The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-08-19

four cruisers ana half of the torpedo
boats escaped from Port Arthur yester-
day morning. The ,orpedoboat destroy
ar left Port Arthur last night, bring
ing in five passengers. who stated that
the japanese fleet is pursuing the Rus
slams. and that Il battle on the open
sea is expected.
St Petersburg, Aug. 12--DisCounting
the fail of Port Arthur and the dis
aSirous defeat Of General Kuropatkin
ut the hands OF the combined Japanese
army some diplomats are already
speaking upon the situation in which
the combatants would be left. and the
question as to whether it is possible
way would be opened for peace
The almost unanimous opinion is that
with her present record of Victories
combined with the financial difficulty
Of continuing the war Indefinitely,
Japan would welcome peace. and the
almost equally unanimous verdict is
that Russia would adopt a contrary
course. Even should every Russian SOL
der be driven out of Manchuria the
diplomats believe that Russia could not
afford to yield. but would be compelled
to dcgsedly continue the war, collect
another army in Siberia and take the
offensive next year. Several keen dip
lomats. however. are Of the opinion
that Japan. by clever coup, in the
event of Kuropatk being routed.
might perhaps force the powers to in
terVene in 4 way that Russia could not
resist.
st. Petersburg, Aug. 12-The en-
peror has received dispatches from
General Kuropatkin. dated the Sth and
h IN, Inc fn>
sances but saying there has been no
particular change IN the positions on
either the east or south fronts. On
the south the Japanese advance posts
are nine miles north of Hal Cheng.
Daily fusillades occur between the out
posts.
Kuropatkin points out the fact that
the Japanese are using bullets of a
different caliber, showing that their re-
serve men are now In the fighting line.
Nervousness over the situation at the
front seems to be increasing since the
occupation by the Japanese Of Wolf
Hills before Port Arthur.
1t is admitted the besiegers have an
elevated position, whence emplaced
guns can command the fortress, and
while still processing confidence that
General Stoessel will be able to hold
out. his attackers evident disregard Of
men, as indicated by the reckless man
ner in which they stormed the outer
positions, causes more apprehension
than the war office or the admiralty
care to acknowledge.
Similar misgivings exist regarding
General furopatkln's position. the adj
Vantages of the new Japanese base at
NewchWang in greatly simplifying the
problem of provisioning their army, be-
ing fully realized.
But 1t is the report that the Japanese
are working up westward of the main
Russian army, which occasions the
greatest uneasiness. The rumor that
they are moving up towards Simintin.
snort distance west of Multden from
Newchwang is generally believed.
With the Japanese Gordon tightening
south and east and column threaten
ing the Russian line of communica-
lions in the rear toward Mukden. the
appearance OF the Japanese on the
other side of Mukden would almost
pocket Kuropatkin, II he has resolved
to accept battle with his whole army
at Lao Lang. Shrewd military at
taches are extremely doubtful whether
lturopatkin could now withdraw even
If he so desired
Another alarming feature of the sit
uation In connection with the Japanese
western column is the report that it
includes many Chinese. who are Japa-
nese subjects. from the island of For
mosa. and whose influence on the local
chinese and the soldiers of General
Ma and Niccroy Yuan Shi Kai is
feared