Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-10-12


patkin's move is a mere bluff than |
believe that Marquis Oyamas lack of
aggres sion is due to az attempt to
lure KuIopatkin into trap. The sit
uatior really seems quite simple.
Oyama. adopting thu most cautious
method, has been terrifying, step by
step. and never advancing unless he
was able to ensure the absolute safety
OF his constantly lengtheninS lines of
communication. II" must have mad
enormous difficulty in bringing up sui
ficient supplies nuI am nunition for his
larg.. crEly which W"r. ,,vplc.ed great
IT, after the battle of Lao Yang. If
he had been ready Oyama would
doubtless have taken that advantage
which belongs in all warfare to the
agressor and attacked Kuropatkin at
Mukden.
1T is a point in kuroratkin's favor
that he was ready, or even that ne
was ready, first. About week from
now there should be a decisive engage
mcnt and it is likely to occur at Lao
Yang or on the Taitse river. Sklrmish-
es will take place meanwhile, but I'M
less / am very much mistaken the Jap
anese will not make determined stand
until Ku,Opatkin reaches the scene OF
his recent defeat. Our lines OF COM
munication and our supplies and am
munitiOn could scarcely have reached
perfection to any point north of Lao
Yang.
II does not matter much whether
Kuropatkin has assumed the offensive
upon orders from St. Petersburg or by
his own desire; he has taken tre-
mendous risk and it is not for me to
saw whether he was justified or not.
1t is all very we'll for critics to say that
the Russian commander leaves his
communications open to attack, but
only very large force can adequately
disturb such lines as kuropatkin pos
seSSeS.
Il hear on good authority that he
has got men standing almost shoulder
to shoulder along the railway. / would
not be surprised if Kuropatkin, instead
of continuing u frontal advance should
launch the whole of his army against
Gen. kuroki's thanking forces. 1t would
be a bold stroke and preciritate Il great
struggle, but the Russians are not ac-
cuStomed to mountain fighting, and
would be handicapped, even though
superior in numbers. Whatever hap
pens. whether kuropatkin is allowed
TO march comparatively unopposed to
the Taitse river, where Oyama has been
fortifying, or whether he diVertS his
army in an enleuVor to crush kuroki--
the result of the present phase of the
Manchurian campaign means much and
perhaps is almost as vital to one side
as to the other"
No fears are expressed in Japanese
or British military circles that Field
Marshal Ovama. after carefully en-
trcnching Lao Yang. will not be able
to hold the position that he captured.
4 curious divergence of opinion exists,
however, between Japanese and British
authorities as t. the purpose of the
Russian Baltic fl, ct. Japanese diplo-
matte and special naval representatives
IN Eurone have consistently believed
| that Russia never seriously intended
| dispatching the ships of the Baltic iiaet
| to the Far East. The British admiralty
with perhaps equally good information.
| is now convinced that the Baltic fleet
| IS going to the seat of war. though
| leading British officers frankly state
| that they are unable to see what the
ships can accomplish.
| Hopes of mediation are dwindling
| About six weeks ago diplomatic circles
| here were stirred by the report that the
| original anti-war party in Russia was in
| the ascendenoY. Since then active though
| quiet unofficial exchanges of oprion as to
| the possibility of ending the war have
been progressing between various embas-
sizes at the British capital This ephe-
neral step towards peace has now come
to n natural death. as rightly wrongly.
| confidential advices from St. Petersburg
to diplomatic sources here say that those
who originally advocated war with Japan
are again taking the leading part in the
| Emperor's councils.
| The Associated Press dispatches from
| st. Petersburg. Oct. 10, say that the rca-
| tions between the Russian foreign office
and the admiralty, in consequence of the
concessions by the former on tn" subject
! Of contrahand, had reached such an acute
stage that Count LamSdorff intended to
tender the Emperor his resignation OF
the foreign ministry, has been confirmed
| by confidential dispatches to more than
one embassy here, and has effcctuaily put
| a stop to even any talk of mediation.