Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-09-15
CURTAIN IS DROPPED
The World Watchers of Far-Eastern
Tragedy Bereft Of News.
HAS KUROPATKIN REACHED MUKDEN?

bts FetefBDur8 COnmuemt Oh tnG SaA
Retreat of Fleeing Army, but
Japan Even Refrains from
Expressing Opinion.
London, Sept. 8.-There is no new
from the far east either from Russia
or Japanese sources. For the world
watchers of the great tragedy the cur
tain has been dropped and all Is con
lecture. Not even an expression O
opinion comes from japanese sources
but from st. Petersburg 1t is indicated
that the authorities are confident thu
critical stage of the Russian retrea
Is past and that Kuropatkin no longel
is in danger of losing any part Of hii
forces to the pursuing Japanese. The
Mukden and it is given out In st. Pc.
tersburg that the bulk of his army IL
now near there, while dispatch from
Mukden to the Associated press filed
Tuesday says that the main Russian
army Is pushing northward and evac-
uating that place. II Is indicated that
the japanese are still harassing the
Russian rear. Further than this moth
ing rs known. An absolute news ST.
lence prevails.
The trend of the view Of the morn
ing newspapers on the war In the far
east Is that Gen. Kuropatkins arrival
at Mukden does not solve the problem
Of his retreat. "Where will Kuropat-
kin stop?" is what is asked here. The
Daily Telegraph holds that the latest
developments are merely the prelude
to the Colossal conflict looming In the
future"
Most Of the English critics look for
a repetition of the Lao Yang battle
at Telling OF in that neighborhood.
Scarcely any London newspapers be-
lieve that Kuropatkin has brought the
bulk of his forces with him to Mukden.
The Standard voices the very preva-
lent idea, namely, that the continued
Japanese silence BODIES Ill for the Rus
SLAMS. The Morning Post, though con-
fessedly unable to sum up the situation
owing to the absence Of Japanese Off
cial reports, thinks that Gen. Kuroh
may have crossed the Hun river TO the
east Of Mukden.
MikadO Says Peace Ii Far on.
Toxic, Sept. 8.-The mikado has con-
graduated the Japanese forces on
their brilliant victory in the face of
tremendous difficulties, adding that the
end of the war Is still In the distant
future
Japs Order More Armament.
Pittsburg, Pa, Sept. S--Agents of
the Japanese government yesterday
closed contract with the Carnegie
Steel company for an order of $500
tons Of the finest grade nickle steel
plates, The plates are for use on Jap
anese battleships. The order will keep
the "a and 1S4-inch mills Of the Home
stead plant busy for the three months.
-~@-->
Chefoo, Sept. "A Japanese col
umn numbering approximately 700
men, while marching along at night
on road in the valley between Long
hill and Division hill, near Port Ar
thur, met frightful disaster through ,
the explosion Of an electric land mine ,
September |. The mine was carefully
laid by the Russians three weeks ago.
II covered nearly mile of available
space. The explosive was Y
placed at the bottom Rocks were I
placed next and on top of these clay s
was packed SO carefully that the \
ground gave the impression OF not :
having been disturbed. The indica- q
ions of japanese activity in this vi {
Unity put the Russians on guard.
Year midnight the outposts rushed In
nd reported that the Japanese were
pproaching. The Russians withheld u
heir fire for some time. Suddenly O
hey threw a searchlight up the val II
sy. The Japanese opened with rife 4
re. The Russians waited until appar- G
n1y the whole Japanese column was b
D the danger zone. Then the mine
'as exploded. The force Of the ex-
losion knocked a number OF Rus
Ians down and the sight of Japa- G.
csc rifles. water bottles, legs and 9
rms hurting through the lighted d
pace made by searchllght was an b
Fful spectacle. Some rocks landed Il
side the Russian lines. There was 81
he appalling moment during which
70 garrison itself was stunned, then
deathlike silence. The searchlight :.
Idly lighted up the road and hill = !.
des strewn with dead. -
Japs Cut on water supply. :,
chefoo, Sept s.-From August q to
'gust % the Russians at Port Arthur
Ined. under a severe fire, 700 decom-
sing japanese bodies on the north tr
st front, In order to prevent pestI- II
ice. A letter reaching chefoo from tn
q Arthur says the Russians are dis co