The San Francisco call., 1904-08-07
v AR'S ISSUE
RESTS UPON
THIS FIGHT.
Opposing Forces Are
About Equally
Matched.
General KurOpatkin'S Total
Strength Not Far From
100000 Men.
His Defeat Would Irrsparably En-
danger the Russian Position
in Manchuria
Special Dispatch to The Call

PARIS, Aug. THE Mathis cor
respondent at Newchwang saws that
the French consular agent there was
arrested on August 5 by the Japan-
csc in consequence ''of his Vigorous
protest against the detention of two
sailors who claimed French protec-
uon-' The agent notified the Ameri-
cnn Consul, who, however, was unable
10 intervene, but sent information of
the agents arrest to the French Con-
sui at Tientsin.
ST. PETERSBURG, Aug. 6.-It is
expected that within forty-eight hours
the battle that will decide the fate of
the Russian arms dn Manchuria-at
least for the present campaign-will
have been begun in the vicinity Of
Liaoyang, where General Kuropatkin
now faces the combined armies of
kurok1, Oku and Nodzu.
An issue or such Importance mo-
mentarily eclipses interest in the
siege of Port Arthur. The fate of the
latter place is not likely to influence
the Immediate destinies of the cam
paign, but Liaoyang is closely tied up
with the fortunes of the whole war.
The loss of such position, with its
accumulationS of stores, would i'm
mediately and perhaps irreparably en-
Danger the main Russian position in
Manchuria.
The military authorities do not en-
terrain the slightest doubt of General
Kuropatkin's ability 10 repulse an at
tempt to capture and cut off Lao
yang. The defense there has an i'm
mediate advantage, operating within
the small radius of twenty miles, thus
enabling General KuroDatkin to re-
inforce promptly any weak points.
The army at his disposal is estimated
at $50 battalions, besides cavalry and
artillery altogether not far short of
100000 men, Only one-third of this
force was engaged in the fighting of
July 80 and 81 and August l.
The pick of Kuropatkin's troops.
the newly arrived European regi-
ments, are stationed at Anping and
Anshanshan. where the hardest onset
is expected to be made. Some of these
regiments were raised 200 years ago
and have great war records. officers
acquainted with the men declare that
the logged tenacity displayed at
Yushu Pass and Manga Pass has be-
come only more fierce and unyielding
under the reverses met by the troops.
Experts at the War Office are dis
cussing the probable course of the inn
HEN SdY LnaI the
Japanese will try to capture either
Anping or Anshanshan, whence they
Will be able to strike Liaoyang, and
they think it more likely that Anshan-
shan will be selected. because that
place is in the line Of advance of Cen
erals Oku's and Noduz's armies and
must be captured before an attempt
is made TO flank Liaoyang from the
westward.
The Russian position at Anshan-
shan is as strong as that at Kinchou
1t consists of a precipitous barrier
fifteen fniles long, fianked on the east
ward by the river and a marsh and
on the westward by a level plain and
is inDossible of approach by infantry
by either side. The only weak spot Is
to the eastward, where the Japanese
may mount heavy guns with a longer
range than the Russian pieces and
pour in a f1anking fire. It is consid-
cred more probable. however, that
General Nodzu will try to cut in be-
tween Anshanshan and Liandiansian
and cut OFF the. former place from
Liaoyang.