Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-08-10
The Threatened Advance on
Mukden Apparently a Feint
by the Japanese
kuRopArklN IN GREAT DANGER
He Has But One Chance To Retreat,
and May Be Compelled to Risk Bat
tle With His Entire Command
Attack on Port Arthur Monday Re-
ported Repulsed.

st. Petersburg Aug. f0.-News re-
ceived at the war Office today indicates
concentration of the Japanese armies
east OF Simoucheng. which is interpret
ed as showing intention to press direct
on to Liao Yang in an attempt to call
off Anshanshan. The Jap advance on
Mukden does not seem to have develop
ed serious character and according
to the general staff the way to retreat
is still open, II Kuropatkin chooses to
withdraw.
| The latter's official report. received
this afternoon. confirms the dispatch to
the Associated Press from Sintsintein.
August s. reporting fight near Tsian-
chan. The general also reports daily
skirmishes on the southern frontier,
while no confirmation has reached the
admiralty at this hour OF repulse with
heavy loss OF Japs at Port Arthur.
| August s.-The London Telegraphs
report from Chefoo to that effect is re-
ceived with qualification. The Russian
reply to Great Britain's representation
on the subject OF the sinking of the
knight Commander while couched in
the friendliest terms. does not recede
from the Russian position as set forth
| in the prize regulations in regard to
I the exercise of the right to destroy
neutral vessels carrying contraband, In
cases OF emergency, reserving the ques-
Ition for discussion after the war. AT
THE same time Russia assures Greet
Britain the extreme recourse to sinx-
ling neutral vessels will not be resorted
RI nnless circumstances render 1t i'm
possible to take them to prize court.
st. Petersburg. Aug. 10.--The En-
peror has received dispatches from
Kuronatkin. dated Sth and 9th, men
tioning few minor reconnaissances,
hut saving there had been no particu-
lar change in the positions on either
the east or south fronts. On the south
the Jap advance posts are nine miles
north OF Haicheng. Daily fusiliades oc-
cur between the outposts.
Kuropatkin points out the fact that
the Japs are using bullets OF different
calibre, showing their reserve men are
now in the fighting line.
Nervousness over the situation at the
front seems to be increasing since the
occupation by the Japs 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 protesting
confidence that Stoessel will be able to
hold out. but with these attacks and
their evident disregard OF men, indi-
Gated by the reckless manner in which
they stormed the outer positions. the
state OF affairs create more apprehen-
sion than the war office or admiralty
care to acknowledge.
Similar misgivings exist regarding
Kuropatkin's position, the advantages
OF the new Jap base at New Chwans
in greatly simplifying the problem OF
provisioning their army being fully re-
allied But it is the report that the
Japs are working up westward of the
main Russian army which occasions
the greatest uneasiness. The rumor
that they are moving up towards Sim
intin, short distance west of Muk-
den, from New Chwang, is generally
believed.
With the Jap Gordon Tightening south
and east and column threatening the
Russian line of communications in the
rear, toward Mukden, the appearance
of the Japs on the other side OF Muk-
den, would almost pocket K,lropatkin,
il he has resolved to accept battle with
his whole army at Lao Yang.
Shrewd military attaches are ex-
tremely doubtful whether Kuropatkin
could now withdraw, even II he so de-
sired
Another alarming feature of the sit
uaton in connection with the Japs'
western column is the report that it
includes many Chinese, who are Jap
subjects, from the island of Formosa,
whose influence on the local Chinese
and soldiers General Ma and Viceroy
Yuan Shi kai is feared.