The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-09-04
Hopes of Victory in Russian Breasts Have Been Oash-
 ed Down by Oyana
STRAWBERRIES BLUNDER IS
 BITTEREST BLOW OF ALL
Surrounding of His Division of 25,ooo Men Probabl, Means Loss of the Entire Crack Siberian
 Corps.

St. Petersburg, September 4.-d2:40 a. m.)-All Russia will learn by the morn ing newspapers that General Kuropat- kin's main army is in full retreat to the northward, that Liao Yang has been abandoned, and that General Stakelberg's corps of 25.OOO men Is surrounded and cut off
 The hopes of victory raised in Russian breasts by the telegram from General Kuropatkin, the commander-in-chief. pub lished this afternoon saying that the Russians had advanced against General Kurolzi on Friday and that an attack on the Russian right had been repulsed proved short lived.
 General Kuropatkin had scarcely begun the offensive against General Kurokfs army when he was compelled by the overwhelming force of the Japanese flank ing movement to give up all idea of continuing his advance and hurriedly withdrew in the direction of Mukden. The retreat is the logical carrying out of the Russian plan of leading on and tiring out the Japanese at the successive stations of the road northward. thus placing their
 
 tage of heightened lines of communica- ton.
 Stalkenberg Makes BIunder.
 The success of this plan was marred by blunder of General Stakelberg who. in the words of General Kuropatkin in- sisted on placing his own interpretation on orders instead of fulfilling them. Gen. eral Stakelberg erred in falling to cross the Taitse river when General Kuropat- retreat to it's northern bank as was ex- clusively reported in dispatches to tho Associated Press on September 3.
 This blunder it Is feared will involve the loss of the whole of the first Siberian army corps consisting of the first, second and sixth rifle divisions, the Usuri Cos sacks brigade, the first Siberian artil- lery brigade and a sapper battalion.
 The abandonment of the whole position at Ldao Yang involves the loss of great accumulation of stores, though 1t is be- lieved that many of these had already been sent north before the commence ment of the fighting.
 Russians Destroy res.
 It Is possible, however, that the Rus sians destroyed what they could not re- move. Something akin to consternation prevails among Russians who have learn ed of the disaster to General Stakelberg's corps. All realize that there is small hope now for the relief of Port Arthur, but the military officers are unanimous in the belief that 1t will be folly for General Kuropatkin to remain and run the risk of being surrounded with his whole army, and that the commander-in-chief by his withdrawal north has actually converted what might have been disaster to him. self into what Is regarded as a reverse for the Japanese for the failure of the Japanese to hold General Kuropatkin's army and infiict a decisive blow, it is said cannot be regarded otherwise than a. reverse.
 Field Marshal Oyamas tenacious frontal attack and the clever flank move ment could not have had any other ob- ject than to compel the Russians to ac- cept decisive engagement
 Will Discourage Port Arthur.
 General Kuropatkin's retreat will un- doubtedly have a discouraging effect on the garrison at Port Arthur, which can no longer hope for relief from this quar- ter.
 Japanese are in a position to press the siege, and it is more than probable that they have diverted a portion of the be- sieging army to reinforce their corps operating in Manchuria. This would ac- ocunt for the temporary Hull In the fight ing at Port Arthur. It Is noticeable that the siege reports do not mention further assaults on the fortresses, but only speak of homba rdments