Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 37, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 February 1905 — ONE WEEK OF WAR. [ARTICLE]

ONE WEEK OF WAR.

RENEWAL OF HOSTILITIES IN THE ORIENT. Hopes that the Fighting; Might Cense Seem Scattered to the Winds-Great Loss of Life Continues iu Battles ou the Hun River. Hopes that fighting In the Orient might cease soon seem to have been I scattered to the winds. Ten days ag It was reported that Gen. Kuropatkin had been ordered to open negotiations with Field Marshal Oyaiua, if orders were sent him, they were to attack in force, and win if he could the victory of which Russia is in such need. A signal success would have done something to restore the prestige of the government at home and abroad. Two weeks ago the Japanese noticed a concentration of forces on the Russian right flank, nnd made their preparations to meet it. Gen. Ivuropatkin’s plan soon became apparent. It was to capture strongly fortified positions held by the Japanese on the left bank of the Hun River, to turn their left flank, and force them to a general engagement The Russians began tho attack on the 25th of last month and met at first with considerable success. They showed that they as well ns the could drive an enemy out of his fortifications. A number of villages which the Japanese had surrounded with strong works were captured. Then tlie Japanese rallied, and, after desperate fighting, succeeded, according to their account, in recapturing the positions they had lost and driving the Russians back across the Hun River at the end of a week’s sanguinary fighting. The fighting at Heikoutal and along the Hun River from the 25th to the 29th of January proves to have been one of the great battles of the war. A hundred thousand men were in action on the Russian side and doubtless at least that many on the Japanese side. Significant of the vastness of these later operations of the war is the fact that the Russian casualties — some 13,000 —alone outnumber the entire army Russia had engaged at the battle of the Yalu. There are no trustworthy reports of the losses, but both sides must have suffered severely. The Russians admit that over 1,000 officers and men were killed or wounded during the fighting of the first two days. Probably not less than 40,000 Russians and Japanese are dead or disabled as the result of the week’s furious lighting. During most of tlie time the thermomet r was below zero, but Gen. Kuropatkin says his soldiers did not suffer much from the cold. The victory was emphatically with tlie Japanese. Gen. Kuropatkin’s plan, Intrusted to Gen. Grippenberg for execution, was to turn tlie Japanese left flank. In tbe earlier stages of tlie war the Rusians had apparently never heard or imagined that such a tiling as a flanking operation was possible. Now having by bitter experience learned what it is to be outflanked, they seem to think that It is as simple to crumple up one wing of a compactly posted army of 800,000 men as it would be to treat similarly a single division of the enemy. Once more they are wiser. Far more unfortunate for Russia, however, than the mere failure to win a success on the Hun is the fact that the battle has proved conclusively that the new army organization from which so much was hoped is not efficient. It will be remembered that after the battle of tlie Shaklie Gen. Kuropatkin imitated the Japanese organization by dividing bis force Into three armies, under tlie commands, respectively, of Generals Grippenberg, Kaulbars and Linievitch. Now, with the first test of the new organization, Gen. Grippenberg resigns his command. Tlie rumored reason for his resignation is his complaint that Kuropatkin did not send him re-en-forcements during His attack nnd did not engage tlie Japanese elsewhere along the lino. Whether tlie resignation la voluntary or Involuntary, whether tlie fault Is Kuropatklu’s or Grlppenberg’s, Is indifferent. The main thing is that the organization has broken down, and that the Russian generals once again show themselves too small for their great task. The Russians retain their original lines and aro strengthening tlieir fortifications. As Oynma lias been re-en-forced by tlie Fort Arthur army, it Is not unlikely that be will take tho offensive In Ills turn. A direct attack on the Russian position would be hrfz.ardous. He could turn the Russian right flank by moving troops through the territory west of the l.lao Riven but that would bo a violation of Chinese neutrality, which the Japanese aay they desire to respect. Ferhaps Gen. Kurokl, the commander of the right wing of the Japanese army, who made so many ntempts Inst fall to outflank tlie Russians, will try It again. Admiral Rojcstvensky’s .fleet Is still at Madagascar nwidling tho vessels which left Jilmtll In French Somaliland n few days ago. Probably when they arrive Admiral Kojostvensky will go eastward. French hospitality canmot be extended to him Indefinitely. It Is thought be will make for tbe Chains Islands, south of Ceylon, 1,560 mileb distant There Is no certainty ns to the route he will follow ufter lenvlng there, but the Japnne e proses? readiness to meet him on whatever line of approach he may select