The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-03
Armies About Mukden Are
Growing More Active
SORT|ES ARE FREQUENT
Japanese Troops Are Clothed In Warm
Furs and Heavy Overcoats and
the Equipment Is Above
Criticism.

General Kuroki's Headquarters. Decem-
ber 81. via Tien Tsin. January 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 talk
ing to Russian trenches can be plainly
heard. Though the Russians became very
quiet during the first half of December.
the japanese centre andl left in the past
fortnight and they have selected several
points to which they devote the most at
tention.
The Japanese usually lie low in their
trenches and remain silent. Often sew
eral hundred shells will be fired in a
day without doing any damage although
occasionally shell strikes an exposed
group or kills some careless soldier.
Almost every hour of the day or night
artillery is booming or rifles are popping
somewhere along the lines,
The Russian pombardmert usually be-
gins before noon and continues until
sunset, but it is often resumed from mid
night to the breaking of day. Frequently
sorties are made by the companies or
by detachments when the fighting be-
comes severe Both armies are using the
hand grenades as one of their regular
weapons FOR close fighting.
Scouting forces constantly patrol the
country on both f1anks to guard against
offensive movements and to protect the
auxiliary lines of communication. The
Russians obtain quantities of supplies
from Sinmlntin, thirty miles west Of
MuSden, where the Chinese branch rail-
road ends, and they must protect the
roads leading to that point, while the
Japs guard the highways.
Surprises Are impossible.
The barren surface of the country and
the remarkably alear tmosphere make
surprises almost impossible. The fields
are without shrubbery or other cover for
the troops and the hills are bare and
rocky. There are few forests without the
area of operations and these are few and
widely scattered. The only cover for
moving troops are the deep ravines which
seam the country. There is seldom a
cloud in the sky and the nights, even
when the moon is not In evidence, are
bright and starlit.
The weather continues to be evenly
cold with no sudden change
All the soldiers on the front line are
in underground huts. which are heated
with charcoal Field Marshal Oyama,
General Kodoma, his chief of staff, and
General Fu<ushima occupy an ordinary
Chinese house in a small village Gen.
eral Kuroki's headquarters are in a SINH
lar house, while the Russian officers live
on comparatively luxurious scale.
On Good Terms With Natives.
The soldiers beyond the first line are
quartered in Chinese houses and in gen.
erous structures of corn stalks and
earth.
The Chinese shares their dwellings with
the army and are paid rent for them be-
sides receiving good prices for all pro-
duce and extraordinary wages for their
labor The transport department hires
an army of carts, mules and coolies pay
Ing 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 deserted
their homes during the Russian occu-
patton have gradually returned until al
most the entire normal population is
back. Although they at first regarded the
Japanese with dstrust. good relationship
has now been established and now the
people and the soldiers are living on the
best of terms.
The roads are at their best in the win
ter time. being hara and smooth and
consequently the transport department is
taking advantage OF This condition to ac-
cumulate quantities of supplies.
Charcoal burning Is one of the arny's
chief activities and the sparse timber is
being consumed at a rate which Is likely
t. leave the country almost barren In
the spring The Chinese don't object to
this because the timber Is bought and
not confiscated The smoke of kilns is
seen everywhere.
The Japanese soldiers are all clothed
IN furs and heavy overcoats and the
equipment and supplying of the army
continues as 1t has since the Japanese
landed in Korea in August, to be above
| criticism.