The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1904-04-05

RUSSIANS DIDN'T WAIT
Retreated across the YaIu without
Showing Any Disposition
TO Fight,

LONDON, April "a dispatch from
Seoul says the japanese troops have
occupied Wiju. There was no fighting,
| the Russians retreating across the Va
lu as the victorious Japanese army ad-
vanced. The Japanese have apparent
J ly turned the flank Of the Russians
J and are In a position to force the
! abandonment of the Yalu without a
battle.
1t is reported that force of 10000
men has been landed opposite Taku-
shan in southern Manchuria.
A Harbin report says from~all sides
Russian soldiers are pouring into Har
bin, the uncompleted railroad station
there has been transformed into a bar
racks, and almost every house in the
town is occupied by soldiers.
Pristan, short distance away, which
until recently had been a small village
become city with temporary build
ings, which are being used by the
troops as hotels and restaurants.
The snow filed streets of the two
cities are thrOnged with picturesque
Cossacks, bearded Siberians, sharp
shooters and galloping orderlies, all i'm
bued with the fever TO get 10 the front.
Merchants and restaurant keepers
have been accused by some of the sol
dieFs of extortion, but money is cheap.
The Russian authorities at Hardin
are exercising greater vigilance to pre-
vent the news Of their plans for the
movement to and the disposition Of
troops In the theater OF war, which are
now being made>on a large scale, from
going abroad, where they might be Of
service to the enemy.
Secrets regarding what is actually
happening are being kept well. II is as
If an impenetrable curtain had sud
denly been rung down on the stage Of
the war in east Asia. Behind this cur
tain the greatest activity prevails.
General Ruropatkin at his temporary
headquarters in Liaoyang is directing
the execution of his plans, moving the
troops, strengthening the positions Sc
fected, oilinR the wheels Of the COM
missarlat and QuartermaBter depart
msnts, perfeoting the hospital service
and otherwise looking after the organ
eation and innumerable wants of the
army in the field.
General Kuropatkin's plan OF cam
paign is said to be one Of the gradual
retreat of his army mtg Manchuria,
where the japanese following will be
crushed by overwhelming numbers.
The Russians count upon Japanese
hanking movement in connection with
a frontal attack, and therefore Rus
sian force has been disposed along the
Tumen to prevent the entrance of a
Japanese column there. Another flank
ing movement is expected at the head
Of the Maotung gulf, near Newchwang,
and everything there is being prepared
to receive the enemy, but for the pres
ent the Russian military authorities
believe that the japanese game at this
point has been blocked by the failure
Of the attempts to bottle up and render
immobile the feet of Vice Admiral
Makaroff, which while free will be too
great a menace to the movement Of
Japanese transports in the gulf of Pc
chill. Another effort to block Port Ar
thur is consequently expected daily.
One of the principal reasons for Vice
roy Alexeiefr's visit to Port Arthur in
addition to inspecting the ships and de-
fenses is understood to have been for
the purpose of consulting Vice Admi-
raj MakaroR with a view to devising
plans for defeating these attacks, and
to this end all additional possible pre-
cautions have been taken. Indeed it is
hinted in high quarters that the next
time the Japanese appear off Port Ar
thur they will find q hot and heavy
surprise awaiting them.
Viceroy Alexeieff has returned to