Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-13
THE RUSSIAN TROOPS
A FORCE OF 2eo, 600 NOW IN MAN
CHURIA.
The Situation There Discussed by an
Army Officer From Military
Point of View.

Russian troops in Manchuria April L.
said The Stars military expert today,
reached the figure of 100000. Such, be-
lieve. is the claim of the Russians them
selves. 1t is reasonably close to my estl-
mate last month, which was that by the
10Th of April the Russians would have
more than 100000 men at the front. There
are plenty of extravagant estimates, such
as that the Russians have 100000 men on
the ground. and that they are bringing
them forward at the rate of $3.50 per day,
but / believe that such claims are excess
sive. If matters continue as they are there
ought to be a limit soon reached to the
mobilization of the two nations. They nave
too many men with the colors now for an
attitude of expectancy and defense, out
ii Russia should regain her power at sea
and should carry the war into Japan ana
Korea she would need many more men.
If China, from her place on the nank Oh the
Russian advance. should begin TO sno"
her teeth there will be need ioi hahy
more Russian batta1ons.
Japs Not Likely to Land at Ylnkow.
so much is said about japanese land
ing at the head of the Liao-tung gulf that
il is lust as we'll TO reaffirm what has been
said about that point and to add something
more. They will not be likely to seek
face of a well-prepared enemy The point
of landing would probably be on the easi
ern or the western coast or the gun, VIM VIM.
rims up to a point at YinkoW On the east
coast the landing would be on the Lao
tuny neninsula north of Port Arthur, near
the southern branch of the siberian ran
road The advantages of this move "ou i
he ACCOMPANIED by great difficulties as Wen
In the last war the Japs made RECORD VI
iard;ne AT Takushan with 1900 men IN
four DAYS. 1t is my belief that unless they
can land that number of men In SIX houls
they will not make the attempt oetweei
Port Arthur and Ylnkow on tne snut - VI land
neninsula. The Japs will have to ianu
troons faster than they can be prousHl Wy
by the defenders; probably their moveiiie al1
would be discovered in rev hours az ~
would be met by troops hurrieo LII wal ~
rail. ~. ,,,,f there
il a strip of land running southwark as la,
az the great wall at Kal-p1ng hious
tbis strin runs the East China railroad anu
thn nath of the old Manchu conauerors. 10
entar II either side is free without Vlola,i"s
chinese neutrality. The advantages OF d
Iananese advance on this line need not ps
discussed again from ; m,lIsafs of this
strtn of land as a theater Of operations
see ms to be even greater. 49,, ,ra,+
Ion the Manchurian side OF the sfsa
wall, opposite kai-pins' IS tne No. Int
Sau-hai-kwan. 1t has no harpoI, W.
Iording on the wide sandy peach Is 80
sidered practicable in me "eatnet.
80 ~ the principal stations on the faiiWas.
Eaur Years ago it was protected by eisht
forts armed with krupp guns. M &c
rnontbs ago it had a Russian garrison ~
three thousand men. 1t covers the oi,ay
nracticable line of communication pet"eei
China and Manchuria and is apou' IN
hundred and seventy-hve Hliies
Peking A Russian post there Is III an 49,,
posed position. but it would pay 10 oeieiAO
1t.
Rumors of Chinese Forces.
For some time indefinite rumofs nave
heen reported of Chinese forces north Oh 'he
oraat wall the objects of which We're mat
ters of distrust and suspicion. Their posi-
tion on the flank of the Russian armies
must he considered by kuropatkln III eii
his combina tons Within a few days thefe
have been further reports that Japanese
oficers were with the Chinese. All inns
noints 70 Japanese influence in China such
as has evidently been the aim and ampltioh
of Japan for years. T.,
"The influence of a japanese army III
Korea has practically been an exchange VI
sovereignty of the country. Slmliar po-
litical effects might be obtained by Jap
anese army 1I5 miles from Peklng, ciosihs
the line of communication between Man
churia inviting and perhaps demanding the
aid of the weak Chinese government
..It NAV be that the desperate efforts OF
the Russian admiral to maintain himself at
sea nave been prompted by the fear OF a
Japanese landing at San-hai-kwan AL
other points the Russians, as far as their
land forces are concerned, need not pc
greatly disturbed