Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1905-01-26
|COSSACKS GET BUSY.
sECCMC UNEXPECTEDLY ACTIVE
DURING THE WEEK.
konrcpa tkin's Cavalry Make a Sortie
and Tear Up the Liao-yanG Railroad,
on Which the Japanese depend for
Their Supplies.

were unexpectedly active during the
| the frost a formidable body accompa-
MED by q regiment of infantry and
| several guns swept around the Japa-
! neSe left flank and struck at several
points south of LiaOyang the railroad
on which the Japanese depend for
their supplies. They were able to tear
up the tracks in many places, but the
Japanese report that the damage was
quickly remedied. Either the Russians
have not learned The art of railroad
destruction so thoroughly as federal
raiders did during the Civil War or
the Japanese are we'll prepared for I'M
pleasant emergencies.
The object of the attack on the jap
anese lire Of communication is as
sumed to be to hinder the dispatch to
Marquis Oyama's army of General
Nogis troops and artillery, which
have been released by the surrender of
Port Arthur. Possibly with these re-
endorsements Oyama will be in posi-
lion to resume the offensive in spite
of the inclemency of Manchurian
winter. Indeed it may be easier for
him to move at this time than it will
be in the spring when the streams are
up and the roads are bOttanless. The
audaciOuS dash Of the Russian as far
south as NewchWang and Yinkow
proves that they at least can cam
paign in the winter season.
While Oyama will be greatly
strengthened when he gets the re-en-
fOrcementS which are now on their
way, no one knows how many men he
has. There is equal ignorance as to
the force at General KOuropatkin' dis
pOsal. 1t may be assumed that he has
about all for whom supplies can be
brought over the TranSSiberian Road
1t is reported that he has $4,000 Cos
sacks and at least two able and en-
terprising cavalry generals. Last
weeks raid may be the precursor Of
many.
Admiral ROjestvensky's feet has not
returned to European waters, but ap-
The long stay at that French posses
sion has provoked unfavOrable COM
ments by the Japanese, who say that
France is showing disregard for the
obligations of Il neutral nation by al
lowing Madagascar to be made a base
of operations. 1t is reported that
strong Japanese squadron is at the
Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean,
south of CeylOn and northeast of Ma
dagascar. Probably there are at the
most only Il few vessels there which
have ventured so far for scouting pur-
passes.
Last week the Russian vice admiral,
who is a member of the international
commission to investigate the North
Sea incident, was quoted as saying
that I'VE tend toward not far off
peace"-a peace during which Russia
could build powerful navy and be
ready to try conclusions again with
Japan. At the moment the statement
was thought 10 be significant. but the
address Of the Gar to his army and
navy has no promise of peace.
After announcing the fall of Port
Arthur and praising the gallantry Of
its defenders, the Gar eXhorts the
soldiers and sailors not to be dismay-
ed, and says with all Russia | join
in the belief that the time is coming
when God viii give strength to our
glorious army and navy to arise and
break the forces of the enemy" !
This means continued war-that
Kouropatllin is to drive the Japanese
out Of ManchGria if he can. and that
the Russian fleet, when raised to the
highest possible degree of efficiency,
is to so in search Of the enemy.