Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-01-13
DIScORD among
RUSSIAN LEADERS
SITUATION AROUND MUKDEN
rs SAID TO BE A sERI-
GUS ONE.
LOSING CONFIDENCE
IN GEN. KURoPATklN
Attack on japanese Positions or Re-
treat Both Fraught with Danger
Third Fleet to Leave Libau at End
Of the Month.

states that the Russian generals in Man.
churia are losing confidence in Gen. Ku7
Topatkin and that the Russian situation
around Mukden is q serious one 1t is
feared that If Kuropatkin attacks the
Japanese position along the Shakhe
river he will court disaster and that his
further retreat will mean the democrat
ization of his army.
Discomfort Among Troops.
This information goes on to say that
there II constant pickering at Russian
Nanchurian headquarters, and that the
soldiers are disseminated, dissatisfaction
beginning with the series of retreats
after the battle OF Tehssu (Vafangow),
and the withdrawal from Liaoyang when
1t was believed it was possible to hold
that place. The climax came with the
Russian defeat at the battle of Shakhe
river, following Kuropatkin's strongly
worded order directing the forward
movement. dated October2. This defeat
brought storm of criticism upon the
commander in chief and resulted In dis
cord among the officers. Long inaction,
Che information alleged, is undermining
the morale Of the Russian army, and it
Is pointed out that recent skirmishes
and outpost brushes indicate that the
Russian soldiers are becoming disheart-
ened as they do not show their former
fighting spirit or qualities.
Third Fleet to Sail.
st. Petersburg, Jan. II. - The Russ
Tuesday confirmed the report that the
nrst division of the third Pacific squad
uary and will consist of the warships
Admiral Senjavin, General Admiral
Apraxine, Admiral Oushakoff and Mich
Olas l., the cruiser Vladimir Monomach
and several torpedo boat destroyers and
torpedo boats.
Novoe vremya Offers Advice.
In lengthy review of the military sit
uatton the Novoe vremya urges the i'm
mediatae reinforcement of Vladivestok,
the island of Sakhalin and Kamchatka.
The paper says: There is little prob
ability Of the Russians being caught as
unprepared at Vladivostok as at Port Ar
thur, but the moral responsibility rests
upon the government to see that nothing
IN the way Of defensive preparations is
overlooked. Sakhalin and Kamchatka
are both harder to defend and have
Gcantier population, but both are rich
In mineral and other resources and are
especially tempting to the Japanese to
whose scheme for national expansion
they are necessary" Continuing, the
Novoe Vremya points out that it is pos
sible to send reinfoicements and sup
piled to Sakhalin and Kamchatka while
the Ice lasts Independent of sea power
and begs that this should be done at once.
Touching on the general peace talk in
the foreign press the Noyoe Vremya
summarizes the list of Russian reverses
Ia the present war and asks If it is pos
sible to consider the question of peace
without substantial Russian victories.
Stoessel and Nogi Honored.
Berlin, Jan. 11.-Emperor William
has conferred on Gen Stoessel and Gen.
Nogi the Order Of Pour LIE Merite" in
recognition of the bravery of them
selves and their troops at Port Arthur.
His majesty has asked the Russian and
SoPeASSC CAhPSAo AS " auIhol 1Lc 1SAo.
stoessel and Nogi to accept the decora-
lions.
Russian Ships at Port Said.
Port Said, Jan. 1.-THE seven ships
under Admiral Botrovsky's command,
the cruisers Oleg, Isumrud, Dnieper
and Rion and the torpedo boat Destroy
ers Grozni, Gromski and Rezity have ar
rived here.
Prisoners Landed.
Nagasaki. Jan. 1.-THE japanese gov
eminent transport Tosa brought %
Russian officers, who were landed here,
and thousand men, who were
tranSshipped for Kokura.