The San Francisco call., 1905-06-07

GIJNSTIU PASS, Manchuriap June
C. - Undismayed by Rojestvensky's
defeat and full of confidence as to
the outcome Of the approaching
battle. Lieutenant General Linevitch is
for war 10 the bitter end, and he be-
lieves that the Manchurian army is
now strong enough to assume the ag-
gressive.
To a question put to him by a coFre-
spondent, to whom he granted an In
terview to-day, as to whether he was
for war or peace, the commauder-in-
chief replied firmly and without the
slightest hesitation:
Most certainly / am for war. am
a soldier. The Emperors will is natur-
ally my law, but my voice now, as De
fore, is for the continuance OF the
fight
With the destruction Of our feet
vanishes, of course. the hopes OF those
who at the beginning of the war WISH
ed to make peace at Toxic, but our
defeat at sea has not interfered with
my plans-a bsolutely not one whit l
consider myself strong enough not only
to hold any ground, but even TO ad-
vance.
L am no prophet and have no desire
to be one, but I firmly believe that
can and will defeat the japanese IN
Manchuria.
Il have asked the War ONCE to send
me reservists of the younger classes
instead of older ones, not because the
latter make poor soldiers, but because
with plenty Of young and vigorous re-
servists it would be unjust as well as
fnadvisabIe TO call the older men from
their more settled life"
JAPANESE FEIGN A RETIREMENT.
The Japanese appear to be withdraw
ing to the southwark along their Whole
front 1t is thought that this, perhaps,
is a meneuver to entice Lieutenant Gen
eral Linevitch from his prepared posi-
tions.
Reports have been received at army
Headquarters from Vladivostok indicat-
ing that the naval defeat was due
largely TO lack of leadership after Ro-
jestyensky was wounded, the engage
ment having been carried on practically
without signals after the first hour ana
no attempt having been made to adapt
the movements of the fleet to meet the
maneuVers of the Japanese. Nobody on
board anyVessel in the fleet was IN the
secret as to Rojestvensky's plans, the
commander in-c chiefs only conf1dant
being Rear Admiral VoelkerSam, VINO
/ died early in the fight.
Up to the time of the battle, these
reports say, fortune favored. the RUS
SLAMS, there having been almost no sick
/ in the hospitals and all the ships haV-
ing been in good condition.
NO ONE EXPECTED VICTORY.
No one in the fleet cherished any iHu-
sions At the most it was hoped that
! enough vessels would reach Vladfvostok
to threaten Japan's absolute control OF
the sea and to make the japanese pay
/ as dearly as possible for every ship
/ lost The hopes of the Russians went
no further than this.
The Russian ships had enough coal
to reach Vladivostok, but there was an
/ inadequate supply of shells and am
munition for a prolonged battle, where
as the Japanese, operating near their
( base, were not under the necessity OF
slowing away enormous quantities OF
I coal and could carry a double quantity
/ of shells or replenish their ammunition
I from auxiliary vessels.
The Russian officers assert that the
ships surviving the first days battle
must have been practically out of am
munition.
The japanese guns, the reports say
were of greater range than those OF
the Russians, their heavy shells flying
over the battleship division and strik-
ing the transports and the unarmored
I cruisers beyond.