Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-08-11
SITUATION IN THE EAST.

Again the chance OF a decisive battle
between General Kuropatkin and the
commander of the japanese armies seems
to be disappearing. According to a
statement issued by the general staff at
ST. Petersburg last night rains are again
falling over a wide area in Manchuria,
with the prospect of impending opera
tions. but even more important is the
information from an exceptional source
that the japanese once more delayed too
long.
General Kuropatkin has now with
drawn the bulk of his army safely north
of Liaowang, leaving only strong rear
guard line southeast of Liaoyang to con-
test the advance when it comes.
According TO this information the
Japanese have about 300, 900 men in the
armies operating against General Kuro-
patkin. rendering it too hazardous for
him to risk general engagement.
The general staff has no information
bearing on the reported presence OF
large force of Japanese at Paithuho, a
place that cannot be located in available
maps. The report agrees, however, with
the general tenor of the information re-
ceived in St. Petersburg to the effect that
General Kuropatkin is already retreating
north of Liaoyang.
A correspondent Of the London Daily
Mail who visited Sinmintin, which is on
neutral Chinese territory, about 80 miles
west of Mukden, cables the following
under date of August 10:
'Frhere is an enormous garrison at
Mukden, reinforcements having arrived
very rapidly. There are no japanese
north of the city. A force of some
strength lies 25 miles to the south and
there is another japanese army five
miles east of Liaoyang. | learn from
reliable source that the main Russian
army has fallen back on Chiutsu."
A Russian torpedo boat destroyer en-
tered Chefoo harbor at $50 o'clock yes
terday morning and reported that six
Russian battleships, four cruisers and
half of the torpedo boats escaped from
Port Arthur yesterday morning. The
torpedo boat destroyer left Port Arthur
last night, bringing in FIVE passen-
gers who stated that the japanese tieet
is pursuing the Russians and that bat
tie on the open sea is expected.
DiscUunting the fall of Port Arthur
and the diTastrous defeat of General
Kuropatkin at the hands ofthe combined
japanese armies, some diplomates in st.
Petersburg are already specializing upon
the situation in which the combatants
would be left and the question as to
whether it is possible that a way would
be opened for peace. The almost un-
animous opinion is that, with her present
record of victories, combined with the
financial difficulties of continuing the
war indefinitely, Japan would welcome
peace, and the almost equally unanimous
verdict is that Russia would adopt a con-
trary course. Even should every Russian
soldier be driven out of Manchuria, the
diplomates believe that Russia could not
afford to yield, but would be compelled
to doggedly continue the war, collect
another army in Siberia, and take the
offensive next year. Several keen dIplo-
mates, however, are of the opinion that
Japan, by clever coup in the event of
Kuropatkin being routed, might perhaps
force the powers to intervene in a war
that Russia could not resist.