The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-17
ARMY GETS AWAY
Kuropatkin Draws His Beaten
Forces Back to Mukd0n.
HIS LOSS PROBABLY $4,000.
Japanese Report $3.50 Russian
Dead on the Field.

Some Fighting Yesterday. but Main Battle
Il Considered Oyer-Pursuit Difficult
Because OF the bad Roads snd
Swollen Observation-Disclosures Disheart.
ened by Their De1eat-Kuropatlkin's
Report Does Not Admit the Complete
Failure OF His Advance From Mukden.
Special Gable Dispatches 10 The SYN.
MUkpEN Oct 1e.-Evening. The Russian
army La now retreating almost unhampered.
1t will undoubtedly escape overwhelming
disaster
There has been some fighting to-day ten
miles southwest OF Mukden, where the Rus
sian right attacked the Japanese, but the
main battle practically ended yesterday.
The Japanese apparently are not advanc-
ing on Mukden. Their campfres are Wis
BILE about ten miles south Of here Their
guns are still hailing shrapnel over the plain,
which is covered with retiring Russians.
The Cars troops behaved with the ut-
most valor. They repeatedly attacked
impregnable positions despite their terrible
fatigue and the shortness OF food. They are
now worn out. Human strength cannot
do more than they have done. Every avail
able man and gun has been engaged.
The troops are pitifully mortified by their
non-slccess. Officers and men alike showed
unyielding tenacity and sacrificed them
selves ungrudgingly.
Gen. Kuropatkin personally displayed
desperate energy. More than once shrap-
mel fell about him as he moved to and fro,
directing everything. Even when fortune
went hardest against the Russians he was
hopeful.
The surface Of the country IL horrible for
retreat. The conclusion Of the hundreds OF
gums caused heavy rain and thunder storms
during the last three days, turning every
valley into a quagmire and every stream
into torrent. The conditions practically
forbid pursuit by the Japanese.
The Russian wounded. "a great proportion
of whom are suffering from wounds re-
oeived in hand-to-hand fighting are stray
Cling along every route to Mukden. They
are frequently seen stuck helplessly in the
flooded fields
KuRoPATKIN REPORTS.
ST.. PETERSBURG, Oct. 1e.-1n despatch
dated yesterday Gen. Kuropatkin reports
to the Gar as follows:
"On the night of Oct. IS large force OF
Japanese attacked the corps drawn up
on the line OF the Sha River on the Great
Mandarin road. Several attacks were re-
pulsed, but the Japanese at last succeeded
and the centre of the corps was broken.
At this moment fighting began on the right
flank in q neighboring section. The posi-
bility of rupture of the centre Of our whole
formation threatened the neighboring
troops and might force them to retreat.
"In order to support the troops on the
Great Mandarin road several battalions
were rapidly pushed forward and the troops
we're thus enabled to take the offensive.
They succeeded in retaking the village OF
Shahopu and reoocupying their first posi-
ton. Reinforced by reserves, the Japanese
dislodged us again from Shahopu. then
advanced my reserves. The troops defend
ing the position resumed the offensive,
and after a stubborn fight we reoccupied
Shahopu and repulsed the Japanese, driv-
ina them back two kilometres from the
village.
ION our right wing the position was for
some time very alarming. The troops
were attacked from front and back in a
turning movement on the right flank. The
chief of the detachment advanced the
troops who were set apart for the last rally.
and they having attacked the Japanese
from the flank in their turn, several villages
were retaken by us, and the right wing
maintained it's positions on the line OF the
Sha River
"The positions Of our troops in the centre
we're notlceably advanced in comparison
with that Of the other troops in the general
position. A line on the right flank had con-
seouently been chosen beforehand and
partially fortified Our troops retired to
these positions after stubborn fight.
THE troops have been fighting for four
days. Many regiments have not slept
for three nights. Nevertheless I am full
of hope in their capacity to continue the
struggle. The Japanese losses must be
very considerable,
In later despatch Gen. Kuropatkin
says: The night OF Oct 14..passed quietly.
Before o o'clock in the morning rather
marked movement Of the enemy was noticed
in the direction OF our positions on the Great
Mandarin road Our batteries opened fire
on them.
I'VE received report from the oom-
mander OF the left wing that the enemy
WAS being strongly REINFORCED there. As
Was the case at Liaoyang, the quantity
of heavy firing caused storm to burst
and there WAS n torrrn'ial rain. The roads
are in very bad condition and the level oil