Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-03-25
Shortcomings of the Ar
my Discussed in
Official Organ.
JAPS UNDERESTIMATE
C0nfesses the Loss of 100000
Men in Killed, Wounded.
Prisoners and Sick.

St Petersburg. March 25-Stung by
the wholesale criticism lately heaped
upon the war Office for its unprepared-
ness and incapacity in providing the
Manchurian army with men. guns and
munitions the army organ today lays
bare what has been done since the
opening of hostilities giving the exact
figures.
Figures Given.
From these II appears up to March
2 the war Office had dispatched I3.-
OS7 officers, 7CI, ,4G5 men. I4G,4OS
horses. 1921 guns and 31G.321 tons of
munitions and supplies to the front
declaring the transportation strained
the Siberian railroad to its utmost ca
pacity.
Hardly worth Name.
The army organ admits the army in
the far east when the war opened was
hardly worth the name mo figures be
ing given but it il known the troops
did not exceed 10000 mem defending
this on the ground the emperor de-
sired To avoid war and therefore re-
Trained from sending reinforcements
which surely would have provoked it,
As To Fort Arthur.
Criticism Of the war Offices failure
to adequately supply Port Arthur is
met with the statement that it was
provisioned for a garrison of ~ battal- |
ions. the decision to put 80 bPttalions |
there being taken so late that original |
calculations could not be remedied.
Had BETTER Guns.
While IL is affirmed quick firing |
guns and field guns of the Russians |
are superior to those of the Japanese /
the war office explains that misfor- |
tune in the sufiiciency of mountain |
guns that was due to the fact that
when the war broke out Russia was |
just adopting a new pattern.
Japs UnderestImated. !
II is denied the war Office was de |
ceived in regard To the available |
strength of the Japanese army or the |
organization of the Japanese reserves, |
but the army organ frankly admits the I!
talent of the officers and the wonderful |
spirit of the soldiers were miscalculat- |
ed
Losses Half Million.
The publication of the article has
created a sensation among military |
men and in public circles. many of the |
former censuring the general staff for |
discussing valuable military secrets
and the latter finding from the figures
a practical admission the war has cost
almost half a million men in killed,
wounded. prisoners and sick. as the
whole force effective in the far east
is now believed not to exceed 100000 |
men.
Continues to Retire.
St. Petersburg. March 25.-Line
witch continues the retirement of the
bulk of his army northward.
The general staff now declares it is |
certain Oyama has been compelled TO |
relinquish the idea of pursuit in force |
for the present. The Japanese forces |
on the Russian fisnks are too light to |
constitute a serious danger and a lul |
in heavy fighting for several weeks if |
not for months is predicted by some |
correspondents.
A Russian correspondent warns the
St Petersburg authorities of the dan
gers of japanese activity in Mon
golia where he says their emissaries
are enlisting the Lamas and arousing
their old warlike spirit.
Patrol Fired Upon.
st. Petersburg March 25. - Line
witch telegraphing the Gath says:
"A Russian patrol has been fired upon
by the Japanese cavalry and infantry
occupying the village of Juljuschu.
There has been no change in posi-
tions OF the armies during the day"