elsewhere, he adds, there are
no developments.
The principal cause of alarm at the
war office is occasioned by the lack Of
definite information regarding the exact
whereabouts of Field Marshal Oyama 8
right. The Russian scouts have lost
touch with General Kuroki g main army,
, which may give increasing Importance
to the hanking movement west, under
General Oku, which hitherto has been
regarded as feint for the real turning
movement to strike at General Kuropat-
k1n's line of communications from the
east. 1t also may contain the poten-
tialities Of big surprise.
Len days ago kuropatkin and the war
office were convinced that the japanese
were concentrating at~~Sian-ehan and
that an immediate advance in force was
Imminent. Accordingly, the Russians
fell back from the passes Of the Da
mountains, without offering resistance.
But after several days they suddenly
discovered that the Japanese were not
pressing forward and thereupon the
Russian scouts pushed out to ascertain
the cause. They. penetrated as far as
Sian-schan and Siao-dyr, bringing back
the startling intelligence that not more
than brigade of Japanese troops was
there. This forthwith was followed up
by important cavalry movements and
the reoccupation of the Da range passes,
Gated.
There were no indications, however,
that Kuroki had succeeded in reach
ing position. further eastward, whence
he could make a pivot movement
against the railroad, and consequently
it was concluded that his main force
must still be between the Yen-tai mines
and Ben-shi-hu, five miles east of Yen
tai station.
In word, the present advices indi-
gate that the Japanese preparations are
being made more slowly than supposed.
Possibly the delay is owing to their
weather to complete their arrangements
for a long winter campaign before &C.
lively resuming the offensive. Kuro-
patkin 8 plans are carefully guarded
While he is disposing of his forces to
take advantage Of any situation that
OSoo
will not accept general engagement
but will withdraw to Tie pass, where
the bulk Of his army is massed.
Chi-fu, Oct. 3.-Chinese who left
Port Arthur Oct. and who were previ
ously engaged in burying the dead say
the effect Of the Russian shells and ma
chine guns is terrific. The slopes Of 9
high hill were Uttered with manglec
bodies and severed heads and limbs. In
one trench the Chinese buried 300 Jap
: anese and 200 Russians.
While it is true that the regular wa
ter supply Of Port Arthur has beer
stopped by the Japanese, the fortress
has other supplies which can be take1
only when the city falls.
The garrison Of Port Arthur now ha:
sufficient food, but the supplies o:
timed meats are nearly exhausted ant
the troops are aow slaughtering thirty
donkeys daily for fresh meat, which i!
worth $1;2O per pound. Eggs cost q
cents each