The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-02
AS KURoPATK1N PLANNED 1T.
Russian War Office Says All Is Going
According to Calculations:


St Petersburg, Sept. 2.-1:25 p. m.
No absolute information has reach
ed the war office confirming the re-
ports that Lao Yang has been occu-
pied by the Japanese, but it is posi-
lively known that General Kuropatlin
decided to withdraw from his posi-
ions south of Lao Yang to the north
or right bank of the Taitse river Tues
day night and the orders were actual
ly given, as stated in these dispatches
yesterday. The war Office presumes
that the movement was carried out,
since the latest advices yesterday were
that the crossing of the river was not
being opposed.
in these dispatches last night that the
strongest Russian position prepared
by General Kuropatkin was not
around the town of Lao Yang, as the
public had been led to believe. but on
the right or north bank of the Taitse
river was a secret so successfully
guarded that not even an intimation
of it had leaked out. 1t is now ex-
planned that the Russian commander
in-chief had all along anticipated that
the Japanese, when they made their
advance on Lao Yang, would pursue
the identical tactics which have been
so successful in every previous stage
of the campaign, and while attacking
in front would attempt by a wide de-
tour to outf1ank the Russian position.
This time General Kuropatkin was
not caught mapping He was pre-
pared for just what happened and as
soon as he received word that General
kuroki had crossed the Taitse, 20
miles above Lao Yang, and was NOV
ing westward, Kuropatkin met the
move by throwing his whole army
over at night. By this piece of STRAIT
egy Kuropatkin, in the opinion of the
general staff, gained an immense ad-
vantage His army is concentrated on
one side of the river and the road is
still open for his retirement north
ward. while the Japanese armies
which must act in unison are sepa-
rated by the river. which places Kuro-
patkin in a position to oppose Kuroki
with his whole army while Generals
Oku and Nodzu are stranded on the
other side, which gives Kuropatkin a
possible opportunity to initiate Ma
poleon's tactics and defeat the oppos-
ing forces in detail.
There is only one parallel in his
tory" said a high officer of the war Of
flee to the Associated Press today, "and
that is when Prince Frederick Charles
straddled the Moselle with the Ger
man armies. But, Kuropatkin has not
Marshal B2zaines mistake of
sitting still while the enemy closed him
in ---s4-
Kuropatkin's great strength in cav
airy, in the opinion of the war office |
will stand him in good stead now.
Whether the whole of Kuropatkin'S s |
army got across yesterday is not defln- |
Itely established. the war office not
having yet received complete advices, |
the latest information being that the |
of the river was not being in |
terfered with. In view of the Toxic |
dispatch received this morning it is
possible that the Japanese troops
forming the screen and a portion of
the Japnese flank did not succeed in
the river. There are two good
regular bridges at Lao Yang over
which the Russian crossing was ef-
'ected, and then there is the railroad
bridge about two miles down the
stream.
The Toxic report that Kuroki's forces
we're in action at Heiyingtai; north of
he Taitse river, indicates that General |
has already engaged him
with portion of his army.
1t is understood that throughout the
lighting of the last few days, Kuropat-
1in's main reserves did not leave their
Che report that telegraphic communica-
ion between Lao Yang and Mukden
las been severed is not admitted at the
var office, (which points out that it has
'nly been receiving two kilograms
laily, from Generals Kuropatkin and
lay and two are expected today, al
hough none had been delivered up to
loon. l.
The absence of press kilograms is ex-
,lained as announcedin these dispatch
S yesterday, by the transfer of the head
office at Lao Yang to Snek-
le Is miles north, which was neces-
itated by the fact that Japanese shells
we're dropping into the office, although
he office was situated on the north
,ank of the Taitse river. A shell killed
wo operators Monday. The field tele-
,raph, which is working between
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