The Grit-advocate., 1904-07-01
WILL FALL BACK
TO AVOID ANOTHER BATTLE
Kuroki Pushing Russian Fiank.-Oe-
cisive Battle in Prospeet.-Fur-
uher Japanese Successes.

|
St Petersburg. June 29.-The Asso-
ciated Press is informed on good au-
thority that General kuropatkin has
| decided TO withdraw northward.
| This move gives the Russians the
advantage Of being nearer their base
| Of supplies and places the Japanese at
the disadvantage Of having longer
| lines OF communication.
1t is pointed out that Kuropatkin nc
| longer prevents a junction of the en-
emys forces by remaining at Ia Tche
Kiao since he might thereby imperil
| the safety OF his own troops. as the
desperate character of the fighting at
Ia pass and Fen Shut pass June 27th
shows that the japanese have very
strong force uncomfortably near the
Russian flank.
News from the Port Arthur squaG-
ron is eagerly awaited. The city is fun
OF rumors, chiefly based on foreign
kilograms. A report that Rear Admi-
raj without. in command Of the naval
forces at Port Arthur sailed off after
giving battle to the Japanese, receives
the most credence.
thority to leave Port Arthur if he
deems it advisable. and he possibly pre-
ferred not Iisking a return to the har-
Dor. which might again be blocked.
preventing his egress at critical mo-
ment. Conseqnetly Without may now
be steaming TO Join the Valdivostuk
cruisers. The minister of marine is
anxiously expecting a further report.
I,,t hnI Cd 20 ~.
hour Of filing this dispatch.
No further advices from the front
had been received up to midnight.
though news from General kuropatkin
and Rear Admiral Without was eagerly
awaited. The unusual rumors of heavy
fighting pervaded the city. but they
were based wholly on the fact that the
armies are in close touch.
Though 1t appears now from General
kuropatkin's tactics that heavy en-
gagement may be deferred for some
days. it is possible that the japanese
may rush matters, but it is not gener-
ally expected here that General kuro-
patkin will give battle until he reaches
position of his own selection.
1t may clarity the military situation
to explain that the country in which
the armies are now coming into con-
tact consists of series of mountain
chains running parallel with the rail-
way alongside of which the Russians
are falling back as the Japanese ad-
vance. Fen Shat, Mo Tien and Dalln
are all passes which take their names
from the mountains over which they
run.
General kuroki who has heretofore
been east of these mountains, is ad-
vancing to the westward from Stu Yen
through very rough country and his
columns must traverse the passes
named before emerging into the more
open country along the railway ap-
proximately abreast of Ia Tche kiao,
Hal Cheng and Liza Yang. The Rus
sian outposts and the Japanese advance
: are now in close touch at all these
passes. The Russians, after harassing
the Japanese advance from eacSl Of
these positions, are falling back on
General Kuropatkin's main body. which
is supposed to be somewhere between
Lao Yang and Ia Tche Kiao.
General Kuropatkin is now moving
slowly northward along the railway,
and wherever he makes his stand. there
will be precipitated what is expected
to be the decisive battle of the cam
paign.