The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-10-17
The Scenes at LiaO Yang Be- ing Duplicated on a
 Grandsr Scale
THRILLING FINALE OF
 GREAT MILITARY DRAMA
Russians Fight GalIantly and Leave Many Thousands Upon the Field But Are Being Slowly Push-
 ed Back by Japanese.

Mukden. October 1.-The battle was re- newed and continued throughout the night being especially heavy at mid night The Russians retain their position along the Shakhe river and have made frequent attacks upon the Japanese, cap- turing six of the latters guns. The east ern army is helping the western forces. There has been very heavy artillery fire today The fighting is now centered on the plain.
 St. Petersburg, October 17.-(3:5O a. m.)- The official veil was today lifted from the ghastly tragedy aroung Shakhe. but even the official report, supplemented by numerous press dispatches, leaves much uncertainty as to the situation. Out of the fiaglnentary mass of information at hand. it is possible only to conclude that the costly withdrawal and retreat from Liao Yang is being duplicated, even on greater scale, after more desperate fight ing and heavier losses.
 General Kuropatkin's story leaves the Russians still tenaciously holding the north bank of the Shakhe river, but gen eral belief is that this is only the des-
  tary dramas of history. and that the Rus sian army. as a whole, is retiring to Muk- den. having suffered from what the most conservative estimate a loss of 300OO.
 Of the left flank, w44ch was one of the most important in the line of battle, nothing was heard, which leaves the in- ference that 1t was not at all in a position to communicate with the rest of the army.
 All of the wounded are being carried to Harbin, farther north. 1t is understood that the correspondents also have been ordered to Harbin, which indicates the retreat will not even stop at Tie Pass. All hopes of the world-heralded advance to Port Arthur have been abandoned. The weather conditions are even worse than during the retreat from Liao Yang. Streams are bank high and lords are impossible, but 1t Is impossible to say how this will affect the final situation. It may prove Russian salvation by prevent ing a Japanese pursuit. On the other hand, however if the Russians are on the wrong side, the flooded rivers may only emphasize the completeness of the disaster.
 Ammunition Short.
 Another serious fact that remains un- determined is the ammunition supply. Seven days of furious fighting must have greatly depleted the supply of both ar- mies Officials express confidence that General KurQpatlin is better off in this respect, but at last reports the Japanese were bombarding as if they were sure of an inexhaustible supply.
 The official report of the battle says the Japanese made desperate attempt to break the Russian center Friday night, but this, 1t seems may be a clerical CT telegraphic error. For Thursday smul- taneously the Japanese launched a heavy assault against the village of Shakhe, which already had been the scene of many furious attacks and counter at tacks The Russians were forced to evac- uate the village but heroically recaptured the position. This brought reserves of both sides into action, but whether the whole reserves of either side were gagged is not clear. In any event the Russians were in again and finally driven out making five times that Shakhe had changed hands in the course of the battle. The Russians then retired to a new posi- ton north of Shakhe.
 Mukden Remains Quiet.
 Mukden itself remains quiet. though the sounds of battle are plainly heard to the south. The railroad station is con gested with trains of wounded proceeding f to Harbin. The hospital facilities are l completely over-taXed. Six thousand " ounded arrived at Mukden on Saturday alone. The heroic surgeons and nurses, mary of whom nave been without sleep for thrty-six hours, are ready to drop with fatigue.
 Although the official account of the bat tie does not present the disastrous pic- ture that many il St. Petersburg had re- signed themselves to see, the general feel tG of ha ro c battle has not been Russia's Sedan .n fact, the political effect could hardly be worse. The war and it's conduct has been more unpopular than ever at home. while the greatest fears are that the Chi nese population. if not the government, will be encouraged to abandon long doubt full neutrality and openly side with the victorious Japanese From the military point of view. the most bftte- disappoint- l. ment is in the Knowledge that the re- verse seals the fate of the heroic defend CTS of Port Arthur, who are now without b,ne of succor from the outside world
 A remarkable feeling throughout, is the nopuar feeling with General Kuropatkin. yiceroy Alexief is again charged with accountability for Kuropatkins attempt to take the aggressive. Pity rather than criticism is awarded the ill-starred gem eral. but 1t is felt among army officers tbnt the military prestige of the whole of Russia has so suffered at his hands that it is impossible that he can ever be siven the chance to retrieve the disaster RUSSIAN ARMY OF CENTER
 FALLS SACK TO SHAKHE.
 Mukden, October 16.-Via Pekin, with tbe Russian army of the center. After six days of the hardest kind of fighting this section of the Russian army fell hack last night on the Shakhe river. and. is now holding a position on the north side of that stream. The fighting which commenced shortly after noon, has been proceeding continuously ever since On october the Russians advanced to the southeast crossing the Shakhe river thence to Humantung. twenty miles southeast of Mukden and three miles north of Yentai. On the hills around