New-York tribune., 1904-10-23
RUSSIAN HOPES RISING.
Kuropqthin's Mastery Retreat and
Peorgani1ation of Army.

s; Petersburg. oct. 22.-with the closing OF
,be week the semi-panic produced by the heavy
reverse sustained by General Kuropatkins army
last week has in a great measure disappeared.
and there is q much more cheerful feeling per-
vasinr the War Oface. The general disaster
which threatened to engulf the Manchurian
army has been averted by the result OF the
zen days Of almost continuous hghting which
tonight is practically draw.
General Kuropatkln has again displayed con-
sumnate skin in preventing Field Marshal
ovana from reaping the fruits OF victory. BY
Withdrawing his shattered left wing under shell
,sr Of the right centre he succeeded in the gi-
cantic task Of taking 10000 wounded off the
field OF battle. and. more than this. according
20 all Indications. he reorganized and reformed
his broken legions. and again confronts the Jap
anese across the shakhe River.
That Kuropatkin. after losing close to 10000
mon. vas able 10 resume the offensive within
fortnight constitutes a feat in military history.
There was an impression early IN the week that
he was concentrating his forces on his right and
centre 10 avoid being driven of the line OF the
retirement Of his left, but row he has had am
rle time TO withdraw. ana the situation shows
more determination than ever to secure strong
advanced positions across the Shakhe. It IS
F"0wn thar the left has pushed forward
Fh.y. ana tEe i0ea that operations contem-
plate only rear guard actions seems false. New
ertheless, dispatches from MoulIden to-day say
fhst E(uropatkin has been fortifying positions
en- The Hun River behind him, which might IN
cicate thai he purposes only TO make an active
defence below Moukden.
The general staff simply attributes the cessa-
tion OF operations 10 The natural exhaustion OF
both sides. II is significant. however. with what
satisfaction the news Of the capture OF Shakhe
town. at the intersection Of the Shakhe River
and the Mandarin road, was received hero. The
taking Of the town is considered an important
stratcGical gain, placing General Kuropatkin in
complete mastery OF both sides Of the Shakhs
River between the railroad and the Moukden and
Bertsi2pudza railroads and assuring hs com
lnunications against the possibility Of being cut
of from the soIth. The only point on the left
bank q the Shakhe River remaining in the
hands OF the japanese IS LaTnun- -Tung, within
rifle shot Of the railroad bridge. This bridge has
presumably been confounded with the Shakhe
station Eve miles north, the report that the
Russians had bonbarced the station applying 10
beyond
sphere Of their operations.
The heavy concentration OF both Russians and
japanese between the Mandarin road and the
railroad makes certain tremendous action at
this point The Associated Press learns that a
part OF The Eighth Army Corps which had
reached Earhiu. is hurrying southwark.
While the japanese evidently are determined
10 pursue the policy followed by them since the
beginning Of the war Of concealing the extent
81 their .osses the War ONCE believes that
their casualties mast be At least three-fourths
rs great is those of the Russians-probably in
The neighborhood Of 10000
The weather has again become clear. but IS
cold, ana the soldiers are reported to be suffer-
ins- A correspondent telegraphs that twelve
japanese we're found on Friday night by a de-
'aehment Of Coss&cks. They We're unconscious
ana haf frozen, and were conveyed TO the Rus
sian camp. whore they We're cared for.
General Kuropatkin. IN q dispatch TO Emperor
Nicholas under cate Of October q. says:
The Japanese retired from the village OF
shakhe al uightfall on October -. Thursday
night passed quietly along the entire front
General sakharoF, in a dispatch TO the general
Etan. says:
he retreat Of the enemy from Shabhe was
phosphate. We found in the village arms. ru-
'hf-ons and provisions which had been aban-
'ehel 9y The japanese, who also left behind on
our old artillery position one cannon, four Jim
Lers and a wagon fun OF instruments which they
Aad previously captured from
since The battle q October l6 we have capt
EFec altogether fourteen japanese guns, fnclud-
lllg hire leld pieces and FIVE mountain guns. and
nave retaken one q our own lost guns.
There was no fighting on October 81 on the
ront Of the Manchurian army.
General sakharon also sent word that all was
euist OF the night OF October 21-22.