The Irish standard., 1904-10-29
fighting Cannot
LONG Be Deferred
PRESENT QUIET CONSIDERED TO
BE ONLY THE CALM BE-
FORE A STORM.
kUROPATKIN GIVEN
SUPREME COMMAND
oyama Preparing to Meet the Enemy
South of Shakhe River by Erecting
Fortified ns-Correspondents Are
Strangely Silent.

oIAohSSty oA4ShSs
ST. Petersburg, Oct 27-The quiet
HOW prevailing at the theater OF war is
considered to be only the calm before
storm. There is every indication OF
the imminence of the resumption OF
fighting on large scale, as the proX-
unity of the two armies makes 1t I'M
possible for them to much longer de-
fer a renewal OF the battle. The corre-
Spondents at the front are strangely
silent concerning the coming develop
rlents, but from the slight movements
reported and the continual recon-
ECitering of the Japanese positions 1t
is regarded as certain that Gen. Kuro-
patkin has a perfectly free hand ac-
corded him by his elevation to the post
OF commander in chief and that he is
about to undertake an offensive move
ment. Field Marshal Oyama Is re-
ported to be fortifying his whole line
south of the Shakhe river. showing
that he is preparing to meet the Rus
sian onset. Not n ray of light as yet
has been shed upon Kuropatkin'a
plans.
Kuropatkin Given Command.
Viceroy Alexietf's order of the day
announcing kuropatllin's appointment
Is in the same grandiose vein as kuro-
patkin's order of October S and is re-
garded as having definitely established
the authorship of that ill-starred doc
ument. While AleXieff takes particu-
lar pains in turning over the supreme
command of the land forces to Kuro-
patkin to inform the soldiers and the
world of the marks of imperial con-
fidence reposed In him and to an
nounce that he will remain as viceroy,
the order is considered as virtually hia
far ewell address and that it will soon
be followed by his return to ST. Peters,
burg. His elimination as q factor in
the military situation has caused q
sigh of relief. The papers all welcome
the announcement Of Kuropatkin's ap-
rointment to the chief command as q
welI-merited recompense for the man
nel in which he discharged the difficult
role imposed upon him, and, reading
between the lines, as promise OF bet
ter results now that Alexicff is elm
mated and there is no longer q pros
poet of the elevation Of a grand duke
10 the supreme command.
Artillery Fire Continued.
Gen. Kuropatltin telegraphs that
Tuesday. He adds: IA desultory ar.
tillery fire was maintained all day long
upon the front of our right flank by
both the enemy and ourselves. On the
night of October "a Russian volunteer
sharpshooters ambushed advancing
Japanese outposts and forced them to
retire southwark. Another detachment
recovered q Russian gun-carriage. On
the Russian center detachment drove
back the Japanese advance near the
village of Yautchai, but upon the ap-
pearance of strong Japanese reinforce,
ments the detachment returned to the
village of Shakhe after burying tho
bodies of several Russians killed dur,
ing previous fights and collecting large
quantities of arms and ammunition"
Armies Watching Each Other.
Mullden, Oct 27-The situation is one
Of great tension for the troops on both
sides. Gen. Kuropatllin and Field Mar
shall Oyama seem TO be watching each
other like hawks. 1t is impossible to
tell which will make the first serious
move. There are occasional exchanges
of desultory firing at the outposts, but
nothing of great Importance has trans.
pired. On Sunday night the japanese
made a feeble attempt upon Lone Tree
Hill, but the attack was not pressed.
The Russians used several siege guns
Of great range on Monday, bombard1na
the Japanese positions near Shakhe
The Japanese replied with Shimosa
shells. The Chinese say the Russian
fire destroyed three japanese field
pieces
The Japanese have evacuated Shake
railroad station, but it and the railroad
bridge between the lines are in the field
Of fire Of both sides.
Although It is reported that there II
no activity on the Russian left flank
little is really known concerning the
situation there. A Japanese movement
from the west along the railroad is re.
ported, but this has not been confirmed.
The general state Of uncertainty breeds
many rumors There is a rumor among
the Chinese at Mukden that the JAPAN
ese are ready to attack.
Steamer Has Narrow Escape.
Chefoo, Oct. 27.-The steamer Kash-
ing, which struck a floating mine north
Of Alceste island Tuesday night, had
narrow escape from total destruction.
The explosion tore great hole in the
port bow, carrying away the forecastle