New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-09-10
HARDSHlPS OF RETREAT.
Men Sleep in Mud-ManyW Wounded
Without Surgical I'D.

w lHOUI OUI StCut AtG.
A. Petersburg, Sept 1O--It seems to be def
n,telv established that Field Marshal oyama's
tired troops practically abandoned on wednes-
day the attempt TO head off General Kuropat-
kin. and that the Russian army has arrived
safely ct Moukden, after frightful experiences
in houndering through mud and mire over the
Mandarin Road.
Some descriptions of the scenes along the line
Of retreat are almost incredible. They tell how
the men lay down in tee mud and slept in
orenching rain, without shelter.
It IS evident that the last determined effort OF
the japanese TO bring Kuropatkin to bay was
made on Tuesday. but the Russian commander
IN chief faced about. and two corps with artil-
lery beat of the Japanese. while the remainder
of the troops continued the march 10 Moukden.
after that the japanese could only hang on TO
the hanks and try TO shell the retreating COL
umns from the hills
The outposts are still in contact but they
not even exchanging shots.
The detailed statement of Russian losses
which It IS promised VIII be issued to-day is
awaited with intense interest. The general ex-
psctaton is that the losses viii approximate 20-
O0A against 2nnnn for tho JaIane=A--
The work Of burying the dead was left TO the
Japanese who were forced 20 attempt an almost
impossible task as a matter Of self-preservation.
The heavy rains have Handicapped the work OF
cremation on which the japanese relied, and
only shallow trench burials were possible under
the circumstances. Not only is this work one of
the greatest difficulty. but IT is almost valueIess
from sanitary point of view. the storms un-
doing # soon after it is accomplished.
The care Of the wounded has taxed the hos
pitals 10 the utmost. One correspondent says
that l2Oo0 wounded had passed through the
Moukden hospitals up TO Sunday. and only the
most severe cases could be attended 10 bv the
nurses and surgeons. Many, therefore. had TO
be left 10 the care OF their comrades.
no" that the battle Of Liao-Yang belongs 70
history, officers Of the general staff are mora
disposed 10 discuss some of the circumstances
OF The fight, although they stin lack specAc en-
formation General Kuropatkin,s army at Lao
Yang consisted Of 200 battallons. 147 souadrons
OF cavalry and 700 guns. Approximately. 1Os ooo
bayonets. 1900 sabres and 10000 eunners
Parts Of two European corps and one siber,a,
CORPS had been left at Moukden and number
OF these reserves were brought into the fight
The size Of the japanese army has not been
definitely established, but its actual agbting
force Is supposed TO have had a superiority IN
numbers Of from 10000 to G0OoO men and =
considerable superiority also in artillery
One Of the chief advantages nossssssd -,
Field Marshal oyama, according to the Rus
sian experts. consisted in the greater freedom
Of movement, on account Of the separation Of
the armies Of Generals Kurohi. oku and Nodzu
Kuropatkin later introduced a similar svstar,
Mhen he created the eastern and southern ar
mies' under the respective commands Of Gen.
erals Iyanof and zaroubaieff. but these armies
hao not been acting Independently for months.
On his arrival at the seat of war Lieutenant
General Bilderling, Of the Seventeenth Army
Corps took over the command Of General Ivan
or who. though a seasoned and tried COM
mander' familiar with his men. with the field
o. battle and with the tactics Of the JAPANESE.
hao to give way 10 man older in years, who
possessed none Of these advantages. The change
u commanders at such critical time is con-
s'asFeo here to have been extremely unfortu-
nate. Although # is admitted that the eastern
army had 10 face Kuroki. who has earned q
reputation as the most skilfui OF the Japanese
'sAaers the poor showing which it made in COM
pesifon with the southern army under zarou-
Deleh perhaps not altogether unjustinably.
might be attributed TO this change OF command
sis' and the battle might have been won If Ril-
uefiing had been able to duplicate In the east
'he splendid hght which Zaroubaier made
against Oku
II was the second repulse by the japanese
iosee on the heights at Yentas, which induced
Aufopatkin to order a retreat, and there are
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