Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-04
CONFLICTING REPORTS
MOVEMENTS OF KUROPATKIN ON
PENINSULA.
Gear Expresses Confidence in General
May Only Be Making Feint
for Effect.
4 cable from Paris says:

cable from Paris says:
The Echo de Paris st. Petersburg corre-
spondent reaffirms his intelligence previ-
ously telegraphed that the emperor, adopt
Viceroy Alexieff's views, ordered Gen. Ku-
ropatkin to send 10000 men to the relief
of Port Arthur.
A dispatch from London says: No furth-
er light has been thrown on the rumors
concerning Gen. Kuropatkins intentions.
Dispatches in the Morning Post from
Shanghai and to the Chronicle from Niu-
chwang repeat the reports of the movement
of 1900 Russians to Kaiping. The corre-
spondents assert that five days fighting
took place at Wafangtien. and that the
Russians are employing 1000 carts to re-
move munitions from Lao-yang to Kalyu-
lon, seventy miles north Of Mukden.
A dispatch from st. Petersburg says The
best informed military circles attach no
Importance to the reports that Gen Kuropat-
kin has detached a large force from his
southwark to relieve Port Arthur. and it
Is distinctly denied that Emperor Nicholas
ordered such movement.
Confidence Of the Emperor.
1t can be authoritatively stated that the
emperors confidence in Kuropatkin Is un-
shaken. and his majesty is not attempting
to interfere with his plan Of campaign.
While no such army has been dispatched
southwark, it Is natural that Kuropatkin
will do all possible to harass Gen. Oku's
rear. The railroad has been kept open
as far as Vafangow. twenty-five miles
above Kin-chou, and 1t Is not unlikely that
when the Japanese have failed to push
through line across the head of the Lao
tung peninsula that several thousand Rus
sian troops may be sent down the railroad
to impede the Japanese operations and in
of nh do ago haS
could easily be withdrawn by railroad II
the enemy threatened to cut the line OF
communication above. Even the loss of a
few regiments would be considered cheap
IL the japanese operations against Port Ar
thur were thereby retarded for an appre-
ciable time.
Possibly Feint.
l. However 1t Is realized that with the
Japanese occupation of Port Dalny and
Ta-len-wan as bases for landing siege
guns the small force above Kin-chou could
accomplish but little. and II is now more
likely to be Withdrawn. destroying the rail-
road as 1t retires northward. For strategic
purposes Kuropatkin may be trying to
make the Japanese believe that movement
southwark Is contemplated, In order to d.
vert Kurokfs attention in that direction
The impression Is being thrown out in
certain quarters here that kuropatkin is
about to take the offensive. and that an
engagement with Kuroki Is imminent. But
SO far can be ascertained. there is nc
solid foundation for this.
1t is unQuestfonable. however, that the
railroad Is pouring troops into Manchuria
at the rate of almost $500 day, and II
will not be long at the present rate be-
fore the Russian Communicated will
be at least on equal terms with any force
| the enemy can bring against him.
The general staff is keeping very dark
about the whereabouts and purposes OF
| the Cossacks reported to be working around
| Kurokis rear and the number of the raid
| ers operating In Korea.
dispatch from Kai-Chou says: The JAP
| anese have moved a division UP to Pulan-
| diem as a screen for their operations on the
| Kwarg-tung peninsula. and also to arrest
a possible Russian advance intended to In
1 terfere with the siege operations