The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-06-07
'LINEVITCH IS
 UNDISMAYED Superb Optimism of Rus
 sian General. "I AM A SOLDIER" His Voice Raised for C0ntin-
 uation of War. C.ar's Manchuran Commander Believes That He win Be Able to Defeat
 the Japs tn That
 Territory.

Headquarters of the Russian Army. Gunshu Pass, Manchuria. June 6.-- Undismayed by Rojestvensky's defeat and full of confidence as to tho out come of the approaching battle. Lieu tenant General Lfnevitch Is for war till the bitter end and he believes that the Manchurian army is now strong enough to assume the aggressive.
 To a question put to him by the cor resp endent of. the Associated Press to whom he granted an interview today as to whether he was for war or peace, the commander replied firmly and with out the slightest hesitation: Most certainly I am for war. I am a sol~ dier. The Emperor's will is naturally my law. but my voice. now as before is for the continuance of the fight
 with the destruction of our feet. vanishes the hopes of those who had at the beginning of the war wished to make peace at Tokio. but our defeat at sea has not interfered with my plans absolutely not one whit. I consider myself strong enough now not only to. hold my ground. but even to advance.
 T am no prophet and have no de- sire to be one, but firmly believe that can and will defeat the Japanese in Manchuria. I have asked the war office to send me reservists of the youngest class instead of older ones. not because the latter make poor soi- aires. but because with plenty of young and vigorous reservists it would be un- just as wall as inadvisable to call the older men from their more settled life" Lack of Leadership.
 The Associated Press correspondent is informed that reports have been re- ceived at army headquarters from vIadivostok indicating that the naval defeat was due largely to lack of the l leadership after RoJestvensky was wounded, the engagement being carried
 on principally without signals after the | first hour and no attempt being made
 to adapt the movements of the fleet to meet the manouvres of the Japanese
 Nobody on board any vessel in the | fleet was In the secret of RojestvensiSy'a I
 plans, the commander-in-chief's only confident being Rear Admiral Voelker- l sam, who died early in the fight.
 Up to the time of the battle the
 reports say fortune favored the Rus
 sians. there being almost no sick in the l hospitals, and all the ships being in | good condition No ono in the fleet
 cherished any illusions. At the most 1t
 was hoped that enough vessels would | reach Vladivostok to threaten Japans
 absolute control of the sea and to make
 the Japanese pay as dearly as possible | ion every ship lost The hopes of the Russians went no farther than this. The Russian ships had enough coal to reach Vladivostok, but there was an | inadequate supply of shells and ammu- milton for a prolonged battle. whereas the Japanese. operating near their base,
 were not under the necessity of stow ing away enormous quantities. of coal
 and could carry double quantity of shells or replenish their ammunition
 frcm auxiliary vessels.
 The Russian officers assert that the
 ships surviving the first days battle must have been practically out of ans 1 intuition. The Japanese guns, the re- ports say were of greater range than | those of the Russians their heavy
 shells flying over the battleship avis ions and striking the transports and unarmored cruisers beyond.