The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-05-07

ran there. Rear Admiral NitlSOefL
who was left in charge of the fleet by
FicerOm AleXien. viii direct operations
al Port Arthur. Wittsueft is a good Off
Ger, and it is believed he viii render
excellent service
Despite the greater number Of jap
auese, the general staff believes that
their formidable Qualifications still
leave the defensive superiority with
the Russians whose staying qualities,
10 is confident. viii insure their hold
ing out as long as necessary.
VIII Defend Dalny.
While the outer line of Notifications
extends TO Kinchow. unquestionabl bly, no
determined effort viii be made 10 hold
them, nor is it expected that a despe-
rate attempt TO retain Dalny viii be
made. The main defense viii be of
Port Arthur, where. since the harbor
has been occupied by the Russians,
steady work has progressed to COM
plete the system of defense. which is
just as effective on the land as ON the
sea side.
stoessel in Command.
Lieutenant General stoesseI viii have
supreme command at Port Arthur. He
is described as a high-cIass command
er. His recent prOclamations show
that he is imbued with a determina-
ton TO hold Port Arthur until the last
man is killed
Officers of the general staff say that
the landing of the japanese army on
the peninsula and the Investment of
Port Arthur clarity the military stu
alton and the problem which General
kuropatkiu must solve. Had kuTO-
patkin had his way before the war.
it is said, he would have abandoned
Port Arthur. Withdrawn further TO the
north and waited until his army had
become overwhelming in its strength,
when ne would have moved forward.
but this was made impossible as a con-
sequence of the injuries sustained by
the Port Arthur fleet and the impOs-
sibility OF the departure eft the feet
from NladivOstOk with a superior jap
aupse force outside that port. There
fore, the commauder-in-ch is walt
ing az Lao YaHg until the enemy s.
plans shat Ihave developed sufficiently
% show just what line il is supposed
10 follow
Caution forbade an attempt in force
10 prevent General kurOki's passage
of the Yalu. as the troops landed at
PitzeWo might have been diverted to
take the Russians on the flank OF in
the rear.
Up to Kuropatkin.
Nov that the uncertainty is partly
dispeiIcd. General Kur0patkin. from
the inner lines. is free TO act. That he
purposes to move energeticaiiy is
shown BY the fact that he has sent re-
Inducements to Feng Wang Cheng.
The indications are that ne intends
Immediately TO assume the aggressive
and 90 strike General KurokIs army
before the latter can be reinforced
through Korea. Should the Japanese
landed at Pitzewo begin a northw ard
movement enough Russian troops, II Is
said. are in the vicinity of New Chuang
90 hold the japanese in check until
conclusions have been tried with Ku-
roki. Tt is not anticipated, however,
that the japanese viii march north
ward. but IL is believed they viii de
vote their energies to effect the fall
of Port Arthur.
The receipt of news at any time of
decisive battle near Feng Wang
Cheug viii not cause surprise here. and
already rumors are circulating I'm the
city. which. however. lack verihcation
ana are believed 10 be untrue, that a
battle has been fought that the Jap
auese have been defeated with heavy
loss and that Kuropatzin was wound
ed. Another Fumor is in circulation
that Port Arthur has been captured,
but this is also secuted in responsible
Quarters