Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-09-21
MAIN FORCE MOVING
ON RUSSIAN FLANK
Garrison Is Left to Guard Liaoyang
Intention of Mikado on Capture
of Port Arthur-Oyama Ordered to
Resume Offensive.

1TOu Mukuen, announcing That, accord
ing to information from Chinese
sources, the Japanese are leaving a gar
rison at Liaoyang and their main forces
are moving out on the Russian TANKS,
is partially confirmed by the dispatch
from Gen. Kuropatkin reporting that
the Japanese are massing on the Rus
sian TANKS, that a. large force is con-
centrating at Bentsiaputze, 20 miles
southeast Of Mukden, and that another
force, whose strength has not been
established, is moving up the Lao val
ley. The greater part of Field Marshal
Oyama's army, however, is still near
Yentai, encamped along the heights be-
tween the mines and the railroad.
While the war Office does not expect an
Immediate advance, the preliminary
dispositions of the japanese forces are
taken to indicate that the japanese III
tend when they advance to strike from
the eastward. They seem to be avoiding
the territory west of the Lao river, pos
sibly because it is fiat and would give
the Russians the advantage of their SUI
periority in cavalry. Chinese residents
fleeing to Mukden complain that the
Japanese are pillaging Liaoyang.
Give Kuropatkin Credit.
The Russian military critics. analyz-
ing Gen. Kuropatkin's extended report
Of the battle of Liaoyang, seem to unite
in considering that Field Marshal Oya-
mas purpose having failed, the honors
belong rather to Kuropatkin than to the
Japanese commander in chief. The
Novoe Vrema draws a parallel between
Liaoyang and Borodino, where Gen.
Kutusoff's abandonment of Moscow tc
Napoleon was followed by the disas-
trous retreat of the French.
May Strike at Vladivostok.
News from the front is exceedingly
meager, and the present lull in the op-
erations in Manchuria is expected to
continue for several weeks. Ever since
Gen. Kuropatkin's retreat was definite
ly accomplished the best informed mill
tary circles were convinced that Field
Marshal Oyama could not Immediate
ly renew his aggressive tactics All
the information since received regard
ing the condition of the Japanese armies
has strengthened the conviction that
Oyama will require a considerable time
to organize new advance, and it is now
believed that he will probably await re-
endorsements of men and guns, to make
good his losses at Liaoyang. These, it
is reported, will be ready to leave Japan
at the end of the month. Moreover, it
would create no surprise here if JAP
anese diversion is attempted in the d.
rection of Vladivostok, to prepare the
way for renewal of aggressive opera
lions against Mukden. In the meantime
Kuropatkin is also obtaining reinforce
ments. A large number of guns and
some Independent troops are on their
way to the front, and the first detach-
ment of the Odessa corps is expected to
be on it's way east by train Saturday.
Plans Not Known.
There is considerable mystery about
Kuropatkin's plans. Although all the
information obtainable indicates that
the bulk of his army is still around
Mukden. and the official intimations are
that Kuropatkin does not contemplate
retiring further at present, there is
considerable skepticism on these points.
About all that is definitely known IS
that considerable number of his troops
have already gone north, that the
heights near the Lao river at Tie Pass
have been fortified, that the pass has
been secured and that cavalry is scout
Ing wide on the Russian TANKS to sig
nal the first indication of new turn
ing movement on the part of the Jap
anese. Only outpost skirmishes of lit
tie Importance have been reported.
The Japanese are now expected to re-
double their efforts before Port Arthur.
whence the news received is now en-
couraging. In spite of the success
which has hitherto attended the de-
Tense, the Russian lines are being drawn
closer, the garrison is undergoing Sc
we're privatiOns, and it's resisting DOW
er is weakening under the strain. A
final sortie of the Russian squadron at
Port Arthur may be expected at any
time.
When the command of the squadron
was turned over to Rear Admiral Wren.
he received strict instructions that If
the fortress falls not one of the Russian
ships must fall into the hands of the
Japanese
Japan's Intentions.
London, Sept. 1.-THE Daily Tele-
graphs Tientsin correspondent telo.
graphs that he hears from a trust
worthy source that the Japanese for
eign minister has issued circular an
nouncing that it is Japan's intention to
turn Port Arthur, when it 10 captured.
and the whole of the Liaotrng penin-
sula over to the Chinese, who, the cor
respondent says, it is understood will
declare Port Arthur an open port.
ION the same authority" the Daily
Telegraph's representative says, 81 am
told that Japan will be prepared to en-
terrain peace proposals after she has
taken Mukden and Sakhalin on the fol-
lowing basis: First, that an interna-
tional syndicate take, over the Man
churian railway and run it as a strict
ly commercial enterprise; second, that
Russia pay 9100,0o0,000 indemnity,
and third, that Russia is to hand over
all Of her ships in Chinese waters to
japan. Japan would be prepared 70
lease Sakhalin to an American com
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