The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-05-09
RUssIAN DEPRESSION GROWING
Occupation of Feng Wang Cheng and Gruesome Losses on the Yalu.


 St. Petersburg, May g. 3:30 a. m- Two official dispatches calculated to in- crease 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 most im- portant is that regarding the capture py the Japanese without opposition of Feng Wang Cheng on May 6. The sec- 3nd gives details concerning the killed, wounded and missing among the troops lnder command of Lieutenant General lassalitch, as the result of the fighting In the Yalu, the number of which to- als 2,397 officers and men.
 General Kuropatkin forwarded mes age from Lieutenant General zassa- itch, who had been left in command of khe column retiring from Feng Wang heng, which described the movements the enemy in connection with the oc- upation of the town.
 The information caused no surprise to he officials, who had already been ad- ised of the decision that no attempt Tould be made to hold Feng Wang heng, the superiority of the Japanese all fighting arms ensuring a disaster milar to that at Kiu Lien Cheng. therefore, General Zassalitch was given rict orders that there should be no ght at the rear guard. The Russians fit while General Kuroki was making $ dispositions for a big battle
 The Japanese approached from two rections along the main road and up be valley, placing batteries so as to Pmmand the town This procedure on ie part of General Kuroki shows that le entire Japanese plan of operation hd been thoughtfully prepared and ev- v division commander knew exactly hat he should do.
 Now that General Kuroki is estab- Fhed at Feng Wang Cheng, the Rus ans are puzzled as to what move he i'll next make. The fact that he sent 70 companies to Daliandiapu-T ten lies north-northeast of Feng Wang heng, might indicate his purpose to Toceed along this road to Ting Chan fen, ninety miles north from where he ould march due west to Liao Yang. his would permit an effective f1anking ovement but it is not considered obable, the likelihood being that he Il move along the railroad by which Russians retreated toward Liao &ang This road branches off at Chats 1ang. twenty miles westward of Feng ang Cheng, which was captured by e Japanese during the Chino o-Japan- e war. A march on this place would mpel the evacuation of New Chwang, the force there would be in danger destruction or of being subjected to siege by the armies converging from hi Cheng and the southern portion to Liao Tung peninsula.
 Where General Kuropatkin's main rec is now stationed has not been an- unced, though General Zassalitch htes that the cavalry left for Schlind- ne. There continues to be the great
 ignorance regarding the plans of commander-in-c chief, who is taking cry precaution to prevent informa- In reaching the enemy, the censor at ao Yang refusing to pass a single ess dispatch which in any way indi- tes the Russian movements. Mes- ges from other points are strictly nsored.
 is believed that General Kuroki, tead of proceeding to Hai Cheng, Il move northwest along the roaQ 10 ho Yang. He will find the Russians trenched at Tien >Chori Chan pass, st of Mao Tien Ling pass.
 is pointed out that the abandon mt of southern Manchuria will be neficial to the Russians as it will en- e the complete concentration of the ces which have heretofore been ttered in consequence of ignorance to what the enemy proposed to do.
 Though the people are tried by the neral withdrawal, it is recalled that neral Kuropatkin counselled patience ore he left St. Petersburg for Man lria. No word of criticism of his duct is heard, every one recognizing t he knows all the conditions and is ter able to judge as to when he can ely offer battle to the enemy.
 he gruesome figures in the Russian ses on the Yalu are higher than has bn reported by Major General Rash nsky, who appears to have been