New-York tribune., 1904-10-12
FIGHTING NEAR YENTAI.
Continued from arst page

- the battle OF Liao-Yang. II he had been
-oesv OyaTua would doubtless have taken that
.SZsnrage which belongs n all warfare % the
s9gress0r. and attacked Kuropatkln al Moukden-
n Is point IN Kuropatkin's favor that he was
-osav or even thought he was ready first
bout q week from now there should be de-
,.ye sngagenent and il is likely 10 take place
:. Lao yang or on the Tai-Tse River. Skir-
fishes VIII take place meanwhile, but unless
Tam much mistaken the japanese VIII not make
= Sererulined stand until Kuropatkin reaches
Sbe scene OF MS recent defeat. Our lines Of com
Tnunication and cur supplies and ammunition
ooud scarcely have reached perfection az any
-oirf north OF LiaO-Yang. Il does not matter
much whether Kuropatkin has assumed the Of
sgnsive under orders from St Petersburg or by
rs own desire he has taken q tremendous risk,
and IL rot for me 70 say whether he was justi-
Sed or not. Il IS al very well for critics 10 say
that the Russian commander leaves his com
E1unicacions open 20 attack, but only great
Sorce can adequately disturb such lines as Kuro-
-stgin possesses. I hear on good authority that
be has men standing almost shoulder 70 shoulder
along the railway.
should not be surprised II Ruropatkin. in
stead OF continuing q frontal advance should
iaurch the whole Of his army against General
Kurok's hanking force. Il would ne a bold
Grroke and precipiCate great struggle but the
Russians are not accustomed 10 mountain fight
tag and would be handicapped. even though su-
perior IL mum mbers.
lowed 10 march com paraIively unopposed 10 the
Tai-Tse River. where Oyama has been forJIy-
fnc OF whether he 6tver-s his army in
deavor 10 crush Ku-oki-Lhe result Of the pres
enr phase OF the Manchurlan campaign means
much and perhaps IS almost as vital 10 one side
as 10 the ether.
No fears are expressed IN japanese or British
military circles that Field Marshal Oyana after
carefully forttfying Liao-YanE viii NOT be able
70 hold the position. Al odd divergence OF
opinion exists. however. between japanese and
British authorities as 20 the purpose Of the
Russian Baltic feet. japanese diplomatic and
special naval Representatives II Europe have
consistently believed that Russia never serious
II intended 6ispatching the ships of the Baltic
aeet 70 the Far East The British Admiralty.
With perhaps equally coed information. is now
convinced that the Baltic fleet is going 70 the
seat OF war. though leading British officers
frankly state thar they are unable 70 see what
the ships can accomplish
Hopes oS mediation are dw1n6Iing. About six
weeks ago diplomatic circles here were stirred
by the report that the original anti-war party
n Russia was IN the ascendency. Since then
active though unofficial exchanges OF opinion
regarding The possibility OF ending the war have
been going on between various embassies at the
British capital This movement has now come
20 a natural END. as 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
Ernperor's councils. The report that Count
La-nsdor1 intended 70 tender 70 the Emperor
his resignation OF the Foreign Ministry. has
been confirmed BY confidential dispatches 70
more than one embassy here. and has enecuually
put STOP 70 even talk OF mediation