Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1904-10-13
SOMETHING is DOING
Unusual Activity And BusiIe Are Per.
ceiYed.
KUROPATKlN MAY EVAGUATE.
The War Commission Sat Until an
Unusually late hour But Adjourned
without Issuing Additional News
From Front.

The significance of a Mukden dis
patch noting an unusual activity in
that place is the subject of much
speculation at st. Petersburg The
theory that it indicates the purpose
of General Kuropatkin to evacuate
the town is not generally accepted,
military officers there surmising that
the commotion noted is in connection
with movement to check Japanese
flanking operation In Russian circles
some credence is given to the rumor
that Admiral Wren has left Port
Arthur with his ships, confusion re-
sulting from severe storm on Tuesday
being regarded as having made such
dash possible. Time-expired mem
bers of the guards regiments in st.
Petersburg and vicinity have been or
dered to remain with the colors There
are indications that the Russian war
ships in the Baltic will soon be dis
patched to the Far East.
St. Petersburg, Oct S.-The war
commission sat until an unusually late
hour, but adjourned without issuing
additional news from the front
Expert opinion is divided as to
whether serious engagement is like
ly to occur at Mukden, but the dis
patch from that city reporting an I'M
usual activity there gives rise to much
speculative comment. 1t is impossi-
BILE to say whether this condition pres
| sages the evacuation of Mukden, but
in any case it is evident that some
thing of unusual interest is pending.
Some are even bold enough to take
it that General Kuropatllin is pre-
pairing to assume the offensive, but
in view of the fact that most reliable
advices credit him with only about
six divisions at Mukden, this is ex-
| ceedingly improbable. 1t is though
| more likely that the commotion had
to do with one or the other of the jap
| anese fianking columns which the
Russian commander may have been
preparing to check.
st. Petersburg the admiral
| ty claims to have no knowledge of the
| departure of the Port Arthur squad
ron, it is inferrable from the way
| in which the report that such an
| event had transpired has been receiv-
ed that definite confirmation would
not create surprise. The Associated
Press is informed that no direct or
ders have been sent to Admiral Wir-
en- to break through the blockading
| feet, but it is tactically admitted that
the admiral has discretionary powers
| to leave Port Arthur should the situa-
ton demand or conditions be propi-
tious. In naval circles it is pointed
| out that Wednesday morning the con-
| ditions might have been favorable for
sortie. Heavy storms ragged Tues
day, and, doubtless compelled the
blockading vessels and particularly
the torpedo boats to seek shelter, thus
leaving the way clear for a dash to
Vladivostok. Some naval officers,
| however are inclined to think that fir
| ing that was heard at Chefoo may only
| have been directed at blockade run
uers.
Orders were issued to all the sea-
| men belonging to the battle ship Orel
and the cruisers Oleg, Semtchug and
Izumrud to rejoin tneir vessels at
| Cronstadt Immediately. 1t is believ-
ed that this preSSases the sailing of
| these vessels tomorrow for Reval,
where Emperor Nicholas is going to
review the whole Pacific squadron.