Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1904-10-13
WAR NOTES.

ing-the Russians nave stopper retreat
ing and have begun advancing.
Kuropatkin issued stirring address
to his army few days ago, and began
an advance all along the line-about
forty miles long-attacking the Japa-
nese outposts, who retired before him
giving up one position after another.
This news comes from Russian sources
and at the same time the Chinese report
that japanese army is getting to the
rear of the Russians No news what
ever comes from japanese sources.
The Japanese generals and statesmen
are laboring under no illusions with .s-
gard to the arduous nature of the con-
fiict in which they are engaged The
victories they have won and the advan-
cas- which they have made do not blind
them to the fact that the Russians can
not afford to admit defeat until they
have strained every nerve and exhaust
ed every res source in an effort to retrieve
their sadly damaged prestige. 1t is very
well understand at Toxic, and it must
have been understood there before the
mnmentous decision was reached to sub
NIT the pending controversy to the ar
bitrament of arms, that the Russians
would make most desperate and deter
mined struggle to enforce their numeri-
cal superiority, and to justify the repu-
tation upon which they have for so many
years been living. and upon the strength
of which SO much of their territorial ex-
pansion has been made. The success
which the japanese have achieved must
surely have exceeded their most san
guine hopes, but they do rot fail to re-
alize that the real test. the test of en-
durance, is yet to come.
They are prepBring TO meet it in a
spirit of patient confidence and stern
resolution. The Minister of Finance,
announced, last week, the intended is
sue at an early date of another domestic
loan, which will it is expected be readi-
ly and eagerly taken, while additional
taxation, 1t was the estimate of the
veteran statesman, Count Okuma, the
leader of the Progressive party, express
ed at meeting of the United Clearing
House of Toxic, that the war could be
carried On for two years at cost to
Japan of one billion dollars, and he did
not entertain any doubt as to either the
ability or the willingness of the country
to provide the money. The cost TO Rus
sia would be at least three times as
great, and the speaker laid much stress
upon the weakening and disabling in
fuence of the corruption by which ev-
cry department of the Russian Govern
ment is notoriously pervaded. He
thought that this would inure material
ly to the japanese advantage and this is
an opinion which all competent. and dis
interested observers share.
Altogether there is reason to believe
that the Japanese will be able to stand
the strain better and longer than their
opponents Many things are in their
favor, and chief among these things is
the patriotic enthusiasm of the masses
of their people.
Whether Kuropatkin by his advance
is merely putting up bluff to cover
his retreat to the position at Tie pass.
or whether he really means to attack
the Japs the rolling of the tide of war
beyond Mukdeu will bring joy to the
hearts of the Chinese. fol it is holy
city, whose very earth is so sacred that
the city constantly suffers from dearth
of fuel because the government will not
permit any coal mining operations in
that region, for fear of disturbing the
deities and ancestral spirits in their
subterranean haunts. 1t is the ancient
capital of the Manchu dynasty ard all
the paraphernalia of regal state are still
scrupuIously preserved. There is
temple of heaven, in which sacrifices
are offered as at Peking, but by the
emperor's proxy. In adjoining parks
are heards of sacred spotted deer. and
Mongolian parks containing palaces and
temples, and tombs of milch cows for
the emperor's service, in readiness for
his visit at any time, even should that
visit be deferred for more centuries.
There are thousands of acres of ancient
emperors of the Manchu dynasty. The
visits of the emperors 10 Mukden have
been discontinued for 130 years, but
their shadows" are always there by
means of pictures, and the rites of en-
peror worship have never ceased. The
palaces, as at Peking, are an extensive
group of richly adorned towers and pa
villions connected by magnifcently en-
bellished avenues and monumental
gateways. In one place there is wide
paved avenue flanked by colossal statues
of elephants, horses, cows and camels.
and white marble pillars with carved
clouds encircling them as if they were
the pillars Of heaven. A white marble
tablet nearly 80 feet high, on the back
of marble tortoise, bears an inscrip-
tion commemorating the deeds Of Tai
Tsung. the Manachu conqueror of
China, who compelled the Chinese me n
to wear the queue. but could not make
the Chinese women cease deforming
their feet. The Chinese government
made frantic appeals to the command
ers of both armies not to disturb the an
cestral spirits by fighting around the
sacred tombs, and both promised to re-
spect the holy places.
GREAT BATTLE RAGING.
Yestesday's dispatches stated that tie
two armies had come together and that
a great battle was raging.
The reinforcementsla lately received by
the Russians gives them the numerical
and the Japs had contract
ed their lines to about twenty miles.
In the artillery duel preceding the
battle, the Japs seem to have had the
best of it, driving the Russians from
several of their positions. During a
fight at one village clouds of dust pecu-
lar to the country and the season blind
ed the combatants.
This mornings dispatches say that a
great battle is raging near the Yentai
coal mines. with result yet in doubt.