The special correspondent of the Daily Telegraph at St. Petersburg
published on Thursday some intelligence which, if correct, is of moment. He affirms that at a recent War Council it was agreed that General Kuropatkin must subordinate his own plans to the political necessities of the Empire, one of which is that Russia should not endure the frightful loss of prestige that would be consequent on the fall of Port Arthur. It was resolved that the General should be ordered to march to the relief of Port Arthur, and the resolution was accepted by the Czar. According to this statement, therefore, General Kuroiatkin has received a "supreme order," and must move south even if he dis- approves,—a state of affairs which suggests the old accounts of the Austrian Aulic Council. In support of this statement comes the news, published in Friday's papers, that a 'body of Russian troops is advancing to attempt the relief of Port Arthur. Mr. Brindle, the Daily Mail's correspondent at Newchwang, telegraphing on Thursday, states circumstantially that General Stalkenberg, with a force of fourteen thousand men of all arms, has marched south of Liaoyang in the direction of Wafangtien. We do not, however, take this move seriously. It is either a feint, or else is merely intended to show willingness to try to obey the St. Petersburg order, and.will not be pressed. At the same time, there is danger of any detached force being surrounded by the Japanese. What makes this risk the greater is the activity of the Chunchuses in Southern Manchuria. It is said that they even contemplate to move north of Mukden, and then cut the railway. Should they accomplish this, the effect on the Russians must be disastrous.
