NEXT YEAR'S CAMPAIGN.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 16, 19 January 1905, Page 5

NEXT YEAR'S CAMPAIGN.

Rig Russian Reinforeemcnts. Definite information is to hand that pluns have been completed for the formation of fourth and fifth Manchurian armies as soon as the circumstances warrant the reinforcement of General Kuro patkin's troops (says a telegram from St. Petersburg). These armies will not be put into the field before spring, however, owing to ihe_congestion of the Trans-Siberian railway, x The third Manchurian army., commanded by General Kaulbars, now en route to the front, has been reinforced by the addition of 30,000 Cossacks, and the combined forces are to be subdivided into three smaller armies, the commanders of which will be selected by General Kaulbars upon his arrival at the front. An officer of the general staff has given details of the present position of the Manchurian armies. The Russian front extends from Chioupou, on the Hun River, to Bianoputze, thence north-east to Sintzintin, a total distance of eighty miles. The strength of the combined armies is 320,000 men, the greater part being between Chioupou and Bianoputze. General Kuropatkin extended his line to Sintzintin for fear of a wide Japanese turning movement, which would cut him off from Mukden. The composition of the three armies in the field has been decided upon as follows: First Army: General Linievitch commanding—The Ist, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Si berian Army Corps, and the Ist European Army Corps. ,Second Army: General Grippenberg commanding—Bth, 17th and 10th European Army Corps. Third Army: General Kaulbars coniSiberian Army Corps, 4th and 16th European Army Corps.