The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-01
The Latest News From the Far East

Inc Latest news FROM tut rdr Edst'
It was TO be expected that an attempt
would be made to divert public attention
from Russias internal troubles by the
publication of interesting news from
the seat of wGr in Manchuria. In order
that such news might be forthcoming
in the nick of time. il was only needful
to telegraph an order TO General kURo-
PATKIN to undertake a forward move
ment.
1t is certain that, on Jan o. the Rus
sian Commander-in-Ch made a deter
mined effort to turn Marshal OYAMAs
left with the aim of reaching the latters
rear and cutting his line Of communi-
cation With his bases OF supply at lnchow
and Dalny. The Russian force to which
the execution Of this project was n
trusted W as a very large one, comprising,
according to a telegram from TOXIC,
some eight or nine army corps, each
Of hich. if at it's full strength, would
contain 2500O men The immediate
objective Of the Russian General was
the capture of a strategically important
position occupied by the japanese, a
fort OF a permanent type which had
been constructed at Sandepas for the
purpose OF commanding the triangle
formed by the confluence of the Hun
and the Sha rivers. The fighting seems
to have continued for three days, and
that the possession OF Sandepas VAS
holly contested is evident from the fact
that, according to a computation made
in Toxic, the casualties On the side OF
the Japanese amounted to $500 and to
twice as many on the part Of their OPP
ponents.
The outcome Of the protracted battle
was that, after some preliminary sue
cesses, the Russians entirely failed 70
carry out their design and were com
PEELED 10 fall back on their original
lines. 1t is presunable that Marshal
OYAMA, having now been re nforced
by the whole Of General NoGl's army,
except the fraction needed to garrison
Port Arthur, viii socn take the agrees
sive in his turn, with view ofenveloping
his antagonist. The neutrality Of Chi
nese territory having been violated by
the Russian General MIsTCHENKo in
his recent raid southwark to Newchg ang,
the Japanese may now hold themselves
nj liberty TO move troops northward
through the region west Of the Lao
River. to the eastern bank OF which their
left flank extends. II seems probable
that Russias note reserving TO herself
liberty Of action on the plea that China
has failed to fulfil neutrals duties,
was meant to justify General MIST
CHENKo's expedition, which had already
started when the note was presented.
The supposition that the note was
intended TO lay a basis for the seizure
of a Chinese harbor by the Baltic feet
ia far fetched one, as it is improbable
that the warships under Admiral RoJEsT-
vENsKY will be seen in Chinese waters.
Their precise locality at the present
time ia unknown, but If their COM
mander had been determined to cross
the Indian Ocean and proceed TO the
Far East he should have been heard
from ere now at Batavia The rImor
current in st. Petersburg soon after
the massacre OF workmen on Sunday,
Jan. %, that the Baltic fleet had gained
a victory over Japanese squadron
was, Of course, canard. II recalls
the report circulated in Madrid and Paris
during our war with Spain. and believed
/ for twenty-four hours. that DEwEYs
feet had been annihilated in Manila
/ Bay. There is no reason to suppose
that there are any Japanese war vessels
I in the Indian Ocean. The attempt 10
intercept the Baltic feet is much moro
/ likely to be made in the Straits Of Sunda
1 OF he Straits OF Malacca, where tho
japanese would be relatively near their
base OF supply in Formosa. Those,
/ however, who have Matched the course
/ pursued by Admiral RoJEsTvENsKY
since he entered the North Sea are scepti-
+ cal concerning the fervor Of his desire
! TO meet the enemy.
We now hear nothing about the huge