The Saint Paul globe., 1905-01-03
MUKDEN GUNS BOOM
Keep It Up Every Day, but
With Little Effect

QUARTERS, Jan. 2.-The positions of
the Japanese and Russian armies south
of Mukden have not been materially
changed during the past two months.
In few places are the lines more than
a mile apart and they are so close
before the Japanese left that loud
taking in the Russian trenches can
be heard plainly. Though the Rus
slams became very quiet during the
first half of December, they have re-
newed the bombardment of the Jap
anese center and left in the past fort
night and have selected several points
to which they devote the most atten-
ton.
The Japanese usually lie low in their
trenches and remain silent. Often sew
eral hundred shells will be fired in a
day without doing damage, although
occasionally shell strikes an exposed
group or kills some careless soldier.
Almost every hour of the day artillery
is booming or rifles are popping some
where along the lines.
The Russian bombardment usually
begins before noon and continues un-
til sunset, but it is often resumed
from midnight to the breaking of day.
Frequently sorties are made by the
companies or by detachments when
the fighting becomes severe. Both
armies are using the hand grenade as
one of their regular weapons for close
fighting. Reconnoitering forces con-.
stantly patrol the country on both
TANKS to guard against offensive move
mentS, and to protect the auxiliary
lines Of communication.
The Russians obtain supplies from
Sinmintin, thirty miles west of Muk-
den, where the Chinese branch railway
ends, and they must protect the roads
n n. ,of ,I,s To-
guard the highways going to the Yalu
river. The barren surface of the land
and the remarkably clear atmosphere
make surprises almost impossible. The
fields are without shrubbery or other
cover for the troops and the hills are
bare and rocky. There are no forests
within the area of operations and
trees are few and widely scattered.
The only cover for moving troops is
the deep ravines which seam the coun-
try. There is seldom a cloud In the
sky and the nights are bright.
All the soldiers on the front live in
underground huts which are heated
with charcoal Field Marshal Oyama,
Gen. Kodama, his chief of staff, and
Gen. Fukushima occupy an ordinary
Chinese house in small village. Gen.
KuroMs headquarters are in similar
establishment, while the attaches live
on a comparatively luxurious scale in
a Russian building.
The soldiers beyond the first line are
quartered in Chinese houses and in
generous structures of corn stalks and
earth. The Chinese share their dwell
ings with the army and are paid rent
for them, besides receiving good prices
for all produce and extraordinary
wages for their labor. The transport
department hires an army of carts,
animals and coolies, paying four times
the normal prices, and skilled labor
commands corresponding rates. The
prices of coal and wood have risen
prOportionately.
The women and children who de-
serted their homes during the Russian
occupation have gradually returned un-
til almost the entire normal population
is back Although they at first re-
garded the Japanese with distrust, good
relations have now been established.
The roads are at their best in the
winter time, being hard and smooth,
and the transport department is TAX
ing advantage of this to accumulate
quantities of supplies.
Charcoal burning is one of the army S
chief activities and the sparse timber
is being consumed at rate which is
likely to leave the country almost bare
In the spring. The Chinese do not OBJ
ject to this because the timber is
bought and not confiscated. The
smoke of kilns lis seen everywhere.
The Japanese soldiers are all clothed
IN furs and heavy overcoats and the
equipment and supplying of the army
continue, as they have since the Jap
anese landed in Korea, nearly a year
ago, to be almost above criticism.