Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-03-28

the wholesale criticism lately heaped
upon the war Office for it's unprepared-
ness and incapacity in providing the
Manchurian army with men, guns and
munitions the army organ today lays
bare what has been done since the
opening of hostilities, giving the exact
figures.
From these it appears that up to
March IL the war Office had dispatched
13,0S7 officers. 761,4 67 men, LAG, 4OS
horses. 1,521 guns and 316,321 tons of
munitions and supplies to the front,
declaring that the transportation
strained the Siberian railroad to it's
utmost capacity.
Army Small at First.
The army organ admits that the
army in the far east when the war
opened was hardly worth the name,
mo figures being given, but it is
known the troops did not exceed 10000
men,
The army organ defending this on
the ground that the emperor desired
to avoid a war and therefore refrained
from sending reinforcements which
surely would have provoked 1t.
Port Arthur's Unpreparedness.
The criticism of the war Offices fail
ure to adequately supply Port Arthur
is met by the statement that it was
provisioned for a garrison of twelve
battalions. The decision to put thirty
battalions there was taken so late orig.
inal calculations could not be rene
died.
Why Guns Were Few.
While affirming that the quick fir
ing guns and field guns of the Rus
slams are superior to those of the Jap
anese the war Office explains that the
misfortune in the insufficiency of
mountain guns was due to the fact
that when the war broke out Russia
was just adopting a new pattern. 1t
is denied that the war office was de-
ceived in regard to the available
strength of the Japanese army or the
organization of the Japanese reserves
but the army organ frankly admits
that the talents of the officers and the
wonderful spirits of the soldiers were
miscalculated.
SGuScS d SSnSdIiON.
The publication of the article has
created sensation among military
men and in public circles, many of the
former censuring the general staff for
discussing valuable military secrets
and the latter finding from the figures
practical admission that the war has
cost almost a half million men in
killed, wounded, prisoners and sick, as
the whole force effectives in the far
east is now believed not to exceed
100000 men.
Arrange for New Loan.
| An imperial decree today directs
the minister of finance to issue five
per cent internal loan of 100000 900,
with a view to further STRENGTHENING
the funds in the state treasury re-
CURED to meet the expenses of the
war.
Hard Fighting Ceased.
General Linevitch continues the re-
tirement of the bulk of his army to
the rorthward.
The general staff now declares it
is certain that Oyama has been COM
PEELED to relinquish the idea of pursuit
in force for the present. The japanese
| forces on the Russian tanks are too
! light to constitute a serious danger,
and lull in the heavy fighting for
several weeks. If not for months, is
predicted by some correspondents.
Danger in Mongolia.
A Russian correspondent warns the
| st. Petersburg authorities Of the dan.
gers of japanese activities in Mon
golia, where he says their emissaries
are enlisting Lamas and arousing
their old warlike spirit.
No Change in Position.
Linevitch telegraphs under date OF
March "a and says: The Russian
patrol has been fired upon by Japan
csc cavalry and infantry occupying
the village of Puljuschu. There has
been no change in the position of the
armies during the day.
Unconfirmed Report of Fight.
Paris, France, March 25. - The
Mathis st. Petersburg correspondent
sends the unconfirmed report that the
japanese torpedo boats have succeed
/ ed in damaging ROieStyensky's battle