The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-01-19


Their Supplies.
General Kouropatkin's Cossacks
were unexpectedly active during the
week. undetcrred by the snow and
the frost n formidable body accompa-
MED by a regiment Of infantry and
several guns swept around the Japa-
nese left flank and struck ut several
points south OF I.iaoyang the railroad
on which the Japanese depend for
their supplies. They were able TO tear
up the trucks In many places, but the
japanese report that the damage was
quickly remedicd. Either the Russians
have not learned the art OF railroad
destruction 80 thoroughly as federal
raiders did during the Civil War or
the japanese are well prepared for un-
pleasant emergencies.
The object OF the attack on the Jap
nnese line Of communication IL AS
sumcd 10 he TO hinder the dispatch to
Marquis Oynma's army OF General
Nogi's troops aud artillery, which
have been released by tho surrender Of
Port Arthur. Possibly with these re-
endorsements Oyama will be In n posi-
ton 10 resume the offensive In spite
OF the inclemency OF n M~anchurian
winter. Indeed. IL may be easier for
him To move at this time than u will
be In the spring when the streams are
up and the roads are bottomlcss. The
audacious dash Of the Russian as far
south as Newchwang AMI Yinkow
proves that they nj least can cam
paign In the winter season.
While Oyama will be greatly
strengthened when he gets the re-cn-
forcements which are now on their
way, no one knows how many lei he
has. There Ii equal ignorance as TO
the force NJ General Kouropatkin's dis
posal. II may he assumed that he has
about all for whom supplies can he
brought over the Trnnssibcrian Road.
IL In reported that he has 5000 Co.'S
sacks and at least two able and en-
terprising cavalry generals. Last
weeks raid may bc the precursor of
many.
Admiral i,o~Icstvcnsky's feet has not
returned Ia European waters. but APP
pears tn bc lingering at Madagascar.
The long stay ut that French posses
sion has provoked ~unfavorablc COM
ments by the Japanese. who say that
France IL showing disregard for the
obligations Of n neutral nation by al
lowing Madagascar 10 be made n base
or operations. IL Is reported that a
strong Japanese squadron Is ut the
Chagos Islands In the Indian Ocean.
south of Ceylon and northeast OF Ma
dagascar. Probably there are mt the
most only n few vessels there which
have ventured so far for scouting pur-
passes.
Last week the Russian vice admiral.
who IL n member OF the international
commission TO investigate the North
Sea incident. was quoted as saying
TINT I'VE tend toward not far OF
peace peace during which Russia
could build a powerful navy and be
ready TO try conclusions again with
japan. NJ the moment the statement
was thought To bc significant. but the
address OF the Car to his army and
navy has no promise OF peace.
After announcing the fall OF Port
Arthur and pralsing the gallantry of
it's defenders, the Car exhorts the
soldiers and sailors not to be dIsmay.
ed, and says with all Russia I join
In the belief that the time Is coming
S Sias'.u sGs wv $ -,rssEl9 y w
break the forces OF the enemy"
This means continued war-that
Kouropatkln is to drive the Japanese
ont OF Manchuria II he eau, and that
the Russian feet. when raised 10 the
highest possible degree OF efficiency.
Is TO 20 In search OF the enemy.