The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1904-12-22

NNNs ~" $500 HNS
the front" When the Thermometer Is
below zero one cannot look for active
and continued military operations.
There are reports or movements OF
Russian and japanese flying columns,
particularly on General ~Kuropatkin's
left flank. but both sides occupy sub
stantially the positions they have held
for weeks.
IL II be the intention of the Japanese
10 take their time henccforth about
the reduction OF Port Arthur II will
be In their power to send Marquis Oya.
ma a strong reinforcement. The low
est estimate OF General Stocssel's force
Is 1000 men. That probably Is too
low, but IL he should have three times
as many the japanese can safely send
away a considerable portion OF their
Port Arthur army.
In the opinion OF the Chicago TrIb-
une. IL Marquis oyama, after having
been REINFORCED from that quarter.
does not take the offensive speedily he
probably never will. His army will
have reached the highest point OF ell
cheney after the arrival OF the trained
soldiers who have been lighting under
General Nogi. The men whom he may
receive from Japan will not he OF so
good quality. On the other hand. the
troops now reaching General Kuropat-
kin are drawn from the garrlsons on
the western frontier OF the empire and
-. gNRnAefas a. sanWs 20 N1Naan rA.
ously sent 10 him. before long Gen
eral kuropatkin should have at his
disposal all the troops the carrying ca
pacity OF the Tr~anssiberlan railroad
Will permit him TO keep supplied with
provisions. The road is constantly be-
ing made more efficient by the on
struction OF new sidIngs and the sub
stltution OF iron for wooden bridges.
IL would not be surprising TO hear
that the japanese have given up the
plan OF assuming the aggressive for a
policy less prodigal OF the lives OF the
soldiers. In that ven Marquis Oya-
ma could choose between holding his
present position after terrifying IL
more extensively or he could fall back
upon some point nearer his base and
await his enemy there.
IL Is admitted that the Russian ships
ut Port Arthur are destroyed. or are so
badly damaged ms TO be unscryiceable.
The japanese ships which have been
~blockadlng Port Arthur have gone
home to reft and get ready TO meet
m nIWnWufn~ n.g.tn. d. .hI.N,
though superior on paper. certainly Is
inferior I'm personnel. Naval officers
OF all nations have turned their eyes
TO the orient and are waiting eagerly
for the result OF the impending con-
test between great fleets OF armorcd
vessels. They have n professional in-
terest in the matter aside from the
general interest felt by all.
General Stocssel has given General
Nogi n map showing the positions of
the hospitals in Port Arthur. SO that
they may be safe from Japanese fire.
Progress Of the Baltic Fleet.
II is almost three months and a half
since the Battle feet was officially de-
clarcd 10 have sailed from Cronstadt
for the far East. However. the feet
fingered ut lieval and Libau for over
n month after that, and the real be.
ginning OF its voyage must be dated
from Oct. IL.
II covered the first 400 miles OF
its 1I,500-mile journey at the average
speed OF about four miles an hour.
Then. at Tangier. IL divided into two
%squadrons, one OF which. under Vice
Admiral RoJcstvensky, started around
the Cape of Good Hope and the other,
under Rear Admiral voelkersam. went
by way OF the Suez Canal.
Rojestvcnsky's squadron is now
coasting along German Southwest AZ.
rica. In forty days, since leaving Tan.
gler, IL has covered about 800 miles,
ut the average speed OF i've and a half
miles nm hour. NoclkcrSam's squadron
has left Jubutil. In FrencN SomaIiland.
with n speed record up IL date OF
about three miles an hour.
The Chagos Islands In the Indian
Ocean are generally assumed TO be the
rendezvous FOR the fleets. At the pres.
ent rate OF speed Admiral Rojestvcns,
ky should bc there about the 18th OF
January, the distance he has 10 cover
being something less than 1000 miles.
Then, assuming hat the second squad.
ron has arrived ana that a third squad.
ROT which left Iibau In November has
caught up. he will he ready 10 take M
the serious part 81 his adventure.
II Is COCO miles from the Chagos
Islands To Nladiyostok 10y way OF the
Tsugaru Straits. or. for a fleet aver.
aging i've and a half miles an hour
about fifty days stcamlng. The fee,
ought 10 cover this distance. II Is true,
In thirty TO forty days. but experience
up 10 date Is sufficient 10 show that n
II yer approaches Niadlvostok nc all
II will not be til the month OF March
at the earliest.
War News in Brief.
The Japanese cruiser Saiyru was sunk
by q Russian mine la front Of Port Ar.