The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1904-10-20
General kuropatkIn Is Forced 10 Take
'~y, The Offensive; ," '''
b. ,,g "a, ,.,i. ,,.}.. % -
HOPED TO SAVE PORT ARTHUR,
Prisoners Say Kuropatkin Has Nine
Corps at his cSmmand-L oss
A.
Of Port Arthur Means Disintesra.
ton Of Russian Territory. i

Toxic, Oct. 1S.-According to state
ments made by Russian prisoners Gen
eral Kuropatkin was ordered by En-
peror Nicholas to make a stand at
Mukden and to assume the aggressive
as speedily as possible IN order to re.
lieye the Port Arthur garrison. This
order the prisoners say reached Muk-
den on September 27 and General Kur-
opatkin in obedience to 1t, began his
disastrous southern advance move.
ment. An extended report dealing
with the statements Of the prisoners
is as follows: ~ x
According to statements made to
officers of the center army by Russian
prisoners whom they had captured
the enemy had received information
that the strength Of the garrison at
Port Arthur was being reduced daily
and that the garrison was in a dis
astrous condition. Fresh reinforce
ments were constantly arriving at
Manchuria from Europe and the
strength of the forces under General
Kuropatkin in the nelghborhood Of
Mukden had reached to over nine
army corps. Thereupon the prisoners
said, the Russian emperor, on Sep
TENDER II, ordered Kuropatkin not to
retire a step beyond Mukdcn and d.
rected him, circumstances permitting,
to assume the offensive as soon as
possible and to drive the Japanese
out of Southern Manchuria, in order
to rescue the Port Arthur garrison.
Acting under this command Gen.
eral Kuropatkin advanced with his
whole strength in the south of Muk.
den, dividing his forces into three COL
umns, the center, the right and left.
The center column composed Of the
First, Fourth and Fifth corps under
the command of General Soloieff, ad-
vanced toward Tungshankou and
Linhau mountain. The left column,
which was composed of two corps I'm.
der General Stakelberg, advanced
against the Japanese right The right
column, which was composed of three
corps, advanced against the Japanese
left, Besides these there was one
corps held in reserve which was fol,
lowing the center column.
General Linevitch commanding
the field fighting force in the Ossouri
district, was taking a devious road
from the east and advancing toward
the southeast of Lao Yang for the
purpose of threatening the line of a
possible Japanese retreat. General
Mitchenko, commanding six regiments
OF dragons, operated on Lineyitch's
right.
During one engagement the Thir-
ty-seventh division, especially the
first brigade, suffered extraordinary
losses. The first company of the One
hundred and forty-fifth regiment was
annihilated on Sankuaishu mountain
and many line officers were killed
wounded or captured. The third ST.
berian reserve division sustained the
greatest loss.
At the beginning of the war the
Russian regiments numbered 1000
men each. After the battle of Liao
Yang each Of the regiments was re-
duced to a strength of about $500
with the exception of the Twelfth
regiment, which, as a result of this
battle, was reduced to 800. This reg
iment, after the battle, was com.
manded by captain, the battalions
being in command iof sub-lietenants,
while the older privates directed the
operations of Its companies"