The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-09-05
RUSS IS YET
 ON THE RUN Bitter Disappointment At St. Petersburg. THE POLICY OF RETIRING Kuropatkin's Strategy Not Of
 Popular Brand. Loss of Liaoyang Has Opened the Eyes of the Czar's Nation to the Pos
 abilities of Continued
 Retreat.
THE POLICY OF RETIRING

St. Petersburg. Sept. 4.-(2:20 A. M.) There is bitter disappointment tonight, probably the keenest of the W lole land campaign, over the situa- tion at the front.
 Up to Liaoyang the retreating from. and the abandonment of positions had been expected and, the public and the officials thought they knew 1t part of General Kuropatkins plan of cam paign.
 Had Liaoyang been abandoned with out fight, the public at least would have looked forward patiently to de- cisive stand at Mukden, but after desperate battle with victory for the lnscant apparently in sight. to find Liaoyang abandoned, its immense stores captured, and the retreat con- tinued under the most adverse condi- tions 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 Ku- ropatkin is continuing his retreat, or whether indeed, he has heen able to do so. but the public so far Is not aware of General Stakelberg's mar row escape from being cut off.
 Situation as Known.
 The situation. as it is known to date, is that the Russian army is south of the branch railway near Yentai sta tion, ten miles northeast of Liaoyang. at the Yentai mines, where fierce fight ing has been in progress.
 Actual fighting seems to have sus- pended for the moment. tho armies probably resting after their terrific and continued exertions of the past ten days. the longest single battle in history, and it will depend upon their respective recuperative powers as to which will first be able to resume activity.
 The country is i'll suited to military operations. It Is flatter and more op- en than the region south of Iiaoyang but t Is covered at t,hs season with dense fields of Chinese corn. growing nighef than man oh horseback. It Is more suited 70 surprise tactics, and to offensive operations than to orderly retreat.
 still Has the Railway.
 One feature of the situation. how ever, has apparently been overlooked by the local critics in their recent ea gerness to chronicle a decisive engage ment. namely, that Kuropatkin Is still in command of the railway, and appa rently has saved a majority of the roll ing stock. This is chiefly in requisi- tion at present for the transportation of wounded, but Mukden, with strong defenses. is less than thirty miles north of Yentai. What force Kuropat- kin Is holding in reserve there, even the authorities do not exactly know, but 1t is believed that 1t must be con- siderable, while the European rein- forcements which have been rushing East for weeks past, are pouring in there daily.
 The Japanese army is confessedly ex- hausted, and is getting further from its base of supplies. If it reaches Mukden without dealing Kuropatkin a crushing blow. and Field Marshal Oya- ma seems to be not yet able to envelope the Russian force, the Japanese will find themselves in front of a fresh and strongly defended city, where the Rus sians will be sure of a warm welcome and renewed supplies, and against which is seems impossible that the Japanese commander will be able to hurl his brave, but worn -out and posi- . ' lively starving braves.
 Army Near Mukden.
 It is possible that even now Russian endorsements may be descending from the north to aid their retreating com rades at Mukdep, which is less than TWO days ordinary march distance. even Ignoring the railway.
 What effect the present result will iaVe on General Kuropatkin's reputa. fon at home, it is impossible to say.
 may be remembered however. that terore starting for the Far East Gen Fal Kuropatkin said that he fully ex- ected his reputation to sink lower nan his friends even dreamed, but that hereafter there would come a turn and
 would rebound. He was unwilling : 2 predict where the turn would oc- ur.
 "A The battleship Orel has gone to Cron- tadt' Thls brings Rear Admiral Ro- FstVensky's squadron up to its full bmplement.
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