New-York tribune., 1904-09-02
gAyCHUPI4 LOST AND NOV.

Russia is at last eyacuatinG Manchuria. That
is the salient fact Of current news of the war.
That is the immediate outcome of this weeks
fighting around LiaO-Yang. The full magnitude
and results of the battle are not yet made known.
There has evidently been a great battle. tho
largest of the th1s far. 1t has lasted for sGT
cral days. and indeed may not even yet be ended.
Losses On both sides have been considerable,
though probably not comparable with those in
many other battles 81 Europe and America.
How uncertain our Information of them is may
bc seen from tho fact that one Russian general
estimated the Russian losses up 10 r certain
point at 5000. while another Russian general
estimated them at 10000. With nearly half a
million men engaged for four or FIVE days, we
must expect 10 have the total roll Of dead and
wounded reckoned by tens if not by scores of
thousands. but there is indication that In
proportion TO the numbers engaged the casual
ties will prove comparable with those of An
tietam Gettysburg. Which side has suf-
fcred The more severely is not clear. though
the Russian reports that the Japanese have lost
the more are probably correct. The attacking
army usually loses more than the army OF de-
fence. But then the Japanese can better af-
ford 10 lose than the Russians for they are
the more numerous at the scene of war. to
begin with. and they can much more readily
bring on new levies to replenish their deci-
mated ranks
What is of more Importance upon the general
conduct of the war however. is the strategy
Of the conflict In that it seems indisputably
well established that the Japanese have gained
the advantage. In this first general engage
ment between the two armies the stories or
half a dozen preliminary skirmishes have been
repeated The Japanese have Outmanduvred
and outfianked the Russians. end the Russians
have been compelled To retreat. The work
:, .nTnfF iona ~
pleteness for we arc told that the Russian
centre and right have beer forced 10 retreat.
while General Kuroki has also turned or IS
turning the Russian left flank. That means
that The Japanese have crossed the river at
the northeast Of Iiao-Yang, and have pressed
forward so as 10 threaten the lines between
Iiao-Yang and Moukden. The Russians have
been driven hack all along the line throughout
something more than half circle.
That means that L4ao-Yang is being abau-
doned, just IS Kai Ping, and New-ChwanS. and
Hai-Cheng were successiyely abandoned. Tie
Russian lines Of battle week ago wero from
ten TO fifteen miles south and east of Liao-Hang.
They have now been driven back and the Jap
anese have taken possession of that city Weeks
or months ago we used 10 hear Russian retreats
explained as a subtle process of Turing the
japanese on 10 their ultimate ruin. Now the
C0nsolatOFy explanation is that the Russian
forces are beng 'cOnSOlllaIeQ- 1QPEe Is Hp
doubt that such is the case. Whether it Is
greatly 10 the Russian advantage may be an
open question. The present situation seems 10
he as a result of the weeks fighting, substan-
tally this General Kuropatkin, with all availa-
bic Russian troops in ManchuTia has been
driven out Of Liao-Nang. where he had very
strong Notifications and ample munitions "f
war and General kuroki, with somewhat
larger army. has seized that place and is still
pressing on with the apparent aim of surround
ing the Russian commander and capturing his
whole force. The only salvation for the Rus
slams seems to be in retreating rapidly rs
possible not only to Moukden, but 50 far be
lond il that the Japanese will not consider 1t
worth while 10 follow them. For Liao-Yang
has for months been their basic fortress and
depot of supplies. and in all their retreatiugs
they have simply been falling hack upon that
base. Now they have reached il and abandoned
il. There is no other base for them to fan back
upon. AIoukden is only slightly fortified, and
has no stores of supplies The Russians may
be able to fight their way thither, but theg can
make no stand there. They cannot transport
thither their fOrtifcations and supplies. These
were at LiaO-Yang, and it WAS there that the
stand should have been made Since # was
not, or could not be. made there. there seems no
hope Of making it ROW short Of Harbin if not
indeed. of Lake Baikal.