Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-10
TROOPS ARE RESTING
Kuropatkin Reports Inact:.vi-
ty of the Japanese.
HEAVY RAINS FALLING
RUMORS CIRCULATED OF CON-
TINUED RUSSIAN RETREAT.
Stakelberg's Failure to Resist Success
fully Given as the Reason Why
Liaoyang Was Abandoned.

Reports are still current that the Rus
sian army is effecting a retrograde move
ment from Mukden, though st. Peters
burg officials say they are unable to con
firm them. Only brief dispatches have
been received today from the seat of war
and they leave the situation rather vague
No fighting has occurred beyond occasional
contacts of outposts, a condition probably
due largely to the heavy rains, which dis
patches say prevail. preventing any
extended movements of either army.
No official figures on the losses of the
battle of Liaoyang have been given out
but estimates still place the casualties or
both sides at not far from 10000 to 60 600
The news silence continues unbroken from
Tokyo, no advices bearing directly on the
operations having been received from that
source for several days.
No Activity at the Front.
ST, PETERSBURG, September 10, 1O:1C
p.m.-There was specific news from the
front this morning, but 1t continues to be
reported that the Russian army is moving
northward from Mukden. The evacuati
of Mukden. however. is not officially ad-
mitted.
The. emperor has received the follow dis
terday:
NO fighting has taken place in the
sphere of opera tionS and the enemy showed
no perceptible activity September s or Sep
tember o. Heavy rains continue which
does not permit of the roads drying or of
their being repaired" "
Lieut. Gen. Sakharoff reports that there
was no fighting yesterday. The rains and
The condition of the roads prevent the
Japanese from advancing
The general staff I'M tn bo, hos
news confirming the report of a retrograde
movement from Mukden. though it is frank
~ admitted that whether Gen. kuropatl<in
intends to remain at Mukden or not the
transport and baggage and portion of
the troops will be sent north.
The report that Kuropa tkn himself has
gone to Tie pass is positively denied. as
also is the current rumor that Maj. Gen.
Orloff will be court-martialed for dis
obedience of orders.
The promised statement regarding the
Russian losses has not yet been made
public.
The Red Cross officers fear an epidemic Of
disease will break out in both armies the
torrents of rain which fell after the ten
days battle at Liaoyang having compelled
the worn-out and hungry troops to sleep
without shelter in mire by the roadsides
In any case it is believed to be certain that
the hardsbips endured by the soldiers will
result In a great increase in sickness.
Why Kuropatkin Retreated.
TIE PASS, Manchuria. September 10
The breakdown of Gen. Kropatkin's s
strategy, when he had withdrawn his
main army to the right bank of the Taitse
river, after Gen. Kuroki had crossed the
stream above Liaoyang is explained as fol-
lows:
The movement was beautifully planned.
Kuropatkin intended to engage Kuroki,
push column up the right bank and COM
pletely isolate him from Generals Oku and
nr, % eli nf he t-iN~ n,r1,r
an accident upset his plan. Gen Stakel-
bergs corps, which was still on the left
bank, at the extreme right, failed to stand
up against the superior force of the Jap
anese. When Stakelberg reported that he
was retreating it seemed to Kuropatkin
that portion of his army. which he had
faced eastward, with the right resting on
the river and the left unprotected, might
be enveloped by the Japanese in pursuing
Stakelberg. He therefore drew off and re-
formed his front and the retreat from
Yentai began and continued the rest of
September g. the Russians reaching
Shakhe September 4.
The losses on both sides from August 26
to September are estimated at from sixty
TO seventy thousand killed and wounded
Many of the killed and wounded were left
behind in the Chinese corn
The Japanese are experiencing difficulty
in bringing up supplies of ammunition.
Estimate of Japanese Losses.
TSINGTAU, September 10-A japanese
officer passed through Tsingtau today on
his way to Kaichou. He says the Jap
Rnese losses at Port Arthur during the last
few days were very heavy, exceeding 10 .O0O
and that the Japanese killed or wounded at
the battle of Liaoyang exceeded 10000.
Downpour at Mukden.
MUKDEN, September 9.-This evening
around Mukden has occurred the greatest
downpour of rain of the whole campaign,
and with it terrifying accompaniment of
thunder and lightning. There has been the
greatest difficulty in preventing the cavalry
stampeding by the double guards, and all
the horse lines have been tied The men
are scarcely able to keep their feet around
the moving horses, and are singing and
talking to quiet them.
All the lower ground is under water and
Chinese boats from the Hun river are navi
eating many of the roads and some of the
streets. This makes little difference to the
men who are under canvas, but all Others
are soaked to the skin and are sleenIns
exhausted. in mud and water. Indifferent
to the weather if they can snatch much
needed rest.
One advantage is that the rain has entire
ly checked the movements of the Japanese
eastern and southern armies-in fact ouiet
reigns over the whole front /:
The Chinese population of Mukden is So
far fairly orderly. The Chinese are suffer-
ing greatly and in the villages all around
crops. cattle and poultry have been trod-
den down ard killed. The Russians are en-
deavoring 10 pay for all damage, though
this is often difficult, owing to the rapid
shifting of the troops. and the guileless
natives are always ready, where possible
10 induce two or more commanders to nav
Tor the same damage.
Discussing Mediation.
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
NEW YORK, September 10.-A cablegram
from London says: AS details arrive of the
horrible butchering of the plain of Lao
yang cry again goes up for mediation.
The Daily News declares that the kaiser is
sounding the Russian government with a
view TO the discovery of possible terms of
peace, now that both sides have satisfied
their honor by their splendid heroism. Rus
sia, il claims TO know, would probably con-
sent TO the cession of Korea to Japan.
Port Arthur might be neutralized. Inquiry
in official quarters throws a doubt upon
the prospect of success of any attempt at
mediation at this juncture.