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Show RUSSIA WILL NOT STRIKE I UNTIL END OF APRIL I ST. PETERSBURG. March 5. Although Al-though almost four weeks havo elapsed since the Japanese first attacked Port Arthur, here the war Is considered as hardly begun. Heavy land fighting, upon which the fate of the campaign depends. Is not expected much before the end of April. By this time Russia will havo in the field, exclusive of the large army of men required to guard the railroads, four army corps, each with a cavalry division and an artillery brigade. All that has happened so far, or is going to happen until these forces are formed In the field, is considered, according ac-cording to tho Russian view, to bo nothing more than the prologue to the real drama. The crippling of the Port Arthur iflect was unfortunate in that it gave the enemy command of the sea at the very outset. It is, however, of relatively rela-tively small Importance from tbe standpoint of the main strategy of the war, whether Port Arthur stands or falls. But as long as It holds out and tho fleet is harbored there it will constitute con-stitute a. potential menaco which will restrict and hamper Japan's opera- IH tlons. and the Russians are determined to defend Port Arthur as heroically as they did SebastopoL jH DEFENSE OP ARTHUR. No largo garrisons will be retained there; ten thousand men are as good as one hundred thousand for defense, while the more men the more mouths to feed. There are enough provisions there now to last for eight months. In jH addition, there will be a division of Cos- sacks with mountain batteries on tho jf peninsula to oppose landing and harass lM the enemy If they succeed in investing IH the city. I Viceroy Alexieff retains his head- quarters at Mukden, through which 1 3000 or 4000 soldiers are passing daily ! H to the positions which tho main armies .flH will occupy. The Russians believe that for mllltlary purposes there is only one :H road over which the Japanese can 1 come from Korea. H All the troops landed at Chemulpo, Mokpo and Chlmapo must use the "Pe- 1 king road." Consequently tho landings H at Plaksln Bay and the other places on H the east coast of northern Korea aro H not considered Important, the absence H (Continued on Page 16.) H RUSSIA WILL NOT STRIKE UNTIL APRIL (Continued From Pago 1.) of roads preventing theso forces from combining with tho main body. The Cossacks, mounted infantry nnd light .guns now across the Ynlu river will serve lo harass the enemy In every ev-ery possiblo way, no well ns to hold him In check until the Russian main armies and- reserves are concentrated and disposed. Sharp fighting may occur oc-cur between tho advance parties, but nothing of a decisive character lo anticipated. an-ticipated. TAKING NO CHANCES. The Russian plant? contemplate taking tak-ing no chances on tho score of Inferior numbors. B3 sheer weight of men and guns, If nothing else, when tho proper tlmo arrives, Russia counts on overwhelming over-whelming the Japaueso and rolling them back through Korea. It is realized that the vastness of the theater of war will make the protection of the railroad tho sole means for the transportation of troops and supplies from Europe, one of the most difficult phases of the Russian military problem. prob-lem. With the Japanese In command of the sea there is always the possibility possibil-ity of tholr landing small bodies of men in unexpected places to make lncur-Blons lncur-Blons into the Interior to cut tho railroad rail-road and telegraph lines and blow up bridges, but adequate measures arc believed to have been token to guard against such misfortune. It is a mlstako to suppose that the Russians underestimate the prowess of their adversaries. On tho contrary, they admit tho fine marksmanship of the Jannneso and their marvelous ability in determining ranges, yet the Russians do not believe that tho Japanese can successfully face tho legions of tho Czar. On tho sea the maritime life of the Japanese gives them 0. natural advantage, advan-tage, but on land, where belong all the traditions of the Russian army, the men of tho Empire have perfect faith born of their numerous experiences with pagan tribes and tho fatalism Inherent In-herent in tho Russian character. They believe that Asiatics cannot meet Europeans in battle array; that a yellow race cannot triumph over a white, or heathens over Christians. Gen. KuropaUcIn, who will leave for the front March 12th. Is expected to be on the ground beforo tho real campaign opens. He has purchased mllk-whlto horses from an officer of the cavalry school to ride In the far East, thus following fol-lowing tho example of the famous General, Gen-eral, Skobeloff, with whom ho fought at the siege of Geoktepe |