The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-09-07
RUssIA'S sANGUINE VIEWS,

St. Petersburg, Sep 2.-1.25 p. 10.
No absolute information has yet
reached the war Office confirming the
reports that Liao Yang has been occu-
pied by the Japanese, but it is pos
itively known that Gen. Kuropatkin
decided to withdrw from his positions
south of Liao Yang to the north or
right bank of the Taitse River Tues
day night, and the orders were actu-
ally given, as stated in these dispatch
es yesterday. The war Office presumes
that the movement was carried out
isnce the latest advices yesterday were
that the crossing Of the river was not
being opposed. The fact, disclosed
for the first time in these dispatches
last night, that the strongest Russian
position, prepared by Gen. Kuropat-
kin, was not around the town of Liao
Yang, as the public had been led to
believe, but on the right or north
bank OF the Taitse River, was secret
so successfully guarded that not even
an intimation of it had leaked out.
It is now explained that the Rus
sian commander in chief had all along
anticipated that the japanese, when
they made their advance on Liao
Yang, would pursue the identical tac-
t,cs which had been SO successful in
every previous stage Of the campaign,
and while attacking in front would
attempt by wide detour to outfank
the Russian position. This time Gen.
Kuropatkin was not caught mapping.
He was prepared for just what hap
pened and as soon as he received word
that Gen Kuroki had crossed the
Taitse twenty miles above Lao Yang
and was moving westward. Knropatkin
met the move by throwing his whole
army over at night. By this piece of
strategy Kuropatkin, in the opinion
of the general staff, gained an i'm
mense advantage. His army is concen-
trated on one side of the river and the
road is still open for his retirement
northward, while the japanese arm
les, which must act in unison, are sep
a-ated by the river, which places Kur
opatkin in a position to oppose
Kuroki with his whole army, while
Gems Oku and NodZu are stranded on
the other side, which gives Kuropat-
kin possible opportunity to initiate
Napoleon's tactics and defeat the op-
posing force in detail. 1t is under
stood that throughout the fighting cf
the last few days Kuropatkin's main
reserves udid not leave their positions
on the right bank of the river.
The report tnat telegraphic commu
nication between Liao Yang and Muk-
den had been severed is not admitted
at the war Office. which points ont that
it has only been receiving two tele
grams daily from Gems. Kuropatkin
and Sakbaroff. Two were received yes
terday.
The absence of press kilograms is
explained. aS announed in these dis
patches yesterday, by the transfer of
the head telegraph office from Liao Yang
to Shakhe, fifteen miles north, which
was necessiated by the fact that the
japanese shells were dropping into the
office, although the office was sit1ated
on the north bank Of the Taitse River.
A she'll killed two operators Monday.
Ehe field telegraph, which is working
between Shakhe to Kuropatkin's head
quarters, is not available to cores
pondents, who would have to send
their messages by express riders to
Shakhe. difficult task, owing to the
heavy roads.
London. Sept "a dispatch to the
Central News from Rome states that
General Stakelhurg's army, num-
bering twenty-five thousand men,
which was reported to have been cut
of by the japanese while attempting