The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-09-06
BELIEVES ARMY SAFE
Russian General Staff Denies that Kuro.
patkin Was Out Off.

The Associated Press IS authorized In
the name of the Russian general staff
culation here last night Of the ami
hilation Of General Kuropatkin IS rear
guard. According to the latest advices
of the staff no Russian force was cut
off and it is believed that there is lit
tie danger of the japanese intercepting
Kuropatkin below Mukden. The in
formation here is that the Japanese
divisions at the most. It is added,
however, that the staff has not yet re-
ceived news from the front under to-
days date. -.,-
The heads Of transport trains passed
thru Mukden yesterday noon, and the
on their way northward Of Mukden the
war office explains, does not mean that
Kuropatkin is bound farther north at
this time, but is simply a natural pre-
cautlonary measure, even II he intended
to hold Mukden, the Russian formation
during the operations of an army locat-
ing the baggage train fourteen miles
the rear of the main body of troops. a.
The news from the front indicates
that Oyama, having failed to surround
Kuropatkin at Liao-yang, is pressing
Kuropatkin IS rear with all the power
Of his tired troops. while hurrylng for
tse river at Ben-si-hu, thirty miles
northeast Of Liao.yang and five miles
due east Of Yen-tai station, in the hope
Of cutting the Russian line of retreat
below Mukden.
- May Be Fresh Troops.
This column may consist of fresh
troops in light marching order. The
Ben 81 -hu road joins the main road
from Yen-tai where the latter is inter
sected by the Hun river, three miles
below Mukden. Once this point is
passed, Kuropatkin's army will have
the Hun river between it and oyama.
possibility that Japanese ight-draft
gunboats, which, according to reports,
are coming up from Niu-chuang, might
suddenly make their appearance, the
river being navigable to this point.
en a haad Ma Of
Mukden yesterday, it is evident that
the retreating column is over fifteen
miles long.
While insisting that Marshal Oyama
missed his main object at Liao-yang,
most Of the Russian papers do not 20 dis lis.
| over the result Of the battle Of Liao..
| yang. The Russky Invalid, organ Of
| the army, however, is Of the opinion
that General Kuropatkin both strategy
cally and technically got everything
possible out of Liao-yang, saying:
army very much superior Is his Field
Marshal Oyama was compelled to waste
several tens Of thousands of men to
! capture position which is. of no im-
| portance now that Kuropatkln has lett,
! It is evident that Oyama's plans mis-
infict decisive blow on the Russian
army
! The other view is represented by the
Russ as follows:
'sThe fact that Kuropatkin was com.
PEELED to leave Liao-yang has not only
military, but political significance. IL
is no use concealing the fact that the
evacuation of Liao-yang was surprise
for the Russians. Everybody was LED
J to believe that the hour had arrived for
decisive struggle. 1t was thus we
) interpreted Kuropatkin IS telegram say
ing the men were thirsting for an op.
portunity to meet the foe.
"Dashing our hopes means pro-
longation of the, campaign. me mo-
5 definitely postponed. This will inevi
tably influence the fate Of Port Arthur
, and the further development OF thu
: japanese operations. The evacuation
8 of Liao-yang will also have an effect
3 upon China, which already is in staty
D Of nervous tension. The japanese, OF
Y course, will do their sbest to restore
Mukden to China and China must foo1
i the bill.
ssWe cannot deceive ourselves any
longer with the idea that by .retreat1ns
into the heart Of Manchuria we are
gaining time and adding to, our forces
= Whereas the Japanese are lengthenlns
their line of communications and there
e fora losing STRENGTH.
- Our ideas of the military strengtl
of Japan were far from correct. It i
; now known that they can increase thel
Z forces as well as we can. We fully be
:, lieve in our ultimate success, but 1t !
" idle to blink at facts. We shall hav
=, y to make heavy sacrifices in order to pre-
5. !, tect the vital interests Of the empire.
ir -.
y FhEEING IHRJ MUhDEN