The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-09-02
KurOpatkin Retreats Across the Taitst River With His
 Entire Army
WILL MAKE STAND AGAINST TIE JAPANESE ONSLAUGHTS
Fighting on Both Sides Has Been Ter rife for Three Days-RaiIroad Said to Be In Hands
 of laps.


 St. Petersburg September 2.-Q:26 a. n1) The news of the evacuation of Liao Yang and withdrawal of the Russian army to the right bank of the Taitse river reached only small section of the people of St. Petersburg at a late hour and caused intense excitement and dis appointment
 The majority of the inhabitants retired to rest, believing that the Russian arms had again been successful, and that the Japanese attacks had been repeled. Ugly suspicious, however, have been rife during the day owing to the absence of press telegrams from Liao Yang, leading to the belief that the communications had been, cut by General Kurok
 This statement was obtained by the Associated Press from the war office at 10 o'clock Thursday night:
 General Kuroki's army crossed in force to the right bank of the Taitse river. and it therefore became necessary for the Russians to be in position to repel blow in this direction.
 kuRoPATkIN DECIDES
 TO CROSS THE RIVER.
 Tn view of this development in the operations, General Kuropatl1in decided to abandon his positions on the left bank. and to concentrate his whole army on the other side of the river. This posi- ton Is the strongest, both in character and in site. The great issue will be finally decided there.
 By withdrawing to this position the Russian army avoids the danger of being divided by the river, and enjoys the ad- vantage of compactness.
 General Kuropatkin's move, therefore, is not to be considered as retreat but is the carrying out of we'll defined Idea,
 -..e withdrawal of the Russians to the right bank involved the abandonment of Liao Yang which is situated on the left bank. The Japanese took advantage of this to occupy the city, but the sternest part of the fighting is still before them, unless General Kuropatkin decides at the last hour to again fall back to the north- ward. It is more than likely. however, that he will decide to fight to a finish. The cards are all in his favor, 1t is be- lieved. now that he has the Japanese divided by the river, thus effectually turning the tables upon his foe.
 The determined pursuit by the Jap anese of the Russian outposts when Gen eral Kuropatkin gave the first order to withdraw, was probably due to their anxiety to keep the Russians south of Liao Yang until General Kuroh should be able to strike from the northeast General Kuropatlzin, however saw the trap and cleverly avoided it''
 FIGHTING HAS
 BEEN VERY FIERCE.
 +t war office has not given out the details of the fighting of September 1, but it ia believed that this fighting exceeded in ferceness that of any previous day
 The absence of press telegrams from Liao Yang on September 1 aroused sus- pision that changes of importance were proceeding which the military censors did not wish to be made known
 telegram from the Associated Press correspondent at Mukden, filed at 9:27 on the evening of September l. states that the train service between Mukden and Liao Yang has been interrupted, but the dispatch does not mention whether tele- graphic communications are open.
 According to a dispatch from Liao Yang, General Kuroki made his first attempt to cross the Taitse river late in the evening of August 30, under cover of heavy bom- bardment of the extreme Russian left The Japanese artillery which had been firing uninterruptedly for fourteen hours that day, ceased about o'clock and then suddenly reopened about Il o'clock to con- ceal Kurokis preparations for crossing the river. These preparations necessitated the establishment of a pontoon bridge. as, the river was not fordable lower than Sakankankwantun, and the pontoons must have been fioated down the stream.
 The efforts of the Japanese to cross the river on August 20 were not successful, and General Kuroki therefore ordered a portion of his army to ford 1t at Sakan- bankwantun.