Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-25
TIE JAPANESE ARMY
REPORTS OF BIG BATTLES PROB
ABLY MISLEADING.
Raiders AredWcfking on Both Sides,
but No Heavy Engagement Has
Yet Taken Place.

THE appearance of small parties from
kurokfs army. ON the trails from Feng-
huany toward Mukden and KERN, remark
ed The Stars military expert today, has
been given an undue importance. Startling
stories of thanking movements, which would
drive back and perhaps capture Kuropat-
kin were displayed and believed by some
people who did not take the time to In
vestigate. The maps show plainly enough
that. such parties can only be raiders, which
will have no more than local effect, ana
which will be met in force and quickly
driven back. Armies do not drop down un-
awares in such distant and strange places
as was supposed 1t has been pointed out
many times that such roads as exist east
of the main road from Feng-huang to
Liao-yang are not suited to the operations
of large forces. and small podleS Will not
accomplish decisive results.
Cossack Rough Riders.
''Of the same character are the Russian
operations in Korea, in which parties OF
Cossacks have appeared from Aupi at the
west to Hamburg at the east. They have
displayed great activity and holiness. some
times attacking walled towns; and creating
alarm throughout Korea from end to end.
Such force neutralizes a greater number
of the enemy by causing large garrisons at
important points. 1t adds to the difficulty
which Japan has in occupying an I'M
friendly country, In the same way that Rus
STA must continually watch the Chinese In
habitants of Manchuria.
Waiting for Greater Force.
LAS far as the direct road from Feng-
huang to Liao-yang is concerned, and the
alleged retreat of Kurol1is army. we may
conclude that no such retreat has taken
place. The Japs probably sent out strong
accommodating which found the
mountain passes occupied by the Russians.
as was certainly to be expected Kuroki
probably never intended to force a passage
by that route, and the massing of his force
about Feng-huang Is not to be considered
in the light of retreat. He seems to be
waiting for the force which is landing at
Taku-sha to take up its march and estab-
fish Itself at Siu-yen. Then the two forces
can move on Hai-chen.
The slowness of the force at Taku-shan
is In keeping with all previous experience.
Although this Is one Of the best landing
places on the coast landing was slow work
In the last war and now with a much
greater army 1t Is more so. Those who ex-
pected quick and lively succession of
military moves to follow the crossing of
the Yalu are going to be disappointed. The
Yalu was crossed on the LIST of May; five
days later Feng-huang was occupied by
an advance party without opposition. The
distance was thirty-seven miles, and now.
more than three weeks after the crossing,
kuroh Is not able to establish himself
further to the north.
Eat the south Of Hai-chen 1t should be
noted that the important junction Of roads
from Fen-huang and Taku-shan is given
by at least three different names on the
same number Of maps-the names being
Hieng- hsing-shan, Chin mu-chen and Su-
future Importance it is well to remember
this.
At the. Regents Sword.
1.-THE third Japanese separate army, which
interests US at this time. is the force which
landed at Pitzewo. If the reports of heavy
fighting at Port Arthur are true this army
has not waited to be protected from the
north, but has Invaded the regents sword
and fought with the garrison. The stories
of bloody battles are certainly untrue, be-
cause they. would undoubtedly be preceded
attempt the open assault of fortress until
after preparation by artillery.
"AL reports of this Japanese investing
force are confusing. 1t has been said. for
instance, that it was divided up into three
parts of abou. ten thousand men EACH one
Of which landed at Kai-ping. one at Port
ed by the English military papers and by
numerous dispatches.
If it is true, Kuropatkin has certainly miss
ed some fine opportunities to avenge his bad
luck at the Yalu river. 1t is hard to credit
the Japs with such recklessness as to sup
pose that they would expose attachments
of this size to attack by superior forces
while beyond the reach of any help. 1t
looks as il these Japanese forces at Kali
ping and Kin-chOw were strong recon-
naissances or raiding parties like the others
mentioned
"All this leads to the belief that the army
at Pitzewo is still having it's troubles in
landing and concentration, like the army
at Taku-shan. Probably an advance force
has been pushed forward which has gotten
in contact with the Port Arthur garrison,
but 1T is too soon to count on an attack on
| the fortress itself.
Port Arthur's Defect as Fortress.
| Late maps of Port Arthur have appear
| ed which show distinct improvement In
| the defense of the land approaches. cam
| not help doubling the accuracy of these
maps, however, as it seems hard to believe
| that the Russians would permit their sys-
| tenn of defense to become known. Numer-
| GUS redoubts are shown, connected by an
almost continuous line of trenches and
parapets. tits strong enough to make any
army pause. But the old defects are still
| plain; second line of defense; incom-
| plete and inadequate thanking defense. par
| ticularly for Table Hill, which is still the
key to the position.
Table Hill dominates the balance of the
| line, and as it is in the rear. its guns could
| be turned on the other defenses in case 1t
| is captured. As Table Hill is in the first
line of defense. while able to do all this, it
| should be the objective of the Japanese
attack, as In the last war.
These defects should not have escaped
J the Russian engineers. and probably all
| possible means of correction have been APP
piled. The besiegers will find positions for
| their siege batteries within good artillery
| range. I think they will find 1t impossible
| however, to make regular approaches in
most places on account Of the rocky nature
| of the country"
SEEKS INTERVENTION.