Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1904-08-04

st. Petersburg, Aug. "A report
from an apparently reliable source
was to the effect that General Kuro-
patkins main force has been rapidly
moving north for several days.
According to this report, no troops
proceeding to the front from Russia
have gone past Hardin in the past
three days. They will be detained
there and every available piece of
rolling stock be rushed south empty
for the removing of the troops at Lao
yang and other points to the north
ward leaving skeleton force to con-
test the Japanese advances on vital
positions.
Great Anxiety in ST. Petersburg.
st. Petersburg, Aug. 2.-The greatest
anxiety prevails here for news of the
general advance against the southern
and eastern positions of General Ku-
ropatkin's army. The public believes
the decisive battle of the campaign Is
being fought, but this is not yet estab-
lshed, The Associated Press hears
from the keenest military attaches in
ST. Petersburg that for several days
the main body of the Russian army has
been moving north towards Mukden
and that when the present line to the
southeast is forced the Japanese will
find that they have crushed only the
she'll Should this prove to be so,
General Kuropatkin will doubtless be
obliged to destroy the immense stores
accumulated at Liaoyang.
kuropatkin Cannot Escape.
Shrewd military critics, however, do
not believe that General Kuropatkin
cannot escape general engagement.
His army forms wedge, with General
Oku hammering at the point and Gen
erals Nodzu and Kuroki operating with
driving movements of great force
against the sides. If one of the latter
should break through the southern
force would be doomed.
Amazed at Jap Strength.
The general staff seems amazed at
the immense strength of cooperating
Japanese armies. The Japanese evil
IDENTIFY succeeded in concealing the
real number of their men and guns,
which the general staff now believes
must be in excess of 100000 men
with between 300 and 400 guns.
May Pocket an Army.
to hn1 IN "a
Russian army at Haicheng in check,
General Nodzu is evidently trying to
work around the vital position at
Simoucheng. At the same time General
Kurold is trying to flank the first Siber-
ian army corps at Yanzalin and is also
pushing strong column through di-
rect toward Liaoyang on the Siamatzse
road There is a road north from
Simoueheng which strikes the Feng-
wangcheag.L iaoyang road west of
Nanzalin. If SimCucheng should be
forced a rapid advance along this road
would pocket the first Siberian army
corps.
Startling Toxic Report.
A report from Toxic last night that
Simoucheng had actually been forced
did not become generally known. The
general staff remained in session until
almost this morning and on adjourn
ment it was stated that nothing be-
yond the days official dispatches had
Leen received.
1t is impossible to confirm the Toxic
report, but if il is true, as pointed out
in the foregoing, 1t leaves the Russian
forces in an exceedingly serious posi-
ton
Russian Generals Cut of.
London. Aug. "A dispatch to a
news agency from Toxic says there IS
reason to believe that after two days
of fighting the Japanese occupied
Slmoucheng. thus cutting of General
S.akelberg from General Kuropatkin.
Black Sea Fleet to Move.
London Aug. 2.-The Sebas topol
correspondent of the Times asserts
positively that the entire Russian vol
unteer fleet now in the Black sea with
other large steamers which have been
taken over by the government are uD
der orders for government service out.
side of the Black Sea a. an early date.
Brilliant Japanese Fighting.
London. Aug British CORE.
srondents with General kuroki in the
field, in dispatches dated July ST. con
cur in the statement that the Japan.
ese have left only one defensible post
ton between them and Liaoyang
The Standard says the attack on
the position beyond Molten pass vas
fully justified by it, success. Every