Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-17
WINTER STOPS hCIIUN
Sharp Cold Silences Artillery
and Infantry Fire.
SOLDIERS IN DUGOUTS
VERY LITTLE PROSPECT OF ANY
VANTAGE MOVEMENTS.
Festivities at Mukden in Honor of the
Dowager Empress Birthday
Oriental Ceremonials.
SOLDIERS IN DUGOUTS

MUkDEN, November 10, y pm, via lien
Tsln. November 17.-Four days sharp coid
has silenced the artillery and infantry fre
between the opposing positions and has
driven the soldiers into their dugouts along
the entire -intrenched line. The apparent
impossibility for either side to eject the
others from It's burrow, and the fact
that in the event one side succeeded in ad-
vancing it could not dig the other out of
its cantonments on account of the frost'
seems TO promise a winters inactivity. al
though the Japanese three days ago mace
a small reconnaissance toward the extreme
east and pushed back the Russian cavalry
a few miles as though they were invesu-
eating the possibilities for thanking move
ment
1t seems impossible that either side IN
any case could more than occupy its OPP
ponents' winter quarters.
The wells along the lines are dry and
both sides use the Shakhe river, where the
soldiers approach unarmed and get water
under recognized mutual sanction not TO
fire on a single soldier. Here the noble art
of war is confined to fisticuffs and swap
ping cigarettes jack knives and food, all
of which are priced. Familiarities are in
evitable where long lines are in continued
contact. The armies have now been sta
tionary for long that they are drawing
supplies of fuel and horse forage from the
distant rear, all other supplies being ex-
hauste
DoWager Empress Birthday.
The perfunctory ceremonies of introduce
ing the three days celebration of the birth
day of the dowager empress of China be-
gan November 13 at the Drum Tower and
also al the Bell Tower, which are features
of the main street of all capitals. Large
shrines were erected inclosing a tablet
ascribed with the word 'Jansou." which
like "Banzai' means Ten thousand ages
10 The dynasty" Before the tablet are
food offerings and also incense.
Last night hundred ornamental, fancy
lanterns and transparencies with congrat-
GlatoTy inscriptions Were displayed in the
main streets. but not a single soul came
for the purpose of witnessing the illumina-
lions. The streets were deserted Many
japanese lanterns were included in the dis
play. as Japanese products, mostly spuri-
Gus imita tons of foreign commodities, for
the use of the troops have arrived here In
large quantities.
Today being the dowagers birthday flags
and streamers We're to be seen in all the
streets. The Tartar general, Taihochi, and
the territorial officials kotowed to the dow
ayers tablet in the deserted ancestral pal
ace. and the period of ten days prayers in
all the dynastic shrines about this. "Chinas
second capital. continues. The Tartar
general. with the officials of the five boards,
and also the native military mandarin
dined with Gen. kuropatkin at the Con-
fucian Temple outside the west gate, with
the native guilds. which bear the expenses
of the birthday celebration.
Tradesmen's Wall.
Though conscious that the profits of the
retail trade are greatly In excess of nor
nal times. the guilds nevertheless. on ac-
count of Mukden being no longer whole
sale market, and way station for the I'M
mense goods and grain caravans, lament
the deserted highways and condole with the
officials of the five boards. by which Man
churia, like China proper, Is ordinarily
governed. ana who now await year to year
the promised restoration of their functions.
Private advices from Pekin contain warn
ings that the emperor is increasingly IN
me. slclSly and insignificant, and the dow
ager thinner and older and lacking in cor
dality to foreigners. although perfunctory
III matters referring to foreign relations
emitting former courtesies. while the most
conspicuous reform" is said TO be the new,
ard Of