Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-08
PRESSING .L|NEWTCH
0yama Preparing for 0ffen-
sive Movement.
MAY BE GENERAL ONE
RUSSIANS WITH SLIGHT RESIST
ANCE ARE FALLING BACK.
Expert Views on Japanese Plans
Have Had Large Reinforce
ments Recently.

once more QlTeCteQ 10 MdHCHuiiet, tHe ho"S
from the front indicating that Field Mar
shall Oyama is pressing General Linevitch's S
advance posts east and west of the railroad
with considerable force, as If about to un-
dertake a general offensive movement The
Russians are offering slight resistance and
are falling back upon their first line of de-
fense. The Russian advance post covers
front of about one hundred miles. extend
ing from Sngtmantsu on the Lao river In
southeasterly direction across the rail-
road above Changtu to the Madarin road.
leading to Kirin, to Kamal Pass. about
seventy miles due east of Tie Pass. The
Russian cavalry protect both wings, small
bodies being probably beyond the Lao
river, in Mongolia. to guard against a sur
prise turning movement in that direction.
Experts believe, however, that Oyama's
purpose is to thrust in from the east, turn
Kirin and interpose himself between Har-
bin and Vladivostok preparatory to the in
vestment of the latter place. Linevitch's s
dispositions seem especially taken to meet
such plan. He would not give battle
along his present line, but would gradually
retire and draw in his forces as Oyama's s
strategy develops to the main Russian posi-
tions which extend due east and west from
kirin, through Kuanchangtsu to Huaitaih-
sien.
A considerable force of troops also Is re-
pCIteO " Ce Que east OF hlrln as faf SOutn
as the Tumen river to contest the Japanese
advance northeastward toward Vladivostok.
IL is not regarded as certain that the Jap
anese advance Will really be serious. Oyama
is known to have received large reinforce
ments which have filled up the Japanese
ranks. and he brought up immense guam
titles of supplies and ammunition after the
battle of Mukden both by way of Sinmin-
tlr and over the reconstructed Manchurian
railroad. But at the war office here there
is difference Of opinion as to whether
Oyama is yet ready, and it is added that if
he is in earnest probably almost a fort
night will elapSe before the issue Is decided
the preliminaries of each of the battles of
the present war, in view OF the fact that
the armies cover such a large area having
always been long and tedious. Up 10 yes
teTday the Russian advance posts generally
had retired about eighteen miles. If Oya-
mas offensive is pressed home, climax
should be- reached at about the time the
sea fight between Admrals Rojestyensky
and Togo is anticipated. Cen Lineyitch's
headquarters are al Gunshu Pass
Statement as to the Sick.
GUNSHU PASS. Manchuria, May SIN
view of the exaggerated reports of sickness
in the Russian armies published abroad the
Associated Press is authorized to give the
following figures, furnished from headquar-
tiers, OF the number of sick in the entire re-
gior from Baikal east of Vladivoetok:
In hospitals-Wounded 769 officers and
Ia 904 soldiers; sick, 1,157 officers and l3 9l6
soldiers.
In sanitary trains-Wounded, 35 officers
and ia soldiers; sick, 10 officers and 772 SOL
diers.
In hospitals for convalescents-Wou
PIG; sick 332
Last week 65 sick patients died and ~
were discharged.
Convalescents-Wou 437; sick, 500.
Among the sick are the following cases:
Contagious dysentery, 80; typhus, 21S:
grippe, 2O4; fever, 90; anthrax, 80; scuryy
u; smallpox, 80; catalepsy, 16; diarrhoea
449; unspecified, 129.
Civil Administration Planned.
TOKYO, May S.-The government is per-
fecting plans to convert the military ad-
ministration of the occupied territory in
Manchuria into a civil administration
Army officers will continue to be chiefs of
departments, but they will be assisted by
civilian experts and civil police 1t is ex-
pected that General kamio will be admin
1strator of the Liaotung peninsula The
administrator of Manchuria has not been
selected. Taxes sufficient to pay the ex-
penses of the civil administration will be
imposed.
Railroad Profits.
TOKYO, May s.-The profits of the gov
ernment railroads for the fiscal year were
So, 10000. exceeding the estimates by
about 81, 100000.
Drove Outposts Back.
ST. PETERSBURG, May S-General
Linevitch, telegraphing from the front
under yesterdays date, says the Japanese
cavalry on May drove back the Russian
mounted outposts.