Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-09-06
Advance in Retreat Passes
Through on Way
North.
REAR GUARD FIGHTS
Japanese Apparently Trying
Desperately to Surround
Kuropatkin.

Mukden, Sept. 6.-Thc cOmmissariat
and columns of artillery are arriving
here and proceeding northward. Kuro-
patkin's army is engaged in an eXten-
sive rear guard action.
Marshal Oyama seems TO be making
d race for Mukden. He evidently has
q great superiority in numbers and es-
pecially in artillery. This afternoon
the booming of Japanese cannon in
play II miles from Mukden could be
plainly heard.
Leaves YenIuI
Toxic. Sept. ct is reported here
the Russians have retired beyond Yen
tai. and Kurolli has occupied the town.
That Rumor Again.
ST. Petersburg. Sept "a report is
current that Port Arthur has fallen but
it seems to have no basis in fact.
AIexIeT at HnrbIn.
Harbin Sept. 6.-Viceroy AleXieff
and staff have arrived here from Vladi-
vOstok.
Dispute story of Flight.
Toxic. Sept Cit is Officially an
nQunced portion of the Russian force
remains at Yangshuissu south of Yen
tai where the bulk Of the Russian army
is assembled.
Rcnr Guard Safe.
St. Petersburg. Sept. G.-The Asso-
Ciatcd Press is authorized in the name
of the general staff 10 deny the report
in circulation last night of the annihi
lation of Kuropatkin's rear guard. Ac-
Cording TO the latest adviCcs of the
staff no RuSNian force was cut off and
it is believed there is little danger of
the Japanese intcrCepting KurOpatkin
below Mukden. The staff has received
no news from the front under today's
date.
Prepares 10 Abandon Nukdcn.
London. Sept 6.-Preparations are
being made for the evacuation of Muk-
den. Kuropatkin's rear guard has
been almost wiped out and his main
army is in imminent danger of being
surrounded. Such are the latest re-
ports from the far east. indicating an
overwhelming calamity for Russian
arms. The reports come through Rus
sian sources. but are not confirmed
officially. The official reports made
public in St. Petersburg are more than
a day old, however. and the czars war
Office admits being in the dark regard
ing the latest developments of the
flight from Liaoyang.
Race TO Mukdcn.
kuropatllin's latest report shows
that the Russians and the Japanese
are engaged in a desperate race to-
ward Mukden. The MuSCOvites have
retrcated north of Yentai where a
small guard was left to attempt a
check to the main forces under Mar
shall Oyama, who has thrown his entire
force across the Taitsc furiousIy pur-
suing the fleeing foe Several miles
to the northeast of Yentai a new
thanking force OF Japanese has been
discovered, and Rennemkampf and his
CossaCks are endeavoring 10 hold it
back.
Report Retreat il Blocked.
From Sinmintin. a Chinese town 50
miles west of Mukden. comes the ri,
NOR that the Russian retreat has been
blocked. The correspondent reports
that a large force from the Mukden
garrison had been sent southeast 10
protect the Liaoyang army. hut a Chi
ncsc official who had visited the place
StdNtu ludl the SOlUlCTS were Sl0OdEk'
ing on trains for the north.
The evacuation of Mukden would in
diCate that the campaign is near its
end, with the exception of the Port Ar
thur siege. If Mukden is given up the
Russians must push on 10 Harbin fOI
winter quarters. and Oyama becomes
possessed of good place TO establish
his winter base.
Means End OF Campaign.
81. Petersburg. Sept 8. 500 a. nj
il is impossible at this hour 10 obtain
any statement from the authorities re
EardinE the reported preparations fol
the abandonment Of Mukden.
This is the first intimation that sucf
course is Conter.p plated. If il turn.
out to he true It means the abandon
ment Of the whole of southern Man
churia and the winding up of the pres
cnt campaign.
In fact. should Mukden he evacuate,
there would be no pOint for TiDrarir,