The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-05-09
Increase the Depression.

St Petersburg, May 9.-(3:3O a. m.)- official dispatches, calculated to increase the depression existing among all circles in Russia, were given out last night. From the point of view of the progress of the campaign, the mos; important is that regarding the capture by the Japa- nese without opposition of Feng Wang Cheng on May 6. The second gives de- tails concerning the killed wounded and missing amoung the troops under the command of Lieutenant General Zassa- fitch the result of the fighting on the Yalu, the number of which total 2397 officers and men.
 General Kuropatlkin forwarded a mes- sage from General Zassalitch, who had been left in charge of the column retir- ing from Feng Wang Cheng. which de- scribed the movements of the enemy in connection with the occupation of the town. The information caused no sur- prise to the officials who had already been advised of the decision that no at tempt would be made to hold Feng Wang Cheng. the superiority of the Japanese in all fighting arms insuring disaster sim liar to the of Kuien Cheng Therefore. General Zassalitch was given strict orders that there should be no fight of the rear guard.
 Approach from Two Directions.
 The Russians left while General kuro<i was making his dispositions for a big battle. The Japanese approached from two directions along the main road and mp the valley, placing batteries so as to command the town. This procedure on the part of General Kurokl shows that the entire Japanese plan or operations had been thoughtfully prepared and that every division commander knew exactly what he should do
 Now that Gen. Kuroki is tablished a Ruc puzzled as to what move he will make next. The fact that he sent two com panies to Dalian Dispu Tse, ten miles north northwest of Feng Wang cheng. might indicate his purpose to proceed along this road to Ting Chan Glen. ninety miles north from where he would march due west to Liao Tank. This would permit a perfect fianking movement. but it is not considered probable, the likelihood be- ing that he will move along the road by which the Russians retreated toward Liao Yang. This road branches off at Chats Chang, twenty miles westward of Feng Wang Cheng, and continues almost di- rectly west of Hai Cheng which was captured by the Japanese during the Chno-Japanese war. A march on this place would compel the evacuation of New Chwang, as the force there would be in danger of destruction or of being subjected to a siege by the armies con Verg1nE rom fidl tHenB ana the south srn part of the Liao Tung peninsula
 No Confirmation of Report.
 There is no confirmation up to the pres ent of the report that the Russians are preparing to evacuate New Chwang but few would be surprised If 1t should turn n ont to be correct. The effect of march along the road to Hai cheng would be to place absolutely In the control of The Japanese all Manchuria between the Yalu and the Liao Tung peninsula with inc exception of Port Arthur. The Rus sians admit that at this stage of the war the Japanese control the territory mentioned. the Russky Invalid. the army organ. making this concession. The re- mainder of the press is silent
 Only one afternoon paper referred to the abandonment of Feng Wang Cheng. and that one inconspicuously.
 It is believed Gen. Kuroki instead of proceeding to Hai Cheng will move north west along the road to Liao Yang. He will find the Russians entrenched at Tien Chori Chan pass. west of Mao Tien Ling pass