River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-03-24
RUSSIA HAS AN
ENORMOUS ARMY
WILL HAVE 54o,oOo MEN IN THE
FIELD BY MAY %.
TO RESIST JAPANESE HOST
Serious Land Campaign May Not Be
gin Until June, and Decisive
Battle Is Not Expected
Before August.


Before August.
st. Petersburg, March 21.-It is Of
ficially announced that the mobilization
of RuSsia'S army in Manchuria will be
complete by May 20, and that on that
date Gen. Kouropatkin will have field
force of $4,000 infantry, cavalry and ar
tillery at his disposal. 1t is stated fur
Their, and by official sanction, that Russia
will not begin the serious land campaign
until June, and that a decisive battle
need not be expected before August.
Not since the Turko-Russian war of
1883 has any European power sent so
large an army into the field. France
fought Prussia in 1871 with 100000 men.
Russia sent scarcely 100000 against
Turkey in 1878. England fought the re-
cent Boer war with 100000. No power
in Europe ever transported an army Of
$4,000 men SO great a distance as Rus
STA is doing in the present conflict with
Japan. The transportation obstacles are
enormous.
Capture 1900 Japs.
Chefoo, March 21-A private dis
patch received here from Mukden
states that a battle has taken place on
the Yalu, in which the Russians claim
to have captured 1900 prisoners.
Not Confirmed.
st. Petersburg, March 21-The news
of the capture of 1900 japanese soldiers
Sc NJ off io1I hut, -1 Na1;
to be true. Viceroy Alexieff telegraphed
yesterday that he had received word
from Gen. Mishtchenko that the latter
had received news of the capture of de-
tachment of Japanese infantry and sew
eral guns. He does not mention the date
or place of the fight. The only other in
formation at hand is the dispatch from
Chefoo.
Japanese Scouts Retreat.
Paris, March PA dispatch to the
Matin from Toxic states that 1,600 Cos
sacks crossed the River Takshenyena
on Wednesday, and encountered Japan
csc scouts, who retreated.
May Effect Juncture.
st. Petersburg, March 21-The where
abouts of the Vladivostok squadron is a
profound official secret, but there are
those here who believe that the Japanese
may wake up some morning to find that
the two divisions of Russia's Pacific
squadron have effected a juncture 1t
is betraying no confidence to state that
both the admiralty and Vice Admiral
Makaroff, before he left for the far east,
regarded the fact that the divisions were
separated as most unfortunate for Rus
sia's chances of success at sea. Real
izing that offensive naval operations are
impossible under present conditions, it
is believed that no opportunity will be
neglected to repair this initial misfor-
tune, even should it involve consider
able risk
Restrictions Against Foreigners.
Newchwang, March 21.-The foreign
consuls have officially notified their gov
ernments that the Russian commander
of the garrison has forbidden foreigners
10 go beyond the mud walls of the native
city, with the single exception that they
are allowed to use the river bank be-
foreign gunboats. This exception is
made solely on account of the presence
of the United States gunboat Helena and
the British cruiser Espiegle, which
otherwise would be entirely cut off from
communication with their respective
settlements.
The Russian order particularly for
bids visiting the forts on the Lao river
and also Wutaitzu, village two miles
south of the fort. The above order is de-
clared to be necessary military meas
ure on account of the arrangement being
made for the defense of the coast. For
eigners still have access to the west and
way and telegraph, although the Chinese
managers of the telegraph line have in
structed their employees to withdraw to
Then Chuang Tai in the event of hos
tilities. This action and also the
threatened withdrawal of the railway
staff is severely condemned on account
of their being outside of real danger
Mikado's Address.
Toxic, March 21-The emperor, at
tended by the crown prince, personally
opened the special session of the diet
at II o'clock Sunday morning. Follow
ing is, in part, the speech from the
throne:
1--WE announce with high satisfaction
that our relations with the treaty pow
ers are steadily growing in cordially
and understanding. Prompted by an
earnest desire to maintain permanent
peace in the extreme east, our govern
ment, by our command, entered into
negotiations with Russia, but we regret
that owing to an absence Of sincerity on
the part of Russia in her peaceful profess
sions we have been compelled to appeal
to arms, and having taken that step we
cannot hesitate until the object Of the
war is attained. Our forces in the pres
ence of unwonted hardships and priva-
lions are now displaying their steadfast
loyalty and valor, and we hope that all
our subjects will cooperate in perfect
unity for the enhancement of the glory
of the empire"
Fatal Quarrel
Madison, Ind, March 21.-In a quar-
rel over exchanging tobacco, at Lees