PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

Evening Post, Volume LXVII, Issue 147, 22 June 1904, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

The Vladivostock fleet, after demon StvAting that Japnn hns not, «s xrns believed, absolute- command of the s^a, has gob back to port -without interruption. The work of Bezabrazoff may prove of groat value nt the present juncture, for ho has not only dissipated his opponent's sense of security in his line of communication by sea, but bis success will have a good moral effect on his beaten comrades of the fleet in Port Arthur. Further, the successful raid of Bezabrazoff will probably compel an important diversion of ships from Togo's command for convoy work, and it has to be remembered that the Port Arthur fleet is reported to be now again in fighting trim. In this direction wo may therefore expect to hear presently that there has been further fighting and yet another attempt to block tho fairway of the port. As for Kamunura, wo are told that ho has "returned to his base," and that his countrymen, or some of them, are so enraged becnuso he has been outwitted — not for tne first time in this campaign, by the way — ns to suggest that he should commit the hnppy despatch. As to the locality of his "base," it has never been mentioned, and we- have hitherto assumed that since his first duty wn's to keep the Yladivostock (•quadrnn "bottled up," he would have arranged to coal at sou. and detail a single ship nt a time- for necessary docking and renewal of munitions. Since, however, he hn.s boon cnught napping tMice during vi&its to Gensan, which lies midway on the eastern coast of Korea, it may be that the coiling depot is at that place. Kamimura does not. appear to have made any attempt to either mine the entrance of Vladivostock, or to have attempted any serious torpedo work, but it is quite possible that bis commandor-in-chief has hitherto not thought tho game wmth the nmdle. It is not unlikely that the power for mischief displayied by Beznbrazoff will lead to a change of tactics in this direction. The Russian losses during the recent

fiirhting on the Peninsula swell from utty to" day, ujitil now they are pufc at 10,0(J0, including piisoners, but this as a Ti-iuo estimate, and must be taken with ies.Hiv<'. lint it irf leportfed to-d.iy that Stackeluei^ h.ih been again attacked near Ivaipmg, .some twenty miles south of Niucliwang, and buffered iuither loasce, includiug many prisoners. At latest, the defeated •Hurainn General was ftt Suingynecliung, uhich lies in the hill countiy ua*t of the railway near Kaiping, iibeie, upparcntly, he suffered his latest defc.it. On th»>i» mountains his men may get n tenipoiary | and much-needed ie.»t, bi^t it looks as though the chance of safe retreat, slender in jny cas?e, has been lessened by this detour. Kuiopatkm lepoits an important Japanese movement in diiection of yiuyen, and theie is significant woid ol a patiol engagement thirty-six miles west of that, place. This will be Nodzu's foico moving to co-operate against Stackelbeig's already beaten army. The attempt .to K'iiovo Port Attluir seems likely to prove as futile and disastrous as was froely piedicled when ib started on its ill-starrer mission. The St. Peleisburg Gazette, and this should be credible evidence, reports a ranguiuirry battle near Haicheng wilh heavy losses. Another St. Petersburg telegram published by a Fioncb. paper states that the Russians lost 5000 men. On the 20th we wrote :—"According to Reul-er, Kuropatkin is assembling his forces at Haicheng, on the railway lino some twenty-threo, miles north of Nmehwang, and some foity-two miles south of Liaoyang. This news somewhat discounts that of Friday last, to tlia effect that tho Japanese First Aiiny Corps (Kuroki's command) had captured severa' amall towns ow roads leading from Liao ya»g to Haicheng. With two victmious armies converging on his front and Knloki or his flank, Kuropatkin at Haicheng will be hard put to it to withstand such a. combined assault, particularly in face of the obvious risk to communication with his base at Liaoyang," It now looks as though KuropatUir judged it best to force- Kuroki's hand before Nodzu 1 and Oko, following up Stackelbcrg's demoralised aimy, could get touch, of Haicheng. These tactics seem sound fiom all points, but it is sign of the confidence of Kuroki in the strength and disposition of the First Army, notwithstanding tho diversion of a division to strengthen Nodzu, that he so promptly accepted battle, while the result seems ' to augur ill for the Russian cause when Kuroki, Nodzu, and Oko have later Junetioned for attack upon the Liaoyang fort* , ress.