The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-09-05
GLOOM IN RussiA's CAPITAL

ST. PETERSBURG, Sept. 5, 1920
a. m.-There is a bitter disappointment
tonight, probably the keenest of the
whole land campaign, over the situa-
ton at the front. Up to Liau-yang,
the retreating from and the abandon-
ment of positions had been expected,
and that much the public and the Off
Gals thought they knew of Gen. Kuro-
patkin's plan Of campaign.
Had Liau- yang been abandoned with
out "a, fight the public at least would
have looked forward patiently to a de-
eisive stand at Mukden,; but after a
desperate battle, with victory for the
instant apparently in sight, to find
Liau-yang. abandoned, it's immense
stores captured or destroyed, and the
retreat continued under the most adj
verse conditions, severely tries public
confidence in the commander in chief.
AT this hour even the authorities
know little more than what has already
been given to the public. There is still
much doubt as to whether Kuropatkin
F1s continuing his retreat, or whether
indeed he has been able to do so, but
the public SO far is not aware of Gen.
Stakelberg's narrow escape from being
cut off.
Position Of Army Unknown
The situation, as it is known to date,
is that the. Russian army is south of
the branch railway connecting Yentai
station, ten miles northeast of Liau-
yang, with the Yentai mines, where
fierce fighting has been in progress.
Actual lighting seems to have been
suspended for the moment, the armies
probably resting after their terrific and
continuous eXertionS of the past ten
days, the longest single battle in his
tory, and it will depend upon their re-
spective recuperative powers as to
w n vii .cf b0 hi TO,
tivity.
The country is i'll suited to military
operations. 1t is fatter and more open
than the region south of Liau-yang.
but it is covered at this season with
dense fields Of Chinese corn, growing
higher than a man on horseback. 1t is
more suited to surprise tactics and to
offensive operations than to an or
binary retreat.
80 kuropatkin Holds Railway
- The feature of the situation, how
ever, has apparently been overlooked
by the local critics in their recent
eagerness to chronicle decisive en-
gagement, namely, that Kuropatkin is
still in command of the railway, and
apparently has saved q majority Of the
rolling stock. This is chiefly in
requisition at present for the trans
portation of the wounded, but Mukden,
with strong defenses, is less than thirty
miles north of Yentai. What force
Kuropatkin is holding in reserve there
even the authorities do not exactly
know. but It is believed that 1t must
be considerable, while the European
reinfofcements, which have been rush
ing east for weeks past, are pouring
in there daily.
- The japanese army is confessedly
exhausted and is getting further from
its base of supplies. If it reaches
Mukden without dealing Kuropatkin a
crushing blow and Field Marshal
Oyama seems to be not vet able to
envelop the Russian force = the jap
anese will find themselves in front of
fresh and strongly defended CITY
Where the Russians will be sure of a
warm welcome and renewed supplies.
and against which it seems impossible
that the Japanese commander will be
able to hurl his brave but worn out,
and possibly starving forces.
Look for Reinforcements
1t is possible that even now Russian
reinforcements may be descending
from the nOrths,to aid their retreating
comrades at Mukden, which is less than
two days ordinary. march, even ignor-
ing the railway.
What effect the present result will
have on Gen. Kuropatkins reputation
az noIile, II is Impossible TO say. 1t
may be remembered, however, that be-
fore starting for the far East. Gen.
Kuropatkin said that he fully expected
+ his reputation to sink lower than his
friends even dreamed, but that there
after there would come a turn, and it
would rebound. He was unwilling to
predict where the turn would occur.
The battleship Orel has gone to
Cronstadt. This brings Rear Admiral
Rojestvensky's squadron up to its full
complement.