The St. Louis Republic., 1904-12-04
NAVAL CRISIS IMPENDING.
Even Should Port Arthur Fall
Before Arrival of Baltic Fleet,
the New Ships Will Serious
ly Menace Mikado's
Transports.
y o q . . . . . . . q 80 80
Q ARMISTICE TO BURY DEAD
q BEFORE PORT ARTHUR.


BEFORE PORT ARTHUR. .
q Toxic. Dec. s-The first armistice .
q between the combatants at Port =
O Arthur was declared on December .
q 2 for the purpose Of burying the q
. dead. 1t lasted FOR period OF six =
. hours. .
Mukden, Dec. 3.-All day Friday Russian
siege guns bombarded villages occupied by
the Japanese to the east OF the railroad
and early this morning to the west OF the
railroad Don Cossacks routed the Japa-
nese south Of Liadiatoun. and captured
eight guns.
This brilliant action, described by Chi
nese, who. dressed as a Cossack. partici-
pated in the attack. is as follows:
When volunteers were called for from
two infantry regiments every man stepped
forward, and the Cossacks In chorus asked
not to be left behind when the little party
was formed. The order was given to de-
part at o'clock in the morning. and the
men advanced With extreme caution and
In dead silence. sometimes crawling and
sometimes running.
The party divided and attacked the
japanese position from two sides The
Japanese were sound asleep. and did not
even have time to raise a cry before all
was over.
Again we advanced and soon saw be-
fore US the outlines of battery. All the
Japanese were asleep except the sentries.
We encircled the battery and attacked
from the rear. The japanese had not ex-
changed a shot ~ the audacious and sud
den attack. and when the Don Cossacks
charged on a dead run followed by
chas,eurs on foot. the Japanese were
badly scared and unable to realize what
was happening. They rushed half
dressed, from their tents. only TO be re-
ceived by spears and bayonetA
The fight lasted only a few minutes.
when the whole camp broke and ned in
Wild panic. leaving eight guns IN our
hands. We had no losses, and only one
man was slightly wounded The japanese
left at least fifteen dead, and probably as
many more were wounded Crouchins in
rife pits and incessant firing have so
hardened the men to danger that they
ignore it Peculiar war sports are becoDl-
ing popular among the troops.
General RennenkampTs Cossacks are
still in pursuit OF japanese and have
driven them out Of the villages OF 1ntss-
eoundzy and Dapindunigan. taking many
prisoners and rifles.
CRISIS IS APPROACHING.
London. Dec 3-Even should Port
Arthur fall before the arrival of the
Baltic feet. as seems natural after the
capture of a3-Metre Hill. the fleets ar
rival may mean the opening Of a new and
IL, xha IA
East.
Naval experts here say that the feet
contains four of the very finest battle
ships Of the French type. and that two
more vessels are not to be dispised- IN
any case, enough may get through to
yladivostok to endanger seriously the Jap
anese transports. II Port Arthur still
stands, Japan will have formidable task
to keep the Russians bottled up there
without disastrously weakening the feet
which must meet the on-coming Rus
SLAMS.
A naval authority quoted by the Vest
minister Gazette speaks for many weigfy
English observers when he sayS:
Never since the battle Of the N.i:. :s
even then. has such tremendous tssuo
hung on q battle at sea For, consider
what a defeat OF the Japanese would
mean. or. even what the survival OF
enough Russians to prevent the supply
of the japanese army would mean It
would mean a complete and sudden boule-
yersement. An army Of 10000 men would
be reduced to surrender at discretion. and
Russia would be absolutely supreme ~
Manchuria and the far East
ENGI.ANDS ATTITUDE.
"AII this at a blow. The stakes are to-
mendous but for this and for nothing less.
Russia is now playing. and il she should
bs victorious. what would become Of Eng
lands interests. what Of Americas?
The mex three months. probably, will
decide the most portentous issue whicn
this generation has seen put to the hazard
of war"
This prospect explains the almost un-
precedented action Of japanese states
man of the highest rank In publicly pro-
testing against the action Of his roun-
try., ally. japanese watches with grow
ing irritation the lengthening line OF
smoke from Cardiff coal. which marks
the track Of Admiral RojestveusU's
squadron. The British Government adj
mitted they used no influence to dfscour-
age these enormous sales Of Welsh coal
to the Baltic heet
II 1t had led the way. the press undues-
tionably would have done the rest by bold
ly Eibbeting the chief offenders against
England's honor. Then. again. by allow
ing the transshipment Of coal from Rus
sian transports to Russian destroyers at
Port Said. . precedent Was ~ which