Gilpin observer., 1904-10-20
RUSSIANS MOVE
kuRoPArkIN TAKES OFFENSIVE
of the Present Age-Hope Again
kindIed in ST. Petersbura.

ST. Petersburg, Oct. 19.-2:50 a. III,
There is jubilation throughout the
city over the news that General Kuro~
patkin has resumed the offensive and
the holiday, which began with little
heart, closed brighter. The crowds
in the streets and the iIluminations
in honor of the Carevitch's name day
gave tinge of brilliancy to an even
ing otherwise depressing, through
constant drizzle of rain.
Newsboys up to midnight raced
through the thoroughfares with even
ing extras. shouting. Great Russian
victory" and crowds bought the pa
pers. Groups of men in brilliant uni
forms or in evening dress at hotels
and restaurants discussed the change
in the fortunes of war, but the popu-
lat1on as whole were slow to take
fire. They had received the news of
the earlier reverse stolidly and now
accepted reports of Russian successes
and the capture of guns quietly, with
satisfaction, but with considerable re-
serve.
Correspondents at the front the
past forty-eight hours have been hint
ing that the Russian army was on the
eve of another advance. but it was
thought here that the troops were too
exhausted by more than week of
Tltantic struggle to engage in an ad-
vance movement. Therefore the news
OF the definite resumption of the ad-
vance was calculated TO arouse the
greater satisfaction, but the realiza-
tion of the Significance of news per-
lneates the masses here more slowly
than in American cities.
The Kaleidoscope changes on the
Shakhe have been too swift for the
populace to follow, and so the better
news from the front has been so far
taken with comparative quiet. In the
best informed circles. however, it is
already accepted as true. 1t is be-
iieved that General Kuropatkin in
tended to signalize the Czarevitch's
fete by victory, just as Grand Duke
Nicholas did at Plevna.
The failure of the war Office to give
out dispatches is attributed to the hol-
iday, the censors' commission dis
banding early. The Associated Press.
however, hears on good authority that
the Emperor has received dispatch
from General Kuropatkin reporting
that the Russians are moving forward.
The reverse sustained by General
Yamada's column has not yet been re-
ported by General Kuropatkin OF Gen
eral Sakharoff, except in reference to
an unsuccessful attack near Shakhe.
The Associated Press Mukden dis
patches evidently refer to this affair
in reporting that the Japanese left
had been beaten off with terrible
slaughter and it's retreat cut off by a
Russian army corps. Another Asso-
ciated Press dispatch from Mukden
confirms the. news of the Russian ad-
vance, when telegraphing late to-
night, the correspondent says:
1T is rumored hat we are moving
ahead"
| There is no official confirmation of
the report from Toxic that Russian
attack on the Japanese right October
18th had been repulsed If tnis report
should prove true, it may involve Sc
rious consequences for the Russians
who crossed the Shakhe while the
river was fordable. According to the
Mukden dispatches the water has
since risen man-high in consequence
of heavy rains. and therefore 1t would
be well-nigh impossible for the Rus
sian army to recross the river, owing
to the absence of bridges. 1t would
be equally difficult for the same rea-
son to bring up supplies and ammuni-
tion to enable General Kuropatkin to
follow up the advance. This may ex-
plain the statement in a Mukden dis
patch that the fighting was slacken-
ing the morning of October 18th.