The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-09-07

has sent out strong cavalry division
to the northeast which it is believed
is already in position to check the ia
panese fankers, while to the west
ward Kuropatkin is moving division
towards Sinmintin, 30 miles west of
Mukden, to rect any interference
that NAV be attempted from the direc-
tion of Yinkow or Newchwang.
Oyama's advance is reported to be
engaging the Russian rear, but it is
not expected to develop anything more
serious than series of rear guard ac-
tions tending to harass Kuropatkin's
retreat.
The japanese have thrown a strong
lanking column across the Taitse river
at Bentizu, about 30 miles northeast
of Liao Yang. This column is hurry
ing to the northeast and endeavoring to
get in between the Russin army and
Mukden. 1t is against this movement
that Kuropatkin has dispatched Lieut..
Gen. Rennenkamp with strong Cos
sack division which it is believed is
already blocking the eastern high
road.
Kuropatkin has three roads over
which he is marching towards Mukden
besides the doubled tracked railway.
The latter is chiefly occupied in the
transportation of guns and of equip
ment of which there is great guam
tity. The soldiers are marching in
light order and most of the wounded
have already been dispatched north by
rail.
Gen. Kuropatkin in telegram to
the general staff, filed at l p. NJ, Sept.
5th, north of Yentai, says the japanese
on Sunday engaged his rear guard
south of Yentai, the fight continuing
until Monday. The telegram details
the precautions taken to checkmate
the japanese hankers.
Kuropatkin estimates his losses up
to and including Sept. 4, at $1,000.
This is considered to be- very con-
servative figure. The loss to the Japa-
nese probably will be double this num-
ber, owing to their position as attack
ers.
Kuropatkin says nothing regarding
the loss. of guns. but it is probable
that some of the heavier emplaced
grus at Liao Yang had to be abandon
ed.
There is no truth either in the re-
port that Kuropatkin has been wound
ed or that Lieut. Gen. Linevitch is
moving to his support. Gen. Line
Yitch is still at Vlsdivostok.
KUROPATKIN NAY NOT ESCAPE.
London. Sept 6.-The race of Gen.
fO,. NJ lySo,, @
British press and public and military
and other critics scarcely dare ven
ture definite surmise as to it's result.
J The best opinion inclines to the be-
lief that Kuropatkin will get through
with a respectable remnant of his
great army, thus robbing the jap
anese of the complete fruit Of their
victory, but it is realized that the
Russians will not be out of the woods
for several days.
Spencer Wilkinson in The Morning
Post points out that if Gen. kuro-
patkin endeavored to retreat in single
column, his transport and force would
be so large that his first army corps
would have been marching three days
before the second could start to follow
it. The railroad is Of little use to
him. Mr.. Wilkinson asserts, and he
says that Kuropatkin must be retreat
ing in a series of parallel columns
each not larger than one army corps,
and behind these the rear guard.
If Kuropatkin can move his army
over the 80 miles that separate Yen
tai and Mukden," Mr.. Wilkinson says,
"he will break the record for such
performances. The japanese columns
will have little difficulty in coming up
with his rear guard and engaging
whenever they please