The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-02-08
g, One Year of War.

1 To-Day marks the first anniversary of
the war between Japan and Russia,
year that has seen immense changes
In the east. Beginning with furious
torpedo attack upon the Russian ships
IN Port Arthur, which resulted In the
bottling up of the entire Muscovite
fleet, the Japanese proceeded swiftly to
the land campaign. The first army of
the island empire under Kuroki was
thrown into Korea on Feb. IS. and
within two months had overrun the her
nit kingdom. v:
On May l Kuroki crossed the Yalu
river, which divides Korea from Man.
churla, and defeated Zassulitch in a.
series of brilliant actions which demon
strated the superiority of the Japanese
IN handling artillery and the fanatic
nerve and dash Of the Jap infantry. A
few days later he took Feng-wang-
cheng and halted. Meanwhile Nodzu.
on the Korean gulf, and Oku farther
west toward Port Arthur, had made
good their landings, driving the Rus
slams before them and formed a Juno
ton with Kuroki in a great semicircle
looking toward the north. Field Mar
shall Oyama, the hero Of the Chinese
war, arrived few days later and took
supreme direction of affairs. .:.. -.
The Russians having been defeated
in an attempt under Stakelberg to re-
lieve Port Arthur, which had been in
vested by a fourth Japanese army, be-
gan slowly to retreat before the adj
vancing enemy, Kuropatkin' policy
being to avoid general engagement
until he should have enough troops to
make victory probable if not certain.
By Aug. 2 he had reached Liao-yang
which was strongly. fortified. Here a
tremendous battle began on Aug. &c
and ragged for ten days, 100000 men
being engaged. The point of the bat.
tie was the attempt of Kuropatkin to
cuH off Kuroki from the rest Of the jap
anese army east of the Tai-tse river
Failing in this he gave the order tc
retreat, and the Russians began re-
tirement toward Mukden, closely
pressed by the enemy. The Russian
general safely extricated his forces
from their perilous position and the
Japs took possession of Liao-yang.
| Kuropatkin having been reinforced tc
100000 men, made another attempt from
Mukden in the early days of October
Sallying out from his intrenchments, he
made desperate attack upon the Jap
anese all along the line in battle
which engaged 100000 men. This bat
/ tie, which was also of several days. du
ration, showed the Russian troops in {
better light than any other Of the wal
I up to date. The Russian infantry die
great work at Lone Tree hill, repuls
ing attack after attack and holding til
position.
\ The battle was, however, on thewhole
Iunfavorable to the Russians, who retired
and have made but one move since, tina
of a few days ago when the two armies
met on a frozen field amid o binding
snoWstorm and fought desperately 70.
five days without either gaining an,
material advantage. The Russians wer,
1again the aggressors in this fight and j
is said the attack was prompted by til,
home government in the hope that vic
tory would quiet the discomfort, Of TIL,
workingmen who were in almost ope1
revolt in st. Petersburg.
In the first year Of the war the Jap
I anese, have destroyed Russia Is eastern
feet il 9 series Of engagements, have
1 = Ea