Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1904-10-19
Gloom in ST. Petersburg.

St. Petersburg. BY Cable.-The great
feeling of concern which exists in cir
cles in the Russian capital by no meas
equals the foreboding of coming dis
aster pervading the general public.
which is indulging in the deepest pes
simiSm. In the absence of official
news, the publec is being fed on the
widest rumors of defeat suffered by
General Ku:opatkin. The fact that
nc word regarding the battle has been
officially given out only confirms the
popular fear. The explanation offered
that it was a holiday does not suffice
to ally the apprehension.
General Kuropatkin's report of the
result of the days operations has
reached Emperor Nicholas at Tasar
koe Selo. but it had not been returned
here before the war commission.
which sat only until O'Clock. had ad-
jCurned. The Emperor himself is rep
resented as being bitterly disappoint-
ed. and spending hours with his cabi-
net, studying out, with the help OF
his military aids, the reports of the
battle. Tho general staff. however by
no means despairs. Though admit
ting that the tide in the last two
days has been against General Kuro-
patkin. the general staff saws the bat
tie is not yet over. and that in any
event there is no question OF a rout.
The depressing feature OF the situ-
alton Is that everyone is willing to be
lieve the worst. Thus, reports from
Toxic and elsewhere, stating that the
Japanese are advancing and that the
Russians are falling back are accepted
with faith based upon the previous
Russian retreat.
NaturQlIy nanV ranOrtG ara NurrpHt
as to the genesis OF the forward move
ment. 1t is freely stated that General
kuropatkin was forced into taking the
offensive by uressurc by the authori-
ties here. This has been officially
denied. and as General Kuropatkin's
order to advance was gwen over his
own signature, it seems likely that he
will have to bear all the responsible
ty. whether the situation Is OF his own
making or not.
Friends of General KuroDatkin said
the present offensive movement was
inspired from St. Petersburg. as was
doubtless General Stakelberg's move
ment for the relief Of Port Arthur and
that if Kuropatkin's star has set.
others higher than he are responsible.
AL the same time. the supporters of
General Kuropatkin argue that, what
ever may oe the direct outcome of
the past few days fighting. it is not
likely to he an irretrievable disaster
to the Russian army.
Dispatches from the front give n
vivid picture OF the desperate charac-
ter of the fighting along the whole
line. The Russian plainsmen have
been again forced to engage in hill
fighting. which is little ii their lik-
ing. There have been desperate and
repeated attacks upon almost inaces-
sible positions, which leave no ques-
ton OF the resolution and gallantrv
or the Russian forces. Guns have been
captured and re.captured in fierce
hand-to-hand conflicts.
The latest word directly from ,he
field CT battle is the Mukden dispatch
to the Associated Press. il which it
is stated that $1,000 Russians had
been wounded, which. together with
the days casualties, wolld make the
total probably exceed the figures of
Lao Yang. and make the fight rank
as one Of the bloodiest battles in his.
tory.