Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-28
LIVE MOSTLY IN CAVES
Two Great Armies Lie Facing
Each Other.
IN WINTER QUARTERS
RUSSIAN LINE OF INTRENcH-
MENTs IS MILES LONG.
Kuropatkin Uses O-Horse-Power Auto
for Observation-Disclosures Chinese
Life at Headquarters.
IN WINTER QUARTERS

ST. PETERSBURG. November 28-Gen.
Kuropatkin, under yesterdays date, reports
that the Japanese offensive movement which
began November "a, near the village of
Tsinkhetchen. on the front of the left flank,
was of an indecisive character up to pm,
November &c. and was checked by the Rus
sian fire. Although the fighting had then
lasted three days the Russians troops were
III excellent spirits.
Jsps Destroyed Forts.
A cablegram from Rome says that dis
patch to the Giornale Di Roma from Tokyo
says that Erlung, Easterling and Majoko-
buju forts at Port Arthur have been de-
strOyed by the Japs. Attacks by the Japs
on the Songsdu and Keekwan forts have
been repulsed.
Autos for Kuropatkin.
CHEFOO. November 25-Gen. Kuropatkin
Is the possessor of a new twenty horse
power automobile. with which he is able
TO rush at high speed from one part to
another Of the line, twenty-five miles long.
according to NJ Ravoir, who reached here
today from Mukden
M. Ravotr spent three weeks with Euro-
patkfn. who wished to secure twenty auto.
mobiles specially constructed to carry ann
munition speedily in emergencies He will
only use them in winter when the Man.
churlan roads are in excellent condition. On
his first trip in the new automobile Kuro-
patkin's only comment was:
Il have the advantage of Gen. Shafter."
Chinese Superstitious.
his machine with superstitious awe. believ-
his machine with supersitious awe, believ-
ing the latter to be an atrociousk powerful
specimen of the foreign devil"
M. Ravoir said:
1.-THE two armies lie facing each other,
each having three fortified lines. The SOL
diers of both armies live mostly in caves
behind their trenches. which when covered
with snow have the appearance Of great
host of polar bears waiting to spring at
each other. The caves are warm even with
out fire. The Russian troops are in the best
of spirits and have unlimited confidence In
their leaders. They expect Kuropatkin to
attack during the winter The Russian
forces now number 100000 men. The cav
alrymen from the Don district are superior
to their Siberian comrades. The former
are intelligent. brave and active, and have
fine, powerful horses.
Wounded at Mukden.
There are only few hundred wounded
at Mukden, and thirty thousand wounded
at Hardin.
81 came out on the Siberian railroad
which seemed to be doing it's tremendous
work smoothly. The warehouses along the
full of supplies which are almost untouched,
as up to the present the army has subsist-
ed chiefly on the country.
1.-THE handling of the Russian artillery is
improving, while the Japanese artillery fire
seems less effective. Originally the Rus
slams did not conceal their artillery. which
the Japanese quickly disabled. Now the
Russians handle and conceal their guns
with perfect science
"The belief is general at Mukden that
Port Arthur will hold out till relieved no
matter how long the much-expected Rus
sian second Pacific squadron may. take in
reaching the far east
General Kuropatkin is not talkative. His
only reference to the war was:
Kuropatkin Satisfied With Situation.
The war is progressing as I WISH
He still lives in his railroad car and the
light in his Office is burning night and day.
1t is commonly stated that the general never
sleeps. His officers are not surprised at
being called to a conference at any hour of
the night. The generals only relaxation Is
at dinner time, when the officers who are
his guests number scores. Wine is plentiful.
but Kuropatkin drinks mineral water.
Every Russian officer seems to have an I'M
limited supply of money, the government
being lavish in its expenditure
ut is my opinion that Kuropatl1in will
never retreat from Mukden unless defea fed