Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1904-09-17

st. Petersburg, g,-Gen. Kuropatkin's
official report sets at rest alarmist
stories of the loss of guns, the cutting
off of divisions and the death or cap.
ture of prominent commanders which
have been freely circulating here.
The report, which is a very long one,
enters at considerable detail into the
various phases of the battle Of Lao
yang and entirely bears out the decla-
ration of the Associated Press at the
time that Gen. Orlolfs failure to hold
the vital position at the Yentai mines
was responsible for the breaking down
of the whole of Gen. Kuropatkins
plan of battle, and turned a potential
victory into defeat.
The manner in which the retreat was
carried out in the face of the terrible
condition Of the country and the deter
mined pressure of the Japanese armies
does much to restore Gen. Kuropat-
kin's prestige in military circles.
1t was practically company conf
manders fight, commands becoming
separated in the darkness and lnde-
pendent units acting upon their own
initiative with the one object of carry
ing out the commanders orders to re-
take the heighs.
The war Office is extremely Eeticent
regarding the present situation and fu-
ture plans at the front.
1t Is stated in general terms that the
army is concentrated around Mukden,
leaving the inference that it is ready
to make another stand.
The report explains the successive
withdrawal of his three lines south or
Liaoyang, how the main army crossed
the Taitse river, Gen. Kuropatkin's as
sumption of the offensive Sept. 3, Maj.
Gen. Orloff's reverse and the conse-
cuent order for the retreat of the
whole army to Mukden Sept 3.
The latest reports of the war ofllce,
coupled with Gen. Kuropatkin's detail
ed report, give a distinctly more cheer
full view of the situation.
The army is "rested and reinforced
by the whole of the 1st European corps.
The bulk of it is encamped and en-
trenched around Mukden, with the rear
guard Is miles south"
On the other hand, the war Offices
information indicates that the Japanese
forces which have not yet recovered
from their terrible exertions and losses
at the battle of Liaoyang, are concen-
trated at Yentai, not venturing north.
Small columns Of u few thousand
men each occupy positions along the
roads leading to Mukden, east anu
west of the railroad.
"In consequence of the mountainous
nature of the country on our front and
the bad condition of the roads toward
the south, the two days march toward
Liaoyang was the most difficult kind.
"Only after incredible difficulties was
it found possible to drag all the guns,
without exception, and all our baggage
through the passes.
Some of the guns were carried
through the mountains by the infantry.
Difficult as was the retreat through the
passes, under pressure from the enemy
the march across the open country
was still more arduous. The left and
center columns succeeded in getting all
their artillery and baggage to Lao
yang.
"The march of the right column was
especially difficult. Considerable forces
of the enemy followed the rear guard,
which maintained q stubborn resist
ance. The guns of one of the retiring
batteries began to sink In the mud.
Twenty-four horses were hitched 10
each piece, companies of infantry as
sisting with ropes. The horses and
men, however, sunk so deep that 1t
was necessary for the comrades OF the
latter to haul them out.
"All our equipment was removed,
but there was no time to save the COM
missariat reserves which was sufficient
to last the whole army eight days.
These were all destroyed.
1.-The pontoon bridges were disman-
tied and carried off by the troops.
while temporary pontoons were burned
and the railway bridge wrecked. The
army retired in perfect order. Inc
enemy, attempted to pursue, but were
repulsed.
1--WE abandoned nothing from Aug.
80 up to the time Of our arrival at
Mukden. Our engineers worked with
the greatest devotion. Throughout all
the fighting they rendered invaluable