WAR IN THE ORIENT

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · May 4, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 18.

WAR IN THE ORIENT.

JAPAN and Russia seem to be now sparring for an opening. Their military forces are now abreast of each other on the banks of the Yalu. The Russian commander's plan of operations is to compel the Japanese to invade Manchuria and have the Yalu River at their backs, but to dispute the passage of the river as much as possible without risking a general battle there. He would make the crossing of the river as costly as possible for the Japanese, but keep the great body of his army as far back in Manchuria as he is able. It is reported that a serious engagement has occurred on the Yalu, in which a Japanese column suffered a reverse; but no details of the engagement have been permitted to come through.

At Port Arthur the Russians have suffered another disaster. Some steam launches were laying mines at the entrance to the harbor when one of the mines blew up under the stern of one of the launches, killing one lieutenant and twenty-nine men. This careless handling of their own munitions continues to cast gloom over the Russian people.

Some reports from the East indicate that at least one Japanese cruiser was lost in the recent engagement at Port Arthur. The report seems impossible of verification. Reports from those with the armies indicate that a serious engagement is near at hand. It is said that General Kuropatkin intends to conduct the Russian operations in person in the first serious engagement of the war.