Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-06-17

L%OpyTlSnL AS0o, py ColIlers 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. Nog1's
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 i heard
when ! passed through-how the ASw
army OF the east the japanese right
was sent through Korea ia order TO
ton was VladivOstok. BY marching
around Robin Hoods barn the new ar
my OF the east had fooled the enemy
completely. 1t had sprung out of the
air on Kuropatkin's left and was doing
the work OF the battle already III
progress This much you learned in
the most confidential way from the
gossip OF the capttal. The truth Is, so
far as l can ascertain. that the Jap
anese made a great secret of this new
aYmy's existence, when as a matter OF
fact they would have been deeply dis
appointed had not Kuropatkin heard
all about IL through his secret service
Kuropatkin rose to the bait. He
thought that the japanese were trying
TO 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, to wage battle along
the whole Of the enemy's line, feint on
his left and strike on his right
On Feb. 20 Nogi was mobilized In
the little town of Shapeiho, about
twelve miles west of Liaoyang. The
car was not more carefully watched
during the riots in st. Petersburg than
this force, which was as 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 1t or got
around II; no native took the infOrma-
hkOu " NnAORoNhAh ACNNA
smelleCf a mouse The town where
NoE waited was sealed by sabers and
carbines. But the time was not yet
ripe for Nogi to advance. When he
went it must be rapidly. lest the enc
my should be warned and prepare for
him.
The Beginning Of the Battle.
1t was the place of the new army OF
the east to call attention TO itself by
the frst movement OF the battle. Its
FIRST fight on it's advance was at Chin
hochen ON Feb. 3. This was not seri-
Gus. II kept on advancing on the oath,
18Th and 26th. having to meet the enc
my In little more than rear guard &C
lions. By this time 1t was on line
with the main positions OF the Japa-
nese, but between these two points
there was bend in the line toward
the southwark.
Here Kurokrs army, which had hith-
erto formed the right, was posted. Its
three divisions were set differing and
difficult tasks In pressing forward to
relieve any pressure on the new army
and TO insure that once Kuropatkin
had removed bis reserves to this side
OF Mukden be would be kept too busy
there 10 withdraw them until Nogi had
firmly placed himself TO the east OF
Mukden. threatening the railroad.
One division was concentrated and
sent right around the right OF the other
two divisions OF Kuroki. They ad-
vanced ten miles on the oath without
opposition. but by the 9th the new
army aud the First army began 20 ap-
preciate how strongly Kuropatkin had
prepared for the expected nanking
movement on his left. With stubborn
positions b front Of them one division
Of kuroki's army had the assistance OF
a brigade and q concentrated artillery
IRE. The division which had wkeeled
ON the Goth attacked wanfulin- They
found the Russians in greater numbers