Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1904-10-14
PROGRESS TRl0OGCREgI OF THE MAR
If the japanese general staff will
o,,hl;cb ovaru v-aaIy cuch bulIetin as


Mukden it will greatly lessen the diff
ficulty which the ordinary man has IN
following the progress of the war; Inc
bulletin in question covers the sklr-
mishes from Monday to Thursday or
last week, some half dozen in number
and all unimportant. Inspection shows
that in every case the Russians were
the aggressors, and that in every case
they were repulsed with little loss on
either side.
1t is clear enough from this and
from other recent news that the Japa-
nese are resting quietly and giving no
Indication to their enemy as to when
or where they will next advance. The
passes which they occupied couple of
weeks ago seem to have been desired
mainly to prevent the Russian scouts
from having favorable vantage points
from which to make raids too close in
to the main Japanese encampments.
The two armies in the central thea
ter of war lie between Liaoyang and
Mukden watching each other and re-
enforcing. Their skirmishers clash al
most continuously, but there has been
nothing significant The japanese are
preparing a strong position in Lao
yang against that time when the tide
of war may turn and they are forced
back. The town, defended from the
south against northern attack, is much
stronger than when defended from the
north against southern attack. This is
because it has several good lines of
communication stretching southwest,
south, and southeast to the base ON the
sea. One line runs down the railroad,
one down the Hun and Lao Rivers,
another via Siyuen to Takushan Gen
eral Nodzu's routel, and the last by
Fengwangcheng to Antung General
Kuroki's route). On the other hand,
LiaOyang has but one line Of communi-
cation to the north-that along the
railroad. Consequently the town of
fers a stronger defensive position to
the Japanese than to the Russians.
There are no signs of break in the
present inactivity. Oyama's plans
seem to be waiting on Port Arthur,
where the real excitement is.
From Port Arthur General Stoessel
has sent an account of the fighting of
Sept. 10 to %. He says that the Japa-
nese attacks were made simultaneous
ly from the north and west. In the
attack from the north the Japanese
completely demolished the redoubt pro-
tecting the WaterWOrks and apparently
remained in occupation of the spot.
| The fighting on the west was Waged
especially around High HILL near Fort
| Etseshan. The Japanese occupied the
Russian shelter trenches half way up
the HILL but, according to General
| Stoessel were driven out the follow
| ing night. The general reports the ces-
| sation of infantry attacks and the re-
| sumption of bOmbardments from Jap
anese long-range guns, coupled with
| further activity in the building of zig
gag trenches as a preliminary to new
assaults.
The Muscovites seem to have aban-
| doned their purely defensive attitude
| of the early months Of the siege and
| now make frequent sOrties. That they
| have been forced to this by the tight
| ening lines is probable, for their coun-
| ter-attacks, even though successful,
| must result in a heavier loss to them
| than to the enemy. And whenever the
| Japanese can exchange man for man
| at Port Arthur they gain the advan-
| tage, since they can bring up new
| troops almost indefinitely, while the
Russians cannot re-enforce at all.
The Baltic squadron has not sailed,
| though it's imminent departure is again
| announced. The restraining fear is
| that Port Arthur might fall before the
| advent Of the fleet which would then
| be in danger of humiliation. 1t is now
| evident that if the fleet had left early
| in the year Russia might have gained
| the mastery of the sea and the entire
| fortune of the war have changed But
| hindsight is always better than fore
| sight. 1t could not be known early in
| the spring that Stoessel would make
| such a gallant defense.
Japan is evidently prepared to put
| in the field an army surprising the
| most sanguine prophecies. The new
conscript law will add 100000 soldiers
| between the ages Of 20 and 80 years
| to the Mikados forces and raise the
| total to over 100000 1t is doubtful,
| indeed, whether Russia can ever sus-
| tain at the far eastern end of her en-
| pire an army of 1.O00,00O men Neither
| side has had anywhere near enough.
The end of the war is not in sight.
Gen. Grippenberg a hero of three
| wars, is selected by the Gar to lead the