Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-10-11
TAKE OFFENSIVE.
Russian General Kuropatk'n VIII
Make an Attack.


CT Petersburg. Oct. 10.-1.15 +. NJ
Tn. formal announcement that Ten
Kuronatkin is at last strong enough
m .seur,e the offensive, together Win
unofficial reports that offensive move
rr.nts against the three armies OF Fleli
Marshal Oyama have been prosressliis
since Oct. ), has sent thrlll Oh JOY
throughout Russia. The announce
nent which had long been awaited pa
tientIy through the long, weary months
NJ discoura cement and defeat. had an
Instantaneous effect. The public bulle-
Tin boards at the street corners upon
which we're posted copies OF kuroldt
kins order Of the day were surrouiih-
ed by crowds, really cheerful for the
first time since the war began
Sunday night, at Russian clup'
Cen. Vletecoh. the engineer who foru-
fed Lao Yang, was delivering a lee
ture in defence Of Kuropatkin's ADAM
donment Of that place, the reading Oh
the order created a scene OF ehthuSI-
asm and a telegram was sent 70 hur"-
patkin expressing the deepest sym
pathy and mistaken confidence IN MS
leadership and praising his chivalrouS
act, saying:
Like the Russian warriors OF Ola
you have warned the enemy that you
are advancing against him.
All the papers acclaim the tldlhSS
with intense satisfaction at tn" same
time warning the people not to harbo"
illusions and saying they must be pre-
~
in attacking so po"erful and deter
mined a foe.
The Eovoe Vrema terms it "kuro-
natkin's reply to the Pigmy Suaves o.
the little Napoleons who have criticized
him" adding:
"God grant that the Russian eagles
which 50 long havA been preparing
their wings TO the relief of the heroes
who have 50 bravely defended Port
Arthur.
IF Kuropatkin is successful the post
Of supreme commander. his friends
believe. is sure to be his reward.
The mystification Of the last ten days
regarding the. exact situation IS clearer
no by the knowledge that the RuSslin
army is taking the offensive ana eX-
plains the puzZling Mukden dispatch OF
The Associated Press of oct. 8, read
ing:
something unusual is in the wind.
A great hustle is now noticeable. The
streets are now throrged with hurry
ING crowds ana innunlerable carts and
pack mules.
The capture of BensiaputZe which
was strongly fortified and where it was
reported that Gen. KurOki commanded
i'm person. is officially confirmed. Th'
fighting. however, was not severe. tn
japanese retiring on finding them
selves outfiankcd. The ussian lossc
were only . killed or wounded, includ
ing an officer.
A high officer Of the general staff in
formed The Associated Press, Monday
that Kuropatkin is prepared to ad
vance with great care. but when tn
main collision will occur will depen
on circumstances, the movements q
great bodies Of men being slow opera
tions. Heavy fighting is hardly likel
before a week at the earliest.
"Only six miles separate the ad
vance lines" said the officer referre
to- and advance or counter advanC
might precipitate preliminary artlI
lcry engagement ut any moment"
1t is now evident that Field Marsh;
Oyama. aware that Kuropatkin is pre-
barring to strike instead of eXtendin
himself for the big thanking mnVemel
east SO much talked of. has recognize
the necessity of meeting the Russia
advance by terrifying his positi6
north of Lao Yang. The interval b.
tween the eventual collision w
doubtless be utilized by both sides
feeling out their respective streng'
and in active skirmishing on Il
TANKS. of which the daring march
the Cossacks across the Shakher riv
almost to the Yentai mines is an exam
pie Not until the combined movement
Of Kuropatkin's army are in full sWlr
southwark will it be seen whether Oyi
ma intends to contest the present az
vance or fall back on the fortified p
sitions north of Lao Yang, where
would reverse the situation hithert
as the Japanese would for the FIR
time enjoy the advantage of Eighth
behind defences.
According to the estimates of Il
war Office. Oyama's total strength
about 26O, 900 men. of which 10000 a
posted between the Hun river to Il
west of Bentsiaputze. eastward, the r
mainder being held in reserve at Lii;
Yang. kuropatkin possesses nil
corps giving him a slightly superiori
In numbers.