Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-10-21

Kuropatkin came out from Muk-
den TO ascertain where Kuroki was
and found him. lie did rot remain
out long. His report, perhaps, will
be: "He made reconnaissance in full
force, and having succeeded in his
object, retired in good order" The
time has been in this country when
that was the favorite expression with
the defeated commander, aud why
not for the Russian?-Ffee Lance.
The desperate situation of the
Port Arthur garrison is believed to
have been the real reason for Kuro.
patkin's sudden decision to advance.
He was spurred on by st. Petersburg
for political reasons.
Russia. has a plenty of men of
which to make fighters, but getting
them in the right position is the rub.
So far the Russians are little better
than organized MODS.
The short cut Russian railway
around Lake Baikal is failure. The
first train took over three days to
make the journey. aud was derailed
ten times. 1t will be necessary to
use horses instead of engines to help
the trains during the winter.
The Jsps do not expect Russia to
ever sue for peace. She may aban-
don Manchuria, and the Japs will
have to be continually on the alert
to prevent invasion. Russia may keep
the war protracted for years. After
consultation between the Gar and
General Gripenberg, it was decided
to mobilize 100000 more troops and
to abandon Manchuria for the
present.
BLOODY BATTLE STILL IN DOUBT.
10 our last issue we told Of Kuro-
patkin's turning about with $4,000
troops and hurting his reinforced
army against the 100000 Japanese
who have been slowly pursuing him
since the great battle of Liaoyang.
Momentarily he gained the advan-
tage, but our latest special dispatch
announced that Oyama, with his
forces in three divisions under
Kuroki, Nodzu and Oku, had checked
the Russian advance. General Kuro-
patkin's advance was met with a
counter advance of the forces under
Field Marshal Oyama. The battle
had been raging from Sunday, 0cto-
Der IL. Our account closed with
lighting of Wednesday night, the
18th.
Taking up the thread by days we
note in condensed form the varying
tide of battle for the week, ending
with Wednesday night of this week.
| THURSDAY, 13th-General Oku
captured 25 Russian guns, making a
total of 80 Russian guns which have
fallen into the hands of the Japanese
since the battle began.
The battle is of the most desperate
character, the fighting exceeding in
fierceness the terrific combat at Lao
yang. The losses on both sides have
been enormous. The Russian losses
in the four days are estimated at
37,265. So far the Russians have
lost 212 guns (cannon).
The battle has in the main been 0
square frontal fight, with flank move
ments in which the Russians failed
of their purpose.
Unable to withstand the tremen-
dous assault of the japanese, Kuro-
patkin has been forced back to a
position north of the Shakhe river.
Kuropatkin admits his right wing is
beaten, and has ordered retirement t.
| FRIDAY. = General Kuropatkin's
problem now is to save his army
from rout. The Russians have re-
treated 20 miles since they began
their attack Sunday. The retire
ment of the force of General Meyan-
dof on the Russian right, has been
turned into rout. The force suffered
tremendous loss. The Russian sold
iers at one point charged bayonets in
magnificent form. They captured
twelve Jap guns.
| The japanese have engaged three
Russian reserve divisions, who are
believed to be personally commanded
by Kuropatk;n. These divisions
were forced to turn about in their
flight and fight. General Kuropat-
kin had narrow escape Thursday.
He isreported to have been wounded.
/ SATURDAY.-The Russian advance
has been converted into a stubbornly
fought retreat. On both sides the
soldiers have shown the utmost tena-
city and bravery and whole regi-
ments have gone down before the fire
of the enemy.
Wounded soldiers are being brought
into Mukden from all directions.
The roads are crowded with long
trains of wagons, baggage and trans
port wagons, as we'll as ambulances,
being pressed into service. Men
afoot are limping In. using their guns
as crutches, the less severely wounded
supporting their comrades. 1t is
the most pitiful feature of the bloody
drama. Stifening with wounds,
painracked bodies sink to the road
side after the support of the danger
and glory of the active fight have
been withdrawn, and are crushed
and mangled alike by comrades and
the victorious enemy. 1t is calculated
that the Russian killed and wounded
so far number fully 10000 and those
of the Japanese 10000.
Today, the seventh day of the bat
tie, the vast human tragedy con-
tinued. Kuropatkin'sexhausted men,
many of whom were without food
and had not slept in three nights,
hurled themselves with the fury of
desperation against the pursuing
legions of Nippon.
Now there is comparative lull in
the battle. There is no record of