Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 114, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 September 1904 — MAP SHOWING ARMY POSITIONS AND POINTS Of INTEREST. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

MAP SHOWING ARMY POSITIONS AND POINTS Of INTEREST.

The approximate location of Da Pass, where a spirited outpost fight has taken place, is indicated in the map. Fushun, where it was reported that Kuroki’s troops had crossed the Hun river, also is indicated. It is about thiryt miles northeast of Mukden. The Yentai coal mines likewise are mapped. As control of these mines is necessary for the working of the railway the Russians are expected to make a stubborn stand there, roki and his old fortified depot at Fengwangcheng. In that event Kuroki has an alternative. He can get his up the railway, or from Newchwang by the Liao and Taitze Rivers. It may be that hereafter Oyama’s whole army will maintain itself by the broader lines of communication along the railway and up the two rivers from Newcbwang. The Russians have again begun to observe those curious movements and counter movements of small Japanese detachments which so well conceal what is going on behind. Kuroki used this mobile screen for six weeks before Fengwangcheng, while Nodzu employed it for over a month before

Takushan and Sluyen. We shall not learn what Is really going on until something happens, for the constant shifting of advance posts bides perfectly the soldier movements behind from the Russians, while the Japanese censorship will permit no news to leak out from their side. It is natural for the war correspondents to be annoyed at being so muzzled, but the event has proved that the Japanese staff was wise In its precaution. Japan feels that it is fighting for its existence and not for glory. At Port Arthur, Time is fighting against the Russian. Every day eats up more of their meager stock of food and fires off many rounds of their insufficient supply of ammunition. Smokeless powder has given out, or, at least, there remains only a small stock of it, which is being hoarded against general assaults. At last accounts the Japs seemed to

be planning to attack Rihlung and Kikwang hills. They are strengthening their positions at Pallchwang, less than a half mile from Rihlung, and are steadily extending their parallel trenches in the direction of the forts from the north and northeast These two forts are examples of defective engineering. Large shoulders of earth and rock ridge the northern slopes of the two hills. Immediately behind theses shoulders are ‘dead” space which cannot be reached by guns on the top. The Japs have crawled up by night to the “dead” spaces and in this shelter have dug trenches. The detachments occupying these positions carry with them food, water and ammunition sufficient for three days. Then they are relieved by night and other detachments occupy the positions for the next three days. The Russians from above are pounding the shoulders with shells in the hope of breaking them down and laying bare to their fire the Jap positions behind. The plan of the Japanese is undoubtedly to reinforce enormously some night their troops in the “dead” spaces and then try the forts by rush. The game is hazardous enough. If the Japanese finally seize Rihlung and Kikwang all the eastern defenses will be under a cross fire from Kikwang, Rihlung, and Takushan and must fall. But it is doubtful if any of

the main forts can be taken by assault, Unless the powder gives out The Russian war vessel Lena was cruising in the north Pacific for Japan bound steamers from Vancouver, Seattle, or San Francisco, but failed to find any of them. Its boilers were burning out find Its bottom getting foul, so It put into San Francisco as being safer than any British-American port. Examination showed that It could not be repaired within several weeks, or probably months, so at the request of Its captain it was dismantled. The position of tills government seems to have been strictly correct throughout. Japan and Russia are both satisfied with it.

KUROPATKIN'S DESERTED HEADQUARTERS AT MUKDEN.