The San Francisco call., 1904-03-25
KlrOpatkil Will Wait
for the Japanese
to Attack.
Confident Of HOLDING
All Of LiaOtulg
Peninsula.

ST. PETERSBURG, March 24.-When
General Kuropatkin reaches Mukden it
is understood the Emperor's forces at
the seat of war will be divided into
three armies-one on the peninsula, in
Guiding the Port Arthur garrison, under
General Stoessel, military commander
at Port Arthur: a central army, under
! General Linevitch, and q northern
army, under General Baron Stackel-
berg. Any idea that General Kuropat-
! kin's arrival will be signalized by ag-
I gressive tactics is discouraged in the
highest military circles, where atten-
tion is called to the generals reported
neutrality-suspicious. patience, patience.
We can afford TO wait, whether or
not the japanese can,' is the sentiment
among the believers in General Kuro-
patkin.
He expects to force the japanese to
attack him on ground of his own choos-
ing. There Will be no forward move
ment into Korea. On the contrary, the
Russians at the Yalu are now screen
ing their concentration to the west
ward, and they probably will retire
I from a japanese advance in force,
harassing and retarding the enemy as
much as possible until the proper time
TO uncover the main Russian army.
EXPECT JAPAN TO ATTACK.
The continued landing of Japanese
troops in Korea is exactly to the liking
of the Russian strategists. The bigger
the army disembarked there the better
they will be suited being convinced
that, once Korea is filled with the Japa-
nese soldiers, pressure of numbers and
the clamor Of public opinion will drive
Japan forward into the arms of the
Russians. Nothing but a complete
change Of plan in the Japanese cam
paign, as developed up to date, will
compel the Russians to depart from
their determination TO play a consistent
waiting game, being convinced that all
the advantages Of such a policy lie on
their side.
The Russians also express much more
satisfaction at the present situation at
Liaotung. The forces on the peninsula
have been reinforced to an extent which
will render a japanese landing there
difficult, if not impossible, and the gar
risOn at Port Arthur has been amply
provisioned to withstand a siege 80
far as the peninsula is concerned, the
preparations there may now be regard
ed as complete.
CRUISER NOT DESTROYED.
The press is officially authorized to
deny the reports received in Berlin and
published in the United States by a
news agency that a Russian armored
cruiser. the Bayan, was blown up by
( a floating torpedo in the harbor at
Port Arthur on March 16, and that a
Russian torpedc-boat was sunk, owing
to cclliding With a mine
Major General Plug telegraphs from
/ Mukden, under to-day's date, as fol-
lows:
There is absolutely no truth in the
report published in England to the ef-
/ feet that the japanese have crossed
/ the Tatung Pass or that they have
/ had engagements with the Russians
while the statement that the way to
/ the MOtienling Pass, where a strong
/ Russian detachment is alleged to be
stationed, is open to the Japanese is
also 4 pure invention. To the same
! category belong the reports published
/ in London newspapers from japanese
! sources Of an enga cement alleged to
have taken place at Port Arthur on
/ March Is. and of the encounter at
! Changsieng Con the YaIu River), in
which the Russians were reported to
have lost 600 men killed or wounded"
The promotion of Grand Duke Ser
gius 70 the rank Of major general has
I involved an important change in the
1 tillery. which had been for many
/ years in control of his father.
/ Grand Duke Sergius is regarded
as being the foremost machine gun
! specialist in the Russian army His
palace is filed with Maxim, Colt, Nor
denfeldt and other quick-firing guns.
/ Grand Duke Sergius Will have control
/ OF the artillery being sent to the Far
/ East
RESERVES TO SEE SERVICE.
Twenty-eight reserve battalions.
comprising the infantry reserves of
/ brigades No 81 and Z, have been con-
verted into regular battalions and
regiments. Each battalion will have
eight companies. These will replace
! troops drafted to the front
The Emperor has conferred with
/ the Ministers on means for increasing
the Red Cross fund. A proposal to
| impose an additional tax on foreigners
! was rejected and it was decided to
raise the special tax on railroad tick
cts The sum of S3,000.00 has been
J donated and there is a reserve fund OF
| S3,OOO,000. of which 100000 is avail
able IN cash, bringing up the total to
nearly s6,500.00
| .I-- ----.
hibiting the natives from assisting
either of the belligerents.
TIENTSIN, March 24-Viceroy Yuan
! Shi Kai has prohibited the Chinese