Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-05

but adds that all of them were first rem
dercd useless. An Associated Press cor
respondent sends a private dispatch that
the censors office has been removed from
Mukden to Hardin, which w&ld account
for the delay in press dispatches.
ST. PETERSBURG, September 5.-Ac-
cOrding to the latest but unofficial reports
to the war office some rearguard fighting
is progressing, and the retirement of Gen
Kuropatkins : main army is continuing.
1t is reported here, but not confirmed
that Gen. kuropatkin was obliged to aban-
don 300 hundred guns at Liaoyang. Some
of them. it is added, were damaged in the
fighting and the rest were disabled by or
der of the Russian cOmmander-in-ch chief
The feeling of national grief and disap-
pontment caused by Gen Kuropatkin's un-
successful attempt to make a stand at
Liaoyans, deep and bitter as it is, is some
what tempered by the development of the
fact that the Russian commander-in- chlef
had removed the bulk of his stores north
ward before the battle. leaving a mere shell
at Liaoyang. and that he succeeded in ex-
Treating his army. especially Gen. Stakel-
bCrg's corps, from the clutches of the
Japanese.
The war Office here believes that the bat
tie is virtually ended, and that Kuropat-
kins line Of retrea, is open.
Regarded as Defeat for Oyama.
While admitting that Kuropatkin sus-
tanned severe reverse, the war Office con-
sidcrs that the failure of Field Marshal
Oyama to hold and cut off Kuropatkn is a
strategic defeat for Oyama. The Russian
military authorities figure that Oyama had
a numerical superiority of Go000 men in
the operations against kuropatkn.
The exact position of the Russian right
flank is not known at the war office, but it
is not believed that the japanese can now
develop enough strength to end9nger its
retirement. being without precise informa-
tion themselves. The absence of news from
Tokyo OF anything decisive is also regarded
as "a good indication that kuropatkin is
free.
The officials of the war office do not ey-
peCt a renewal of the fighting for several
days. which. they think the Japanese will
employ IN recuperating, while Kuropatkin
collects his army preparatory to pushing
the troops uorthward He has a double
track railroad and the high road. When
the nghting reCommenCeS II is expected
here. it will De in the nature of a series of
rear guard actions as the hnal withdrawal
is effected. There are no facilities at
G-ntai for defense
Kuropatkin Disappointed.
According to the military authorities, all
Kuropatkin's hopes and plans for victory
were dashed by the wonderful celebrity with
which Oyamas right pushed northward
after crossing the Taitse river. Here Kuro-
patkin's information evidently was faulty
in believing that ne had before him the
whole of the japanese forces which had
crossed over to the right bank. He had al
ready completed "A preliminary lombard
ment OF kuroki's force Friday and was
about to strike him when he discovered
that another Japanese column had crossed
the river further up stream. and he worked
around still further northward The latter
column was marching with great rapidity
westward to cut the railroad and close the
door on the Russian, retreat TO Mukden
Just at this point there is hiatus in the
reports. Whether KurOpatkin actually at
tempted to deliver blow against Kuroki
IS not clear. At all events II he did he
was compelled to desist upon the discovery
of the northerly Japanese column. The
latter took him by surprise
Gen. Orloffs division which suffered so
severely. had just arrived from European
Russia. Although this division was thrown
into confusion and lost a frightful number
of men the temporary check il was able to
give the japanese probably saved the rail-
road for kuropatkin.
Kuroki Too Late.
In the meantime Kuroki. freed from Ku-
ropatkin marched hastily westward to in
tercept Gen. Stakelberg, who crossing
the river from the left bank. 1t was then
that Kuropatkin thought Stakelberg's corps
was lost and so reported to the war office
But Kuroki was was too late. Stakelberg
not only succeeded in getting his scorpe