Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-05-13
Notes on the War.

The Russians now estimate that th"y
were outnumbcrcd by the Japanese SIN
To one on the Yalu. Those were hctNy
odds, though it must be remembered
that the Russians were on the deleh-
sive, in entertainments, while the Jap
ancSe had to cross Il broad ana swirl
river to attack them. Those circuin-
stances went far toward counter
balancing the difference in numbers.
SycakinS OF the South African war,
il was then that the verb TO COM
mandcer" came into general use. NOW
it is being used in East Asia as II TO
the manner born" 1t is ii notable case
OF adaptation of convenient Word.
Yet down to five years ago the act II
On prcSScS WAS performed just as ire
uucntly as now, and some other word
or words were used to express 1t. VINO
can tell onhand what those words
were?
Ecucrts of Russian raids into Corca
may lie true. There is reason to believe
that (lctachncnts of Cosslcks We're sent
to various points along the border long
before the Japanese crossed the falu.
Some of these may not have heard
o.. if they have, may think the best
service they can render to the Russian
cause is 10 create Il disturbance in
Northern Corca ANA perhaps provoke
some ri the tribes to rise. The rule is,
anything to annoy and hamper the Jap
lneSe.
Another observer at the front says
the Russians are being defeated be
cause of their perfunctory, Old
Fashioned methods. But that fact is II
poor basis on which to estimate the
Whole course and ending of the war.
Remember that precisely the same WAS
said, ANA was largely true. Of the Brit
ISL at the beginning of the BOer war
But in the end Roberts and Kitchener
got there, ali the same" The Rus
slams may or may not get there but
their doing so will not be determined
by any such detail as that at this stage
Of the conflict.
i,hr-Tai-Tsu and other places men
toned as the scenes Of cavalry fights
in General kuTuki.; advance to Fcng-
NanG-C hCnfs are on the straight high
lu1t! to tho latter place from kulicn
th"ng. The Japanese plan was, then.
to follow the enemy swiftly, by the
shortest ana mSst direct road, and
strike him again before he had time
to Recover from the former fdcmorali-
cation. Some thanking dctachmcnts
were sent by other roads. however, and
these conVcrgci upon the common goal
just at the right timc-a trick the ia
r;in"sc practiscd to perfection in the
| t'IjDrSp war fen wears ago
a Russian dispatch, General Kuro-
pathin's. tells us that the Japanese
advanced very cautiously upon Feng-
Wang-ChGng. At the same time an
English dispatch says the celebrity Of
the recent japanese movements was
rcmarkahle. Between the two there is
no discrt pancy. Taken together, they
lucidly set forth the whole manner of
The Japanese campaign and go far to-
ward explaining the success it has thus
far attaincd. The Japanese have been
particularly cautious in their advance,
until they have made all preparations
and fully assured themselves OF The
ground before them. Then they have
moved and struck with startling swift
ness.
landing simultaneously at many places
on the Regents Sword, and are now
SWarming al over the lower part Of it.
-Lan-Ticn, which they are said 10
have occupied, is on the railroad near
Port Adams. -Fung-Ticn, which
they also seized. is on the railroad 4
dozen miles further north. Beyond
doubt. then, the Russians will have no
more use of the railroad to Port Arthur.
There are also reports Of Japanese
troops in the neighborhood of Kali
Chow, also called Kai-Chau, and Kali
Ping. That is an important town on
the railroad less than 25 miles from
finT-koW, the port of New Chwang.
Practically. then, tire Japanese are in
full occupation of the entire peninsula,
excepting the extreme tip, where Por,
Arthur rcSolutely holds out. Even