Perth Amboy evening news., 1904-09-30

Grand Duke Nicholaevitch
Commander In Far East.
OYAMA NOW HOLDING DA PASS.
stoesueI Again FlatIy Refuses 20
Yield sort Arthur 10 the Mika-
do-Russia Fortifying
MuIden.

LONDON, Sept. 30.-A special dis
patch from st. Petersburg says that
Grand Duke Nicholas N-icholaevitch's
commission as commander in chief of
the Manchurian armies has been made
out. The report is coupled with the
revival of the story that Viceroy
Alexeief win return to st. Petersburg
and become chancellor of the empire.
The latter report is not credited in the
best informed circles, although it is
admitted that the viceroy viii proba-
bly, return If Grand Duke Nicholas is
sent to the far east.
A Newchwang report says that the
main force of the Russian army has
retired to the north of Mukden. Strong
bodies of troops have been thrown out
to defend both iahks, and the southern
approaches to the city have been care
fully mined. The indications are that
no serious attempt will be made to
hold Mukden.
All is quiet at Vladivostok.
Grand Duke Alexander Michaelo-
witch has offered the hospitality of a
specially constructed villa on his estate
at Aitodor, in the Crimea, to officers
wounded in sea fighting. Admiral
Skrydloff has given permission to Lieu
tenant Dombrovski and Midshipman
Baron Aminoff to accept the invitation,
and they will start for Aitodor shortly.
Mukden advices say that the Japa-
nese have at last developed their at
tack. They have captured Da pass
and are pressing on General Kuropat-
kin's left flank. The war office at st.
Petersburg is unable to confirm this
officially because Kuropatkin's dis
patches are following the emperor, but
it is said by the general staff that all
indications point to the news being
correct.
1t is believed the Russians abandon
ed Da pass without serious resistance.
Several other passes of the On range
eastward of Bentsiaputze, twenty
miles southeast of Mukden, are also
In the hands of the Japanese.
Kuropatkin is evidently drawing in
his forces to the less mountainous
country northwestward, where he may
decide to give battle. In the mean
while sharp fighting is regarded rs inn
minent southeast of Mukden, whence
the japanese are expected to deliver
their main attack. the flank move rnt
from the west being of secondary n
%portance.
Da pass, or Ia pass, meaning Great
pass, is situated about forty-tive miles
southeast of Mukden and about the
same distance northeast of Liaoyang.
1t is about twenty-five miles south of
the Hun river.
The Japanese attacked this pass,
which was occupied by the troops of
Generals M~istchenko and Samsonoff,
ON Sept. "a, but were twice repulsed.
The japanese armies around Lao
yang are reported to be decimated by
epidemics. :.
The japanese are said to have
damned the Lao river abreast of Lao
yang, flooding the country, in order to
protect their left flank.
War clothing is being received by
the Japanese from America.
Again has General Stoessel fatty re-
fused to yield Port Arthur TO the Jap
anese. His determination so firmly ex-
pressed in the early days of the siege,
when he declared that the fortress
would fall into the hands of the enemy
after a Russian rout and when he told
his men that death was their only es-
cape, is mistaken.
A friend of his said. "Even if in
structions were SEN General Stoessel
to surrender he would surely follow the
example of Nelson, who promptly be
came Blind ON the side of the signal
telling him to cease fighting"