The Tupelo journal., 1904-09-02
The War In Tie Far East.

garrison and the beseigers has
dropped out of notice owing to the
interest that attaches to the prog
ress of events near Lao Yang,
where the Japanese, under Gener-
ais Kuroki and Oku, are endeav-
oring to completely envelope Gen.
eral Kuropatkins army. Accord.
ing to Russian estimates the Jap.
anese force numbers 24O, 1000 mon,
but no information is vouchsafed
as to the Russian strength. II is
not even known whether or not
General Kuropatkin has his whole
army still at Liao- Yang or only
retains a strong rear guard there
to screen the movements OF the
main body, which may be retreat
ing northward.
As a result of the fighting OF
the past few days the Russians
have been driyen in from all their
advanced positions on Lao Yang,
where there are strong entrench-
ments. Were it not for the fact
that the Japanese are on three
sides of his army and threaten to
cut off his retreat at any moment,
General Kuropatkin would prob
ably elect to make a stand at Liao-
Yang as such e~ventuality had been
prepared fol by strong fortified
tions and an accumulation OF sup
plies. 1t is not probable that the
Russian General would care to be
shut up at Liao- Yang. hence some
authorities believe that he has al
ready moved a large portion OF
his army aud his stores further
north.
The Japanese are not only push
ing forward from the south, but
on the east as we'll, while q strong
detachment is being pushed north
ward with a view to cutting the
railroad between Lao Yang and
Mukden. Not satisfied with envel-
oping the Russians on two SIDES
the Japanese have also = third ar
my following the Lao River to
the westward of the Russian posi-
ton, so that it is entirely possible
that General Kuropatkin may find
himself entirely surrounded unless
he elects to withdraw northward.
While some observers believe
that the Russians will fight a de-
cisive battle at LAO Yang, such is
not the general expectation. A de.
cisive defeat at that place would
end the campaign for the present
year and open up the way to the
japanese to Mukden and possibly
even further north. AS the rains
have now ceased the Japanese ev-
identity propose to move forward
as rapidly as possible 80 as to take
Mukden before cold weather sets
in.
There is a report to the effect
that the Russians are contempla-
ting making a diversion by send
ing a considerable force southwark
from Vladivostok to invade Corea.
Such an expedition would compel
the Japanese to withdraw some OF
their forces from Kuroki's army,
as it is not probable that there is
a sufficient force of Japanese i'll
Corea to cope with an invas ion in
any strength. 1t would not take
long for Japan, with complete
command of the sea, to land an ar
my on the east coast of Corea and
meet any force the Russians may
send.
There is practically no news
from Port Arthur where it is GER
tain that the sorely pressed garri-
son is still holding out. The jap
anese are undoubtedly drawing
their lines closer and closer, and
they have already carried some of
the principal defenses of the fort
ress. While the beseiged may still
hold out for days and even weeks
the final outcome is inevitable, as
there is no possibility of relief
Daily Picayune