Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 67, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 April 1904 — LITTLE NEWS OF WAR. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

LITTLE NEWS OF WAR.

VIRTUALLY NO LAND FIGHTING HAS YET TAKEN PLACE. Armies of Combatants in "the Far East Maneuvering for Position Rnßsinns Are Reported Having Retreated Out of Korea and Across the Yaiu. Maneuvering for position seems to be the only term which will fit the land movements iu the war between Russia and Japan in the far East. Virtually no fighting on land has taken place up to the present writing. It seems to be established, however, that Russia has been driven out' of Korea. The Japanese now hold possession of the entire country. Press dispatches from several different sources confirm the news of Russia’s rout These dispatches say that the Russians have retreated across the Yalu river, which separates Korea from Manchuria, and that such a state of panic exists that the Czar's soldiers have abandoned positions which might have been defensible. In less than eight weeks the Japanese army has landed at Chemulpo, marched west thirty-five miles to Seoul, the capital of Korea, established a military base there, swung to the left, inarched 150 miles to Pingyang, fortified that place strongly, created a base there, extended strongholds from Pmgynm; ■ across the Korean peninsula to Gensnn, pressed northward to Chongju, driving the Russians out of it, continued, the march to Wiju. nnd occupied that town without a struggle. During the 300 mile march from Seoul to Wiju there were no battles and few skirmishes. The Russians were not in force below the Y’alu and made no serious effort to hinder the Japanese advance. Nevertheless the Japanese have already proved themselves to be great soldiers. They have shown that they possess a wonderful military organization, that they understand far more perfectly than do the Americans how to coordinate the movements of the navy and

the army, nnd that they are sturdy, enduring marchers. The march from Seoul to Wiju must have been a bitterly hard one. The roads were frozen and deep in snow at the beginning of the war; they are now knee or waist deep In mud. They are at the best of seasons and in the best of conditions narrow, uneven, nnd of insecure footing. Over 300 miles of such footing the Japanese army lias trudged at an average rate of six miles a day. Six miles a day is not much for a forced march of picked troops, but it is a good, solid eight-week average for an army carrying its provisions nnd artillery with it. It was chiefly over Korea that the war was caused. The Russians wanted at least half of the counti-y. Japan would not consent to the advance of Russia to the very doors, almost, of the Mikado. Japan knew full well that aggressive Russia would not long be content with merely a portion of Korea. “Y'ou must keep out of Korea!” was the edict of Japan. But mighty Russia was bent on her purposes, nnd the world doubted the power of Japan to make good its ultimntunn Yet in two months, Japan liasj

cleared Korea of the Russians, and now holds by force of arms the little kingdom which plnyed so prominent n part In the diplomacy that ended in war. Japan is now in a position to invade Manchuria itself. When Japan does this, European statesmen predict a carnago of battle, compared to which the past events of the war will be of little conzequence.

If the Russians draw up their forces in Manchuria they are not confronted with the danger of being taken in the rear by the fleet. Manchuria is not, like Korea, a peninsula. The fleet can get behind no army In Manchuria. It was, therefore, probably their loss of the sea which caused the Russians not to fight for Korea in Korea. The Japanese occupy Korea. But that does not signifiy that the Japanese will continue in possession of it after the treaty of peace is signed. If the Russians can shatter the Mikado's forces in Manchuria they may be able to compel his men to retrace the steps of their wonderful march. But one thing insure —that the Japanese ' retreat through Korea would be a far bloodied affair for both sides than was the Japanese advance. « Japan has fifteen docks capable of accommodating warships.

AT THE GATE OF SEOUL.

JAP CAVALBY DETRAINING.