Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-02-13
TALK OF CHINESE ALLIANCE.
Russia May Soon Have to Fight With

Boxers.
Tien-Tsin, Feb. 12.-Russia may
soon have a. new and formidable enc
my on her hands. The people of China
are becoming aroused by the Japanese
successes and are eager to take hand
to drive the Russians out of their ter
ritory.
1t is known that the leaders of the
boxers" are stirring up the people to
make common cause with Japan and
it is reported here that an army of
100000 boxers" is being formed to
invade Manchuria. 1t is believed by
many that the destruction of the bridge
on the Manchurian railroad near Muk-
den was the work of an advance party
of boxers and that another blow will
soon be struck.
Another report is that the blowing
up of the bridge was one feature OF
Japan's plan of campaign of which the
midnight attack on the Russian fleet
at Port Arthur was the first sign. 1t
is believed that the Japanese warships
were conveying a big fleet Of trans
ports with several thousand soldiers
bound for an-hai-Kwan or some
point in the vicinity of Kin-Chou on
the Gulf of Liaotung on the western
side Of the peninsula on the south
ern extremity of which is Port Ar
thur.
1t is. reported that these troops will
effect junction with the Chinese army
under Yuan Shi-Kai and will Their
roam eastward: across the peninsula
to cut off Port Arthur by breaking the
line of communication with the north
It was to assist in. this purpose that
the railroad bridge was yesterday
blown up, killing thirty Russian SOL
diers.
Would Bring Thousands Of Boxers
Should Yuan-Shi-Kai and his army
join with. the Japanese it cannot be
doubted that they would be joined by
thousands of boxers" who in spite
of reports to the contrary. have KEEP
up their organization and are wei
drilled and equipped The feeling OF
the Chinese people against Russia is
very strong and should they once be-
come thoroughly aroused they would
pour into Manchuria1 such an innum-
cradle host of, men that the cars ar
my would be simply overwhelmed.
1t is known that for months many
Japanese emissaries have been busy
througout northern China recently
working up the anti-Russian feeling
and it would not surprise close OH
servers if the effect Of this propaganda
should soon be felt.
Railroad in Constant Danger.
1t cannot yet be ascertained whether
the Japanese transports have landed
the army at any points,on the gulf as
the means of communication are linn
tied. However, the blowing up of the
bridge, which has effectually blocked
the Manchurian line of the trans-Si-
berian railway shows what a difficult
task it will be for Russian to keep this
line open. For hundreds of miles the
road traverses a hostile country, ev-
cry native of which would, if he dared
gladly assist in expelling the hate6
Muscovites from the territory. 1t is
an easy matter for Japanese, disguised
as coolies, to pass freely about the
country and harass the enemy by fire.
quent attacks on his line ofscommun-
ication.
To keep the road open every foot Of
it must be guarded fora distance OF
over 5000 miles and the willy Japs
have proved as skillful in evading the
soldiers as their brethren on the tor
pedo boats were in reaching the big
battle ships at Port Arthur.