Evening journal., 1904-09-06
GENERAL KUROPATKIM

GENEhAL AU UhOf a AAlAs
enemy. Our left flank was repeatedly
attacked on Sunday, but in no case
were the Japanese successful In break
ing our formation. The retreat Of our
troops on the center and right is being
successfully carried out against a
heavy and continuous attack.
Russians Lost 5000 Men.
THE Japanese seemed to have
strengthened their forces operating
against our left flank, and their ex-
treme right has moved north of the
Yentai mines. Reports that the enemy
Is east of Mukden have not been con-
firmed. All our army divisions have
been united and are retiring on three
roads. Our loss in retiring from our
Liaoyang position is estimated at 49,
900, and it was necessary TO abandon
our siege artillery"
This is the only news from the bat
tleheld, and as it brings events only
up to Sunday at midnight the happen
ings of Monday can only be guessed at.
There was a three line bulletin in the
morning from General Sacharoff that a
Japanese army had crossed the Tai
river at its junction with the Pensi.
This is more alarming than anything
heard from the field since the defenses
Of Laoyang were smashed. The Japa-
nese army must be a reserve force,
and its mission apparently is TO march
direct on Mukden without fighting.
which II can very we'll do, as its route
from the junction of the two rivers is
without the zone of the actual contact
of the two armies. An army unop-
posed marching from the point indicat-
ed could make the twenty-eight miles
in two days, and, as Sacharotf's dis
patch was dated on Sunday night. this
army can easily head off the Russians
at Mukden before the main divisions
Of General Kuropatkin can hope to en-
ter the city.
This is the situation as 1t is known
in st. Petersburg this morning. What
damage Marshal Oyamas army has
inflicted is not of course known. All
is conjecture as TO the strength Of Ku-
rold's thanking column, which evident.
ly has got north of the Yentai coal
mines, thus not only threatening all
railroad connections, but making sure
that a continuous flank attack will be
made on the retreating army.
War Office Takes Hope.
The war staff has great confidence
that the Russian left flank will be am
ply protected. by the great cavalry
force under command Of General Rem
nenkampf which General KuropatlSlu
dispatched east OF the railroad on Sun.
day morning.
1t is impossible at this hour TO obtain
any statement from the authorities re.
garding the reported preparations for
the abandonmentAof Mukden.
This is the first intimation that such
course is contemplated. If it turns
out to be true it means the abandon
ment of the whole of southern Man
churia and the winding up of the pres
ent campaign.
In fact should Mukden be evacuat
ed there would be no point short Of
Harbin for wintering the army Of q
quarter of a million, with its many
wounded.
On the other hand. the evacuation
Of Mukden would give Field Marsha
0yama commodious winter quarter:
and the practical control of two line:
Of railway. The Kinchau-Sinmintir
line, tapping rich Chinese territory
stops little short of Mukden, with
which it is connected by a good Wagon
road.
The report Of the prospective evac
uation of Mukden, il well founded
would indicate that the crippling ef
feet of the LiaOyang fight on KurOpat
kin's army is more serious than has as
yet been intimated.