The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1905-03-31
CONFLICT IN FAR EAST

French minister. who has charge OF
Russia's interests there. However,
the reports of Frances active part In
the negotiations We're said to be not
entirely correct, as other powers have
contributed
Toward Pacific Solution,
and it is expected they will take part
in it's realization. 1t appears that
some of the lesser powers, including
Sweden, are assisting to that end.
Russla's chief preoccupation is said
to be avoidance of having peace plans
arouse the animosity of the powerful
war element at home.
The receipt of an official dispatch
at ST. Petersburg on March 90, saying
that the Japanese were approaching
Nladivostok, is said to have induced
the determination to seek a pacific So
luton. On the other hand it is in
sisted that Japanese proximity to
Vladivostok promises to be a chief OBJ
stacle in the way of peace, as diplo-
mats conversant with the situation say
Japan will seek to avert peace until
she possesses Russia's only outlet to
the Pacific ocean.
May Not Try to Hold Hardin.
st. Petersburg, March 25.-The pos
sibility that if the Russian army
should be unable to hold the lower
line of the Sungari river at Chun-
chiatsu, it may be compelled to retreat
not only to Hardin, but also further
westward along the railroad, abandon
ing to the Japanese Northern Man
chrria and the Russian maritime
AmIr provinces as we'll, is the start
ling news from the front.
The strategic weakness of Gen.
Linevitchs position as he falls back
northward is made clear by a Gunshu
dispatch to the Associated Press in
which it is pointed out that unless
Chunchiatsu and the Sungari lines, a
scant hundred miles below Hacbin,
can be held it will be
Difficult to Maintain
a position farther back before Hardin,
where, with the front of the army par
alleling the railway, the practicability
of turning movement to completely
sever communications and isolate the
army 5000 miles from home is too
serious for Russian consideration In
view of this possibility the dispatch al
luded to suggests the ACCESSIBILITY of
Immediately providing Vladivostol1
with war munitions and supplies for
two years siege. The correspondent
estimates the number of reinforce
ments needed to give Gen. Linevitch
the requisite superiority in force at
least 100000. That such dispatch
should have been permitted to pass
the censor at the front
Is Significant,
and If Gen. Linevitch has commune
Gated a similar estimate of the situa-
ton direct to ST. Petersburg, it may
account for his majesty's increased
disposition to listen to peace counsels
and open negotiations before the Jap
anese establish themselves on Russian
soil. With Manchuria entirely aban-
doned to the Japanese and Vladivos-
tok as Russia's solitary sentinel on
the Pacific, it is realized that Russia
will be practically at Japan's mercy in
the matter of peace terms. 1t can now
to appoint Grand Duke Nicholas Mich
olaievitch to the supreme command
in the Far East was reconsidered, be-
cause the outlook at the front does not
warrant the risk of compromising the
prestige of a member of the imperial
family. Military authorities here be-
'ieve that unless Gen. Linevitch is
sure of his ability to hold the lower
Sungari lire. he
Will Risk His Whole Army
if he fortifies and concentrates there
as if he should be defeated his line of
retreat lies to two sides of triangle,
the third side of which is open to the
enemy's advance.
At the general staff the view that
Gen. Linevitch may be compelled to
abandon Hardin and retire toward
Lake Baikal. leaving Vladivostok to
it's fate, is regarded almost unwarrant-
ed by anything that is officially known
there, it being pointed out that Field
Marshal Oyama will have long and
laborious task to bring up an army of
100000 or 100000 men.
Meanwhile Russian reinforcements
are arriving at Hardin at the rate of
1000 per day. Nevertheless it is sig
nificant there there is now we'll
marked peace party at the war Office.
kuropatkin Is Again at the Front.
st. Petersburg, March 23.-2:20 a
m.-The Russian army in Manchuria
is still to have the services of Gen.
kuropatkin, who is considered by
many. in spite OF his series of re-
verses, the best general and foremost
strategist of the Russian army.
Sinking all feeling of personal bit.
terness because of his suppression
and all the old-time enmity between
himself and Gen. Linevitch in a ma.
trlotlc desire to be of service to the
1atherland, the former commander-in-
chle1 volunteered to remain in any
capacity with the army which he had
SO long commanded. The tender has
been accepted by Emperor Nicholas
and gratefully received by the new
nf h..