Americus times-recorder., 1904-02-24
WAR WILL END
BY NEXT AUGUST
Russians Only Want Enough
Time To Mobolize Forces.
WILL DRIVE JAPANESE INTO SEA.

WILL DRIVE JAPANESE INTO SEA.
Admiralty Believes Japan's Fleet Was
Considerably Damaged in the Naval
Battle at Port Arthur-England
Would Profit by Russian Victory.
st. Petersburg, Feb. 23.-''The war
will end in August or September In
the complete defeat OF the Japanese"
today a high authority in intimate
touch with the Russian war plans,
whose opinion can be taken faithful
~ to reflect the belief in the highest
Official quarters. He added: How
the Japanese can hope to succeed
when our army in the Far East is
strengthened to a point equal or su-
perior in numbers to that of our ad-
gersarys we honestly are unable to
comprehend 1t will not be difficult
to place two, four or even six hun
dred thousand additional men In the
are concentrated and ready they will
finish by driving the Japanese into
the sea. Frankly, it seems to us that
the Japanese have utterly failed to
precipitate Russias resources or have
counted on the aid of Great Britain or
the United States, neither OF which
ever contemplated being involved. So
far as Great Britain Is concerned, we
do not believe any hallucinations ex-
listed there. We think the British
statesmen who did so much to push
Japan into war realized that with ia
pans defeat they would accomplish
two things Cor Great Britain; first TO
give Russia a check-for of course
war must impede our progress tenn
porarily, second to cripple Japan's
maritime power, which was beginning
to De greatly felt in the Pacific"
1t can be said with the utmost pos
1tiveness that Russia will bIde her
time. She will act on the defensive
until she feels confident that her
weight of numbers will leave no doubt
as to the result. Reinforcements are
gong forward at the rate of 5000 a
day. Probably some time will elapse
before Russia feels fully prepared to
assume the offensive.
The conviction is growing here in
OFFICIAL circles that despite Japanese
denials, the Japanese feet was severe
ly crippled off Port Arthur in the en-
gagement which began Feb s. The
admiralty has no direct official infor-
nation to support this except the
manner in which the japanese aban-
doned the attack at the end of As
minutes. 1t is pointed out at the ad-
mlralty that two weeks nave now
elapsed without the whereabouts Of
the Japanese fleet being definitely re-
ported and the opinion is gaining
ground that it has gone to Japanese
port for repairs
General Kuropatkin will not leave
for the front for another fortnight.
In the meantime he is going to his
country estates, to bid farewell to rel
atlyes. His status has not yet been
fully settled. BY the terms of his
appointment the general will command
the Manchurian army, subject to Vice |
roy Alexietf, but his powers probably
will be extended to include the troops
north of Manchuria. The official view
OF the status is that Vtceroy Alexieff |
Will remain in supreme command;
but the viceroy being a sailor, Gener. |
al Kuropatkin was appointed his lieu
tenant for the army as Admiral Max
aroff Is for the navy. Speaking on the |
subject OF possible investment of Port |
Arthur, the military authorities here
do not believe the Japanese will at |
tempt to make a landing in force on
the Lao Tang peninsula. The former |
say there is nothing the Russians
would like better as such an attempt
Is doomed to certain failure. The
authorities here assert that the south |
ern portion OF the peninsula is strong
ly guarded and that the north shore
presents insuperable obstacles. The
only chance of the Japanese, it is
claimed, would be marching down
from Korea, but to do this, it Is add
ed they must first defeat the Russian
army on this side of the Yalu river,
and even If successful, they would be
face to face with an impregnable
stronghold. The Associated Press
now understands that Grand Duke
Alexis (uncle of the czar and high
admiraU has reconsidered his decision
to go to the Far East. He was ex
tremely. anxious to go, but the grand
duke felt that his duties here would
neoessitate his remaining in st. Pc
tersburg.