The San Francisco call., 1904-03-11

Herald. Copyright, lSO4, py tH0 49,
Herald Publishing Company
BERLIN, March 11.-German n1iil-
tary experts are disposed 10 accep'
with reserve the reports that a jay
anese force has landed in the rear oL
the Russian position on the TaIu anu
captured Fungyangcheng. Inc u@
ing of this dash. which. II made dt a.
must have been by compardllV9Iy
small force, would excite adIhlr 'IOl''
but at the same time there Is d uis
position to criticize the movement on
strategical grounds. II the JaPansS0
have occupied the Manchurian terri
torv reported in the dispatches, their
positiOn would be extremely crllcaI
should the Russian forces on the faIu
and along the Manchurian railroad
make a combined attack Unless the
Japanese force is exceedingly strong
which can scarcely be the case. con-
sidering the quickness with which IFS
landing was effected, ii is so far out
numbered By the Russians that the
latter should sweep it back into the
sea.
German military men are Of the be-
lief that the japanese are being lured
on to disaster by tactics which nave
characterized the MuscOvite In all OF
his wars. Beware Of the Russian re-
treat" is a maxim in European armies
Russian leaders long ago learned the
effectiveness of pretending defeat and
falling back, Turing the pursuing army
far from it's base of supplies and strik-
ing a crushing blow when the enemy
had been placed at a disadvantage
1t is felt that the Japanese, because
of their lack of cavalry, must be par
ticularly cautious in their advance in
Manchuria and that they should make
no forward movement except in
strength sufficient to hold any position
they may capture and at the same time
protect their line Of communications.
1t has been expected from the outset
in local military circles that the Rus
slams would feign defeat and fall back
in Manchuria until the Japanese forces
had been attracted far inland. Then.
while the infantry attacks in front.
swarm Of COssacks would be hurled
down the fanks Of the japanese.
Should the "little brown men's ever
meet a reverse and be compelled to
fall back, they would find a COssack
horde on all sides, like hounds worry
ing a fleeing stag.
News Of a series Of minor Japanese
victories on the frontier would not
surprise the German experts. for the
reasons stated In fact, they have ex-
pected to hear of Russian retreats"
and believe the Slav is pursuing his
ancient strategy, falling back until the
pursuit reaches ground where he can
deal a crushing blow Whether the
/ shrewdness of the Japanese leaders
Will prevent their being lured into a
/ trap remains to be seen, but ii IS
\ feared that the flush of seeming VIC
/ tory will prove the undOing Of the
| OTientals in their first brush with the
/ trained leaders of a European army.
! LONDON, March 11.-Most of the
/ newspaper commentators on the Far
Eastern military and naval situation
this morning content themselves with
pulverizing the reports Of a japanese
4 invasion of Manchuria and OF a re-
newed bOmbaTdment of Port Arthur.
The military correspondent of the Daily
/ Telegraph. however, writes:
1T Is more than probable that the
successive alarms at POssiet Bay and
/ Liangchen We're only designed to create
scares that would keep the Russians in
uncertainty at every point Of the long
line in order the more easily to effect
a landing where the Japanese had made
no demonstration. Therefore. 1 am in
clined to think it is probable. though
still uncertain. that the news Of yes
terday viii so far be substantially con-
firmed that we shall find the japanese
have landed virtually unOppOsed some
where on the northern shore Of Korea
/ Bay, probably in the neighborhood of
| Takushan- and that from there they
have advanced TO FungwangchenE
pushing on an advanced detachment TO
Tatungling"
The Daily Mail believes the alleged
presence of Japanese at FungwanS-
cheng is finally disprOved by the news
that there has been an important en-
counter between Japanese and Russian
! soldiers near Pingyang. $50 miles 10
the south Of Fungwangcheng.