The San Francisco call., 1904-09-05
GLOOM IN CARS CAPITAL.
Russians Losing Confidence in Their
Commander in Chief.

Commander in Chief.
ST PETERSBURG, Sept. 5, 2:20 p.
m.-There was bitter disappointment
last night-probably the keenest of the
whole land campaign-over the situa-
tion al the front. Up to Liaoyang the
retreating from and the abandonment
of positions had been expected and
that much the public and the officials
thought they knew of General Kuro-
patkins plan of campaign. Had Lao
yang been abandoned without a fight
the public at least would have looked
forward patiently to decisive stand
at Mukden, but. after desperate
battle, with victory for the instant ap-
parently in sight. to find Liaoyang
abandoned, its immense stores captured
or destroyed and the retreat continued
under most adverse conditions, severely
tries public confidence in the conman-
der in chief. skl
At this hour. even the authOrities
know little more than What already
has been given to the public. There is
still much doubt as to whether Kuro-
patkin is continuing his retreat or
whether, indeed, he has been able to
do so, but the public so far is not
aware of General Stakelberg's narrow
escape from being cut off.
The situation as it is known to date
is that the Russian army is south of
the branch railway connecting Yentai
station, twelve miles northeast of Lao
yang, with the Yentai mines, where
fierce fighting has been in progress.
Active fighting seems TO have been
suspended for the moment, the armies
probably resting after their terrific and
continuous exertions of the past ten
days-the longest single battle in his
tory-and it will depend upon their
respective recuperative powers as to
which viii first be able to resume ac-
tivity.
The country is i'll suited to military
operations. 1t is fatter and more open
than the region south of Liaoyang, but
is covered at this season with dense
fields of Chinese corn, growing higher
than a man on horseback. 1t is more
suited to surprise tactics and to Of
fensive operations than to an orderly
retreat.
One feature of the situation, however,
has apparently been overlooked by the
local critics in their recent eagerness
to chronicle a decisive enga cement,
namely that Kuropatkin is still in
command of the railway and apparent
~ has saved a majority of the rolling
stock. This is chiefly in requisition at
present for the transportation of the
wounded but Mukden, with strong de-
fenses. is less than thirty miles north
Of Yentai. What fierce, KurOpa tkin is
holding in reserve there even the au-
thorities do not exactly know, but 1t is
believed that il must be considerable,
while the European reinforcements,
which have been rushed east for weeks
past. are pouring in there. daily.
The Japanese army is confessedly
exhausted and is getting farther from
it's base of supplies. If it reach Muk-
den without dealing. Kuropatkin a
crushing blow-and Field Marshal
Oyama seems to be not yet able to
enVelop the Russian force-the Japan
ese viii find themselves in front of a
fresh and strongly defended city,
where the Russians viii be sure of a
warm welcome and renewed supplies
and against which it seems impossible
that the Japanese commander will be
q BILE to hurl his brave. but worn out
ard possibly starving, forces.
1t is possible that even now Russian
reinforcements may be descending from
the north to aid their retreating COM
rades at Mukden, which is less than
two days ordinary march distant, even
ignoring the railway.
What effect the present result will
have upon Kuropatl1in's reputation at
nome IL Is lllpOSSiDiC W SOY. IL me-
be remembered. however, that before
starting for the Far East General
Kuropatkin said that he fully expected
his reputation to sink lower than his
friends even dreamed. but that there
after there would come turn and it
would rebound. He was unwilling to
predict where the turn would occur
The battleship Orel has gone to
Kronstadt. This brings Rear Admiral
Rojestvensky's squadron up to its full
complement.