The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-01-05
THE RUSSO JAPANESE WAR
CORRESPONDENT WRITES THE
 INNER HISTORY"

Oehehse oi POrt Arthur Hampers Japs-sIIxadO's Men Splendid Fight
 CTS, but His Generals Are Too Cau- tiOus.
 The London Daily Mail is publishing a series of articles by F. A. Mckenzie, on ''The Inner History of the War" The articles describe the Russo-Japa- nese conflict in a manner quite differ, ent from that in which the story was told in the earlier and much-censored dispatches from the far east, Mir. Me kenzie is an experienced war cores pondent, and writes intelligently of the strife. He was present at the first bat tie of Chemulpho, and went with the advance guard of the Japanese on the winter march through northern Korea. The Mail asserts that he was the first foreign correspondent to join Kuroki's army. He remained with Kuroki dur ing the summer and autumnal cam paign.
 Mr.McKenzie announces his belief that | S@~S cNPeeAANSS ~Ntll WILL IIG llluSl UGH more of the inner history than has reached New. York by the post before his readers will be convinced of that. He states that the war has reached it's most difficult stage for Japan. The magnificent stand of General Stoessel at Port Arthur, has reversed the mill tary situation, by causing the delay ne, cessary to strengthen the Russian posi- tfon to the northward, and drive the l Kenzie describes the anticipation of Port Arthur's fall on the part of the Japanese. He writes: . .'s | It was generally understood that Port Arthur was to fall on July 26. In our army that was given as the unal- terable dale. Throughout Japan prep arations were made for the celebration of the victory. Hotels laid in great stocks of food for the coming feast and advertised their arrangements For the night of the fall of Port Arthur" invi- | ting the public to book ahead, Orders for Illuminated lanterns poured in on every maker. As the day drew nearer excitement grew more tense. Monster processions were planned, and decora, tive schemes were, devised such as Ja- pan had never known before. Every maker of fancy goods worked day and might. Each town had it's local fund. The day came. all was ready, and the crowds waited hour by hour for the yell ling, polite little newspaper boys with their Extras" But the news did not come. " ,, .5 ! The disappointment sent a shock throughout the empire. It's economic effects were curiously felt. The ven ders of holiday goods, particularly the lantern makers, found themselves full Iup with stock which no one wanted, Men who had ordered generously in ex- pectation of festal days now refused to accept their orders. In Kobe especially the lantern-makers were brought to the point of ruin.
 l August was more than half through when the word again went . around,
 Port Arthur is to be taken in the last week of August" We in the north iwere too busy for many days. fighting our own battle to think much of other things; yet every day the question went round, Any news from the south? ?' The answer was always no.
 The delay was seriously affecting the military situation. Our main plans had been based on the supposition that Nogi's veterans, released from the isiege, would come north with their heavy guns to help us to push victory right home. But soon it became un- derstood that we might possibly have to send men to them. When the Rus sians were finally driven back from Liao-yang, it was time for to follow quickly. With the guns from Port Ar thur everything was possible. When would they come?
 Golden days were, slipping away. Each week brought word of the fresh tens of thousands of Russians reaching Mukden from Europe. Every day the task of moving against the entrenched enemy became more formidable Slow l Iy it daWned on Our incredulous brains l that Stoessel was, by his tremendous \ stand in the south, reversing the entire military situation. If he held out much longer the Russians to the north l would be strong enough to attack us in place of our attacking them.
 The correspondent sums up the chief dangers to Japan as follows:
 The growing improvement of the Russian morale. ] The oyer-caution of the Japanese gen. . erals, and their neglect to follow up l their victories fully. ..- ....' ..... The heavy losses incurred by the Jap anese in direct attacks. s".@, . i The fact that the Russians have now learned the surprise methods of Japa' nese attacks, and are prepared against | them. .-
 l Lastly, and for the moment least inn portant, the failure of the Japanese to placate the Koreans.
 l MT. Mckenzie evidently sees improve ment in the Russians, for he writes: I The Russians in Manchuria were the rotten apple, waiting to be kicked out | of the path by the straight blow. But the blow did not come. Port Arthur could have been taken, and easily talk en, by the end of February. Dalny lay ready for seizure. But the Japanese re mained passive, until Port Arthurs phantom force became a real one, until after her gamers were filled, and her |