River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1905-05-11
is TO CAUTIOUS
TO RISK BATTLE.
RUSSIANS PROFESS TO THINK
TOGO WON'T FIGHT.
HE MAY INvESTvLADIvOSTOK
oyama Is Concentrating His Forces
and Advancing Slowly-Big
Land Battle Is Prob
ably Near.

bogatoff's junction with Vice Admiral
Rojestvensky is now considered by the
admiralty as practically assured. II
Vice Admiral Kamimura fails to pre-
vent juncture of the Russian fleets, as
the admiralty here believes he has, the
impression is strong that Vice Admiral
Togo will not dare risk an open battle
against the united divisions OF Rojest-
vensby and Nebogatoff, but will content
himself with torpedo attacks and posi-
bly, long range action, being prepared TO
draw off in the event that he is unable to
make an impression. Naval officers are
prepared to see Rojestvensky lose half
his conveys but in the face of the united
divisions it is believed that Togo will
accomplish little or nothing in the way
of opposition to the advance to Vladi-
vostok, and that he must be content
with the aid of the army, to try to invest
by land and sea and make Vladivistok
another Port Arthur
Preparing to Strike Soon.
Fenghushshieng, Manchuria, May 8.
Field Marshal Oyama. seems ready to
assume the offensive on a large scale
and activity already has begun against
Gen. Linevitch's left. This may be the
prelude to another general battle. The
Japanese have concentrated heavy col
umns on the Lao river and their adj
vance divisions have been in contact
with the Russians who are holding the
main road from Fakoman to Bashien-
chen.
On Thursday the Japanese cavalry
suddenly attacked the COssacks in over
whelEing force forcing the latter to re-
tire. Then, supported by infantry, the
Japanese advanced and drove the Rus
sian infantry out of the village of
P<litoun. A Russian accommodating
party 20 miles further west ran into an
ambush and all the party except five
we're killed.
Japs Slowly Advancing.
Cadgeyadana, Manchuria, May s.
Since April 20 the Japanese have been
advancing slowly and internationally,
pushing forward their columns success
sively from right to left under cover of
a screen Of cavalry and Chinese bandits.
The advance has resulted in straighteE-
ing the alignment Of the opposing arm
| les, Russian detachmentS which were
far advanced on the TANKS being forced
| to retire. Erdagou, to the eastward, was
occupied May 5, but under pressure by
the Russians the Japanese later evacu-
ated the place. On the left the Russian
cavalry retired behind the Lao river.
the Japanese occupying PALLADIUM, SAM
lingan and Batzya.g 1t is reported that
the Japanese armies in the center have
been reinforced. The force at Field
Marshal Oyama's disposal, according to
information recently received, is 34S
battalions, or 100000 men.
Russians Raid Jap Coast.
Toxic, May S.-Four Russian torpedo
boat destroyers from Vladivostok ap-
peared westward of Hokkaido off Subj
Friday. They seized and burned a
small sailing vessel and imprisoned the
captain and disappeared to the north~
west. They were evidently returning
to Vladivostok. There is a possibility
that they have destroyed other small
crafts, although no reports to that eff
feet have been received. The object of
their visit is not clear. It is thought
that probably they hoped to torpedo the
Japanese patrol at night, and it is also
suggested that the Vladivostok vessels
plan diversion to assist the fleet of Adj
miral Rojestvensky.
Although none has been sighted it is
believed the larger vessels of the
VladivostOk squadron accompanied the
torpedo boats which appeared west of
Hokkaido Friday. 1t is doubted that the
torpedo boats would venture across I'M
escorted in the heavy sea which was
running when they burned the sailing
vessel. All of the crew of this vessel,
except the captain, who was captured,
succeeding in landing, but a steamer
dispatched to the rescue of the burning
derelict was forced TO return on account
of the storm. The Russians poured
kerosene on the deck of the sailing YES
sci and withdrew after having ignited
the surface of the oil.
Kuropatkin May Quit Front.
St. Petersburg, May S.-The rumors
of the approaching return of Gen. Kuro-
patkin from the front now seem to be
definitely confirmed and it is said that
Gen. Zaroubaieff, commander of the
Fourth East Siberian corps, will sue
coed him. Failing health is assigned
as the cause for Kuropatkins coming
back to st. Petersburg.
Feeling Against France.
London, May Special dispatches
from Toxic to the London morning
newspapers represent that the Japanese
feeling is becoming highly infiamed at
Frances alleged failure to prevent os-
tentatious disregard for the principles
of neutrality by the Russian Pacific
squadron. The Hokio Asahi bluntly de-
scribes the French assurances that they
would preserve neutrality as falsehoods
and declares that Japan would be justi-
field in bombarding French territory,
and calls upon the government to take
vigorous action Among japanese Off
Gals in London it is asserted that
France put off Japan by fair promises in
order to give Rojestvensky time to eff
feet juncture with Nebogatof's di-
vision.