New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-23
PROGRESS or THE WAR.

Latest reports are that the Russians hope to
make an effective stand on the line from Chang
Chun to Kirin. Chang Chun is a station the
railroad and a town of some size about hun
dred and fifty miles above Telling and about
the same distance below Hardin. 1t is about
sixty five miles west of Kirin, with which it is
connected by a branch railroad, which may or
may not be in working order. The country be-
tween the two places is mountainous and
rugged. Each of the two stands upon con-
siderable tributary of the Sungari River, which
is probably now. or will soon be, in flood. 1t
is not known that either place is fortified, or is
capable of being fortified at short notice, and
there seems to be nothing in particular to pre-
vent the japanese from marching around one
end of that line, especially around the western
end of it. The resolution to try to hold that
line would seem to be a counsel of desperation,
inspired by the realization that there is no
other place at which to make a stand south of
Hardin itself, that Hardin is indefensible and
that its fall would mean the isolation Of Vladi-
vOstOk.
There is also talk about Russian hopes of de-
Tending the crossing of the Sungari River. 1t
is not to be supposed the reference is to that
river at Hardin, but either at Kirin or, more
probably, at the point where the railroad crosses
it, near Dala-Shan, eighty miles south of Har-
bin That branch of it is there large stream.
Indeed, 1t is even at k1rin stream large
enough for extensive shipbuilding industry.
OF course the Japanese must cross II to get
to Hardin. and if the Russian army gets across
it first in good order it may be able to make
il a very difficult thing for the japanese TO
follow. For weeks to come the stream wilt
be swollen with melting snow from the noun
tains, and while there is plenty of timber
for bridge building the work of bridging
broad deep and rapid river under fire from
the opposite shore is not at all inviting. 1t
may be added that Gun-Shu-Ling, at present
storm centre is on the railroad about thirty
five miles below Change hun, at the crossing
of the northernmost of the tributaries of the
Lao River, so that in passing from it toward
Chang-Chun the armies pass over the water
shed from the valley Of the Lao into that Of
the Sungari and the AMOR.
The announcement that General Kuropatkin
is to remain at the front a subordinate of
General Linevitch appears to be confirmed 1t
speaks much fer Kuropatkin's patriotism and
devotion that he is willing to do so, and it also
seems to indicate that relations between the
two generals not unfriendly as some
have said The arrangement does not however,
redeem the action of the Russian government
toward KurOpatkin from the imputatiOn of
harshness and ingratitUde, nor will it be likely
to free the army from the mischievous jeal-
ousies and intrigues which are said to have
been rife for months past. But, after all, it
does not so greatly matter who is in command
as il does what number Of reinforcements is
being provided to make good the awful losses
at Moukden. Upon that point we have no light,
and there is little reason to suppose any light
could be given that would be Of promise to the
Russian arms.