The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-04-20
OPERATIONS ON LAND.
Skirmishes Reported But a Big Bat
tie is Yet to Come.

tie is Yet to Come.
st. Petersburg. April 10 4:3O D.
m).-NO confirmation has been re-
ceived here up 10 this hour of the
reported arrival of a big feet Of Jap
anese transports in the gulf Of Chi Lii
Reports differ widely as TO the destiua-
ton Of the fleet, Kin Chou, situated on
the narrowest part of the Lao Tung
peninsula, above Port Arthur: Kai
Chou, south of New Chuang, and New
Chuang itself being mentioned by the
various reports. An attempted landing
at the head of the Lao Tung gulf has
been anticipated for some time, but lat
terly the Russians have been inclined to
believe that they have 80 strengthened
their position there that the japanese
have abandoned the idea of landing
more than a raiding party to cut the
railroad TO Port Arthur. Tt is conSid-
cred possible that the japanese hay
have decided that the time IS orpor-
ject Of cutting Off and investing Pert
Arthur.
Mere Guesswork.
The chances OF effecting a landing in
neutral Chinese territory ca the coast
west Of the Lao Tung peninsula aIe
now regarded as remote rs tue Rus
slams do not believe the japanese VIII
dare to risk arOusing the Chinese and
thus bring down upon them the con-
demnatiOn OF the powers, whose good
opinion they are striving 20 obtain. The
fact is that the Russians seen greatly
a sea as 10 the japanese plans.
In the best informed military quar-
ters the correspondent Of the Associat-
ed Press finds considerable skepiic:sm
I'm regard to the reported landing on
Lao Tung gulf, and an inclination 10
think il has been too widely advertised
To prove more than a ruse. III a heavy
landing occurs now in Korea The Rus
sian authorities are more disposed TO
believe that II would be near Tsku
Shan. japanese transports are ex-
pected daily IT the mouth Of the Yalu
river.
Cossaclzs in Korea.
The reports that there are 5000 Cos
sacks in the neighborhoOd Of Gen San
are denied. The Russian cavalry is
scouting along the east coast OF Korea,
but nos so Ear down as Gen San.
While there is almost constant skIr-
mishing along the Yalu, the Russians
do not anticipate land lighting for some
time, not believing that the japanese
will seriously attempt crossing the river
until their advance can be supported
by two corps, which their adVicss III
dictate are about the strength Of the
mikado's soldiers in Korea. The gen
eral staff is Of the opinion that the rear
must be protected and that a third
corps must be landed and entrenched
in a line across the peninsula before
the real forward movement cal begin.
Lack of transportation facilities, &C
cording TO the Russian advices, arc de-
laying the Japanese.
Roads impossible.
Both i'm Japan and Korea the n ads
are in dreadful state. The japanese
horses are dying by the hun Irads. 1t
viii be impossible to bring up regular
field artillery, and they viii have TO
rely on mounted guns. General Kuro-
patkins dispositions. the general staff
says, are progressing rapidly AMI sat
isfactorily- The troops concentrating
below Mukden are being sent 10 their
allotted positions. About 10000 are
employed in guarding the railroad, hut
the number is considered sufficient
They are mainly on duty about the
massive bridges and heavy cuts. &C.
where serious damage could be done BY
explosions. There is no necessity Tor
a heavy guard along the military road
bed, where damage could be repaired
IN few hours. The Russians know the
japanese are making desperate Efforts
10 cripple the road by blowing up
bridges. a number OF Japanese Ct
hcers have already been caught req