The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-09-07
RUSSIANS ARE DISAPPOINTED.
Expected kuropatkin to Defeat the
Japs at Liaoyanq. d

st. Petersburg, Sept. 5.-There is
bitter disappointment, probably the
keenest OF the whole land campaign.
over the situation at the front. Up to
Liaoyang the retreating from and the
abandonment of positions had been ok
pected, and that much the public and
the officials though they knew Of Cen
eral KurOpatkin's plan OF campaign.
Had I4iaoyang been abandoned with
out a fight the public at least would
have looked forward patiently to a
decisive stand at Mukden, but after a
desperate battle with victory for the
instant apparently in sight, to find
Liaoyang abandoned, it's immense
stores captured or destroyed, and the
retreat continued under the most adj
verse conditions, severely tries public
confidence in the commander-in-chief.
At this hour even the authorities
know little more than what has al
ready been given to the public. There
Is still much doubt as to whether Kuro-
patkin Is continuing his retreat, or
whether indeed he has been able to do
SO, but the public so far is not aware
of General Stakelberg's narrow escape
from being cut on.
The situation, as 1t is known to date,
is that the Russian army Is south Of
the branch railway connecting Yentai
station. ten miles northeast OF Lao
yand, with the Yentai mines. where
fierce lighting has been in progress.
Actual fighting seems to have been
suspended for the moment, the armies
probably resting after their terrific and
continuous exertiOns of the past ten
days. the longest single battle in his
tory, and it will depend upon their re-
spective r~ecuperative powers as to
which will first be able to resume &C.
tivity.
Not Suited to Military Operations.
The country is i'll suited t o military
operations. It is flatter and more
open than the region south of Lao
yang, but is covered at this season
with dense fields of Chinese corn,
growing higher than q man on horse
back. 1t is more suited to surprise
tactics and to offensive operations than
to an orderly retreat.
One feature of the situation, how
ever. has apparently been overlooked
by the local critics in their recent
eagerness to chronicle q decisive en-
gagement, namely, that Kuropatkin is
still in command of the railway, and
apparently has saved a majority of
the rolling stock. This is chiefly in
requisition at present for the trans
portation of the wounded, but Mukden
with strong denfenses is less than
thirty miles north of Yentai. What
force Kuroparkin is holding in re-
serve there. even the authorities do
not exactly know, but it is believed
that it must be considerable, while the
European achievements, which have
been rushing east for weeks past, are
pouring in there daily.
The Japanese army is confessedly
exhausted and is getting further from
its base Of supplies. II it reaches
| Mukden without dealing Kuropatkin a
| crushing blow-and Field Marshal
| Oyama seems to be not yet able to
envelop the Russian force-the Japa-
nese will find themselves in front Of
a fresh and strongly defended city
where the Russians will be sure Of a
warm welcome and renewed supplies
| and against which it seems impossible
| that the Japanese commander will be
able to hurl his brave but worn out
and possibly starving forces.
What effect the present result will
have on General Kuropatkin's reputa-
ton at hCme. it is impossible to say.