Evening journal., 1905-06-19

Copyright 1905, by Golfers weekly.l
Two new armies came to assist the
main force at the battle Of Mukden,
one marching up to juncture with Ell
ther end Of the winter line. NogIs
men had only finished the siege at
Port Arthur when they had to begin
a tramp Of 200 miles in the cold and
windy period Of late January and early
February.
A Part of the japanese Strategy.
You may hear in Tokyo-as l heard
when I passed through-how the new
army Of the east (the japanese right
was sent through Korea in order to
give the impression that its destina-
tion was Vladivostok. BY marching
around Robin Hoods barn the new ar
my of the east had fooled the enemy
completely. It had sprung out Of the
air on Kuropatkin's left and was doing
the work of the battle already in
progress. This much you learned in
the most confidential way from the
gossip of the capital. The truth is, so
far as l can ascertain, that the Jap
anese made great secret of this new
army's existence. when as a matter OF
fact they would have been deeply dis
appointed had not Kurop0tkin heard
all about it through his secret service.
Kur0patkin rose TO the bait. He
thought that the japanese were trying
10 turn his left. He sent his reserves
to the east, and that was precisely
what the Japanese wanted.
The real secret was to the west, the
japanese left. 1t was simple, as all
battle plans are, 10 wage battle along
the whole of the enemy's line, feint on
his left and strike on his right.
On Feb. 20 Nogi was modified in
the little town Of Shapelho, about
twelve miles west of Liaoyang. The
car was not more carefully watched
during the riots in st. Petersburg than
this force, which was Us large as
Lees army upon its surrender to
Grant. Most Of the cavalry at Oyama's
command formed a screen In front OF
him from the left Of the japanese
works TO the bank Of the Lao. The
Cossacks never penetrated ii or got
around II; no native took the informa-
tion 10 Mukden; Kuropatkin never
smelled a mouse. The town where
Nogi waited was sealed by sabers and
carbines. But the time was not vet
ripe for NOgi to advance. When be
went it must be rapidly. lest the enc
my should be warned and prepare fol
him.
The Beginning of the Battle.
II was the place OF the new army OF
the east to call attention TO Itself by
the first movement Of the battle. Its
first fight on its advance was at Chin
hochen on Feb. %. This was not seri
GUS It kept on advancing on the 24th
25th and 26th, having TO meet the enc
my in little more than rear guard ac
! tons. BY this time It was on a line
with the main positions of the Japa
nese, but between these two points
there was a bend in the line toward
+ the soutbward.
Here Kuroki's army, which had hith
. erto formed the right, was posted. 1t:
8 three divisions were set differing anc
difficult tasks In pressing forward tC
relieve any pressure on the new army
and TO insure that once KuropatkiI
had removed his reserves to this sid'
of Mukden he would be kept too busy
there to withdraw them until Nogi haC
nrmy placed himself to the east o.
mukden, threatening the railroad.
One division was concentrated and
sent right around the right OF the othel
two divisions oe KurOki They ad
& Fanced ten miles on the 24th withou
q opposition. but By tbs 9Th the new
army and the First army began to up
preciate how strongly Kzopatkin hsS
prepared for the expected nankin,
D Jvement on his left. With stubborn
positions In front OF them one division
of Huroki's army had The assistance o
brigade and concentrated HrtiIler,
ire. Tho division which bad wfiseiSs
on the Goth attacked Wanfuiln. The
found the Russians IN grsstsr number