Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-02-23

&ne c0upl JE uclSsat U: tue JStD" .."N' said to the Associated Press to-day a high authority, in intimate touch with the Russian war plans, whose opin- Son can be taken faithfully to reflect the belief in the highest official quar- ters He added: How the Japan ese can hope to succeed when our army in the east is strengthened to a point equal or superior in numbers estly unable to comprehend. It will not be difficult to place two, four or even six hundred thousand addition al men in the field, if necessary. When our forces are concentrated and ready they will finish by driving the Japanese into the sea. Frankly, it seems to us that the Japanese either have utterly failed to appreci- ate Russia's resources. or have count ed on the aid of Great Britain or the United States, neither of which ever contemplated becoming involved. So far as Great Britain is concerned we do not believe any Authorizations ex- isted there We think the British statesmen who did so much to push Japan into war realized that with Japan's defeat they would accom- plish two things for Great Bri ain first, to give Russia check, for, of course, the war must impede our progress temporarily; second, to CT p pie Japan's maritime power which was beginning to be greatly felt in the Pacific
 1t can be said with the utmost positiveness 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 Reinforce ments are going forward at the rate of 3,0o0 per day. Probably some time will elapse' before Russia feels fully prepared to assume the offen- sive.
 he conviction ds growing here Iii official circles that in spite of Japan csc denials the Japanese fleet was severely crippled off Port Arthur in the engagement which began Febru- ary 8. The admiralty has no direct information to support this, except the manner in which the Japanese abandoned the attack at the end of forty five minutes
 It is pointed out at the admiralty : that two weeks have now elapsed without the whereabouts of the Jap anese fleet being definitely repo ted, and the opinion is gaining ground that it has gone to a Japanese rot for repairs. 1t is pointel out also that it has always been the Japauese policy to announce only victor es, the admiralty adding: "We know they sustained losses in the China war which were never admitted
 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 relatives. His status has not yet been fully settled. By the term, of his appointment the general will com mand the Manchurdan army. subject to yiceroy Alexieff, but his powers probably will be extended to include the troops north of Manchuria. The official view Of the status is that yiceroy Alexieff will remain in su- preme command, but, the viceroy be- ing sailor.> General Kuropdtkin will be appointed his lieutenant fer the army :ls Admiral Makaroff is for the navy.
 The viceroys departure from Port Arthur was not due to apprehension of the possibility Of it's investment. but simply to the requirements of tie strategieal situation, so as to en- able him to direct the operat ops now fin progress along the line of the Ko- rean frontier from more ce tral point. Possibly he will not renl;L,n at Mukden, but will go from place to place, as circumstances demand. < Speaking on the subject of tha Pos- sible investment of Port -trti,u' the military authorities here do not be- Meye the ';:nanese Vii. attsm. t
 make a landing in force on the L!aotl Tung peninsula. The former say there Is nothing the Eussians would ike better, as sneh an at. rnpt is doomed to certain reilu'e. The autro .itias here assert tht the southern portion Of the penins..la is strongly guarded and that the northern shore presents fnsuperable obstacles The only chance of the Japanese, it is elained, would be marching down from ko- req, but to do this, it is added, they must first defeat the Russian army on this side of the Yaiu river, and. even if successful. they woull be face to face with an impresnable stronghold.
 The Assocsated Press now under