Contiradictory and confused statements have been published all the week
as to the landings of Japanese forces on the Liaotung Peninsula, and the consequent close investment of Port Arthur. Military experts believe the position of Port Arthur to be hopeless; indeed, it is affirmed that the aban- donment of that fortress is part of General Kuropatkin's policy, which has always been to fall back on Kharbin, collect there an immense and mobile army, and then, if possible, reconquer all that has been lost. It seems probable that this policy has been accepted at headquarters, with the reserve that a great battle must be fought at Liaoyang or
at souse point nearer Mukden, so that Northern Asia may not be disturbed by rumours of Russian impotence. That seems a risky compromise ; but we take it to be certain that the group which governs Russia from St. Petersburg contains just now no great man, and is hardly equal to a most difficult situation. Anyhow, General Kuropatkin is at Liaoyang, and General Kuroki is slowly drawing towards that position three Japanese armies, the total strength of which, when combined, will exceed one hundred and twenty thousand men.
