Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-09-08
BIG ISSUE At STAKE
II Kuropatkin's Retreat Il Cut OF
the War Il Won.
The JApS HAVE SUPERIOR NUMBERS.
with the Russians ON North Bank Of
Taitse River the Japs Can At
tack simultaneously from
Different Directions.

DtmeRemt DlEectlOmns
London, Sept. 3.-English military
authorities neither share Tokios jubi'
lation over the fate of Lao Yang nos
lay stress upon the advantage which
Russian dispatches attribute to Kuro
patkin's latest move. The best In.
formed observers who have access Il
sources of information not revealed
In the dispatches from Toxic and moi
given out at st. Petersburg declare
that the battle of Lao Yang, how
ever dramatic and historic in loss Of
life and tragic incident, can have nc
serious bearing on the eventual issue
unless the Japanese have surround
cd Kuropatkin.
From the expert British point Of
view Marquis Oyama's sacrifices will
have been in vain unless he is able to
cut of Kuropatkin from Mukden. On
this point there are chaotic hypothe-
sis.
The Daily Graphic says: I'VE are
in the dark as to the final outcome"
adding that 1t seems not unlikely that
Kuropatkin may still manage to carry
a fighting force with him to Mukden.
The other critics doubt whether the
Japanese in the face of "indomitable
Russian pluck" are strong enough to
press some Of the preliminary sue
cesses already won.
The Morning Post concludes care
full survey Of the four days fighting
with the opinion that the battle Of
Lao Yang will take its place beside
that Of Waterloo, and believes that
whether or not Kuropatkin's force
Is able to continue its retreat 1t will
be broken and useless for some time to
come"
The Russian view that Gen. Kuro-
patkin, by crossing the river, divided
the opposing forces, meets with slight
consideration, as it Is pointed out that
all the japanese units can now attack
simultaneously from different direc-
lions, which eliminates any advantage
to the Russian side and really aggra-
Yates the seriousness of their position,
the Japanese force being superior in
numbers.
The Daily Telegraph's military critic
in common with other English experts
sees nothing but superior Japanese
force and strategy to account for Gen.
Kuropatkin's present position. This
authority predicts an endeavor on the
part of the Russian force to reach
Chinese territory. The Standard
bluntly voices the thought of many by
saying, els 1t retreat or rout?" The
Standard says that Gen. Kuropatkin
In his "precarious condition is not
without some prospects Of avoiding the
signal catastrophe Of surrender en-
masse II he can still get away to the
north. Even with the loss Of many
guns and valuable supplies the success
Of the Japanese will be good deal
PAace RUSSIAN Losses at SU,UUU.
Toxic, Sept. IA private dispatch
here reports that great fires
are raging at Lao Yang. This state
ment is not confirmed oficially. These
fires are believed to result from the
Japanese Smelling or from the efforts
Of the Russians to >destroy their stores
to the evacuation Of Lao
Yang with the additional hope of in.
Turing the city as future Japanese
base.
Unofficial estimates place the Russian
'orces In the vicinity Of Lao Yang at
g divisions of $4,000 men each. These
ire probably excessive, but 1t is evil
lent that numerically the Russians ex-
,eed the Japanese. The opinion that
he Russian casualties in the recent
lighting will reach 10000 is confidently
in high quarters here.
Japs Pushing Across the River.
Toxic, Sept. at is expected that
he main strength Of Field Marshal
)yama's forces to the southwark will
ucceed at once in crossing the Taitse
liver. Gen. Kuroki captured portion
4 the heights commanding Heiyingtai
nd 1t is hoped that he will dominate
he railway. The Russians appear to
'e gathering at Yentai colliery north
asst of Lao Yang.