' PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

Evening Post, Volume LXVII, Issue 132, 4 June 1904, Page 4

' PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

Though the cabled despatches of today do not contain any stirring news, they are suffused with "dreadful note of preparation" of battles near at hand. The Japanese are getting their laud siege guns into position to breait the girdle of fortifications that surround Port Arthur. St. Petersburg reports that two divisions of the Japanese third army are landing at Takushan to reinforce Oko's nraiy, bringing his force up to J20.000 men, but if these divisions are meant for the siege of Port Arthur, why aro they landing so far north as Takushan. It eoems more likely that they are meant for additions lo Kuroki'e reserves, and that their first objective will bo Fenghwangcheng. It is added from the same source that " tho remainder of the Japanese troops aro landing to reinforce General Kumki, who will then command a force of 140,000." There are fifty transports at Siugtuisze, which is some 135 miles north of Port Arthur, so that oi< paper it would scorn that both bodies of troops are being disposed to operate agaiiibt Kuropatkin, who, it would soem, has been orderod to " relieve " Port Arthur with the "utmost caution." In what direction will he move? The niain road from Linoyting and Niuchwang are both hard held by the enemy, at Fenghwangchoug and Tukushan ' respectively, and could lie reach the latter plnce he would be confronted with a march of 150 miles along tho eastern shore of tho Peninsula ero he could roach his objective. But the question of distance, great as it is, .dors not compare with ti.o supreme difficulty of maintaining communications. The alternative line of advance \yould be by the railway via Niuchwang along tho western shore, a line bustling with obvious dungers. At every turn Kuropatkin mast Confront a victorious army, and with his enemy in absolute command of tho sea it seems liko courting destruction to embark upon the enterprise. The Japs will welcome- it gleofully, and it is evident that it is only under the strongest compulsion that the Russian chief is about to enter upon a great and perilous movement that is the very opposite of his declared plan of campaign.