New-York tribune., 1904-10-24
FACE TO FACE ON SHAKHE
ARMIES INTRENCHING.
Sharp Fighting on FrOnt-Russians
Not Yet Ready to attack.

ST. Petersburg Oct 24.-There is no change in
the relative positions OF the armies on the
Shakhe River. A dispatch from Moul1den re-
ports that the japanese are fortifying an i'm
portant height south Of Shakhe, and that neither
side shows disposition either to advance or to
retire. Another dispatch from the Russian front
says the situation is not yet ripe for the resump
ton OF the offensive.
THIS meagre but significant admission. all that
the censor allows to pass over the wires. doubt
less indicates that General Kuropatkin is dis
tributing his forces for another attempt to
break the japanese resistance. The roads are
now dried by wind and FROST the cold is in
tense. snd flooded fields have been frozen. Thus
military movements are facilitated. though at
the same time it will be more difficult to carry
intrenching work.
General SakharOff. in dispatch dated yester-
DAY, says:
There is no serious fighting. but there has
been desultory artillery duel through the day.
The Russian batteries bombarded the portion Of
the village Of Lin-Shin-Pu. occupied by Japan
ese: as well as Shakhe station and the village
OF Iamu-Ting. while the enemy bombarded the
portion OF Lin-Shin- Pu in the occupation Of the
Russians and the village of Shakhe.
Another message from the Russian front gives
a rumor that the Russian force has made
wide movement TO the west. arriving abreast of
Liao-Yang. but there is no confirmation Of this
report. Greater Importance is attached to the
report from Toxic that two hundred Russians
have crossed the Tai-Tse River, east of Pensihu,
and that twenty thousand are concentrated at
Kaotou Pass twenty miles northeast. This may
indicate the direction Of Kuropatkns next
blow, possibly it is intended to disconcert the
japanese and compel them to weaken their force
on the railroad
General KuropatIin is with the centre Of his
army. On October 21 he personally conveyed
the congratulations Of Emperor Nicholas to
Colonel PoutiloT and the 10Th Rifles for the
capture Of Lone Tree Hill.
The japanese estimate that the Russian losses
in the battle OF the shakho amount to sixty
thousand IS not confirmed here. telegram
from Harbin reports the passage north of twen-
ty-six thousand wounded. The remainder. who
are Quartered in hospitals at Moukden. cannot
exceed few thousands.
Lieutenant General Rozvy, commanding the
Twenty-Arst Infantry Division. has been ap-
pointed to the command Of the Nineteenth Army
Corps OF the wilma District This appointment
is believed to indicate the inclusion OF the Nine
teenth Corps in the Second Manchurian Army.
The return Of Grand Duke Nicholas to ST..
Petersburg has evoked no comment. and there
is no further talk Of his appointment to the chief
command in Manchuria
The newspapers this morning publish full re-
ports Of the trial by the Admiralty Council Of
the case Of the British steamer Alanton, but
Rbstain from comment upon the councils an
hulment OF the judgment OF the VIadivostok
prize court. The decision causes no surprise.
The demand OF the owners OF the Allanton for
indemnity for the detention of the ship will
probably have to be the subject OF negotiations
through the Foreign Office