Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-11-17
TOO CoLD TO FIGHT.

Mukden. Nov 16 p. m.(, via Tien Tsin, Nov 17.--Four days sharp cold has siIenced the artillery and infantry fire between the opposing positions, and has driven the soldiers into theif dugouts along the entire intrenched line, The apparent impossibility for either side to eject the other from their burrows and the fact that ih the event one side succeeded In ad, vaIicing it could not dig the other out of it's cantonments on account of the frost, seems to promise q winters in- activity. although the Japanese three days ago made q small reconnaissance toward the extreme east and pushed back the Russian cavalry few miles as though they were Investigating tile possibilities for a hanking movement. It seems impossible that either side Ain any case could more than occupy sAfs opponents winter quarters. The wells along tie lines are dry and both sides use the Shakhe river, where the sol- diers approach Ilnarmed ahd get watei under recognized mutual sanction. not tos fire on a single, soldier. Here the noble art of war Is confined to -nstt- cuffs and swapping. cigarettes, jack knives and food, all of which are prized. Famiiiaffties are inevitable where long lines are in continual con- tact. The armies have now been sta tionary for so long that they are draw ing supplies of fuel and, horse forage from the disfallt rear; aII other sup plies being exliausted
 The perfunctory ceremonies of intro tlueing the three daysAt%ce ton, Of ; the birthduy of the dawager empress of China began November 13. At the drum tower and also at the, bell tower, which are features of the maln street of.all capitals, large shrines were erect ed enclosing tablet inscribed with the word .'Jansou,' which like han- zai's means 1" ten thousand ages to the dynasty.'' Before the tablet are fooo offerings, alidsyalso incense. Last night a hundred ornamental, fancy lanterns and transparencies with congratulatory inscriptions were displayed Il, the main streets. but not single soui came for tho purpose of witnessing the illhminations The streets were desert ed. Many Japanese lanterns were in- cluded in. the display, as Japnpese products. mostly spurious limitations Of. foreign commodities for the use of the troops, have arrived here m large quantities. To-day being the dowager s birthday. flags and streaniers were 10 be seen in all the streets. The Lartar RGneSQi. 1ulIlDcuI, utlu AiC. w. lAsNDtt asts .jfficfnls kotowcd to the dowager's ta p- let in the deserted ancestral palace, and the period of ten days prayers in All the dynastic shrines about this, aChina's secoiid capital" continues, The Tartar general with the officials of the i've boards and also the native military mandarin dined with Generai Kuropatkin at the Confucian temple outside the west gate with the native guilds, which bear the expenses Of the birthday celebration. tThough con- scfous that the profits of the retail trade are greatly in excess of normal times the guilds nevertheless. oil ae count of Mukden being no longer | wholesale market and a way station for the immense goods and grain cara vans lament the deserted highways and condole with the officials of the five boards by which Manchurta, like China proper. is ordinarily governed. and who now await year to year the promised restoration of their functions.
 Private a6yiees from Pekin contain warnings that the emperor is increas- inrly inane, sickly and insignincanr and the tlowager thinner and older and lacking in cordiality to rorelgners, ai' though perSunctory in matters refer ring to foreign relations. emitting for n,eT courtesies, while the most con- epIcuous s'reform'' Is said to be the new. corrupt board of war