Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-09

September 4 and was attacked three miles
from Yentai on the morning of September
J. along the Mukden ROAD. The Russians
pushed out two corps and much artillery TO
protect their right flank.
The condition of the roads rendered the
retreat slow and the troops and horses were
tired out. The japanese seemed to lack
enterprise and failed to recognize the
serious situation of the Russians, the NOR
ale OF their troops having been severely
tried.
A Japanese army of 10000 men is re-
ported to be west of Mukden, and it is con-
sidered likely. in view of the condition of
the two armies. that hostilities may be in
definitely postponed unless the Japanese are
able to push and force the Russians to
give battle.
Dissatisfaction at st. Petersburg.
ST PETERSBURG, September 9.-The
lack of news here concerning the details of
the Russian retreat to Mukden and the
movements of the japanese armies may be
described complete Even the meager
reports published in the foreign press are
not fully communicated to the Russian pa
pers, and for three days practically no news
paper dispatches have beer coming through
from the front.
1nforma ton may be withheld for strategic
reasons, but the public is disposed to regard
i: otherwise. resulting in the circulation of
the widest reports, some of the Russian
papers demanding in pretty outSpoken fash
ion the reorganization of the conditions at
the 'front.' and also demanding that Gen.
Kuropatkin be given untrameled control
as -chief, evidently aiming at
Viceroy A,eXieff, who is supposed to be re-
sponsible for insisting latteriy that the re-
Inducements should go to Vladivostok in
view of tie probability of early Japanese
operations there or at Harbin. thus de-
priving Kuropatkin Of troops which might
have turned the scale at Laoyang. The
Russ is especially bold, considering the
cfrin r,ln ON Due cfo =
declares that numerical superiority is not
enough. and that what is needed is some of
the do-or-die spirit Of the japanese. The
paper quotes the words of Gen Dragomi-
rolf. former governor general of kieff, an
authority on military matters, as follows:
Give me a soldier who is firmly deter
mined to die for his country and 1 will
guarantee that my tactics will be super
excellent. TIE man who will lay down his
life is terrible. bullet may stop one such
man, but it will not stop company. 1t is
difficult to fight and more difficult to van
QuiSh them"
entirely new organization of everything
connected directly or indirectly with the
military operations. good deal is admir-
able, but good deal also is deplorable The
fact that things nave not gone well at the
theater of war may be due to the fact that
everything is not directed with single aim,
subservfent to single, undivided will
Kuropatkin. now intrusted' with the COM
y.
commander-in-chief."
Reinforcements for Kuropatkin.
Besides the formation of two fresh army
corps the Russian army at the front will
be reorganized probably in the form of two
armies, in command of General Linevitch
and General Baron kaulbars respectively,
with General Kuropatkin as commander-in-
chief General Kaulbars will go out with
the two army corps now organizing in the
governments of Kazan, Odessa. Wilma and
Kieff General Linevitch has been ordered
from Vladivostok to Mukden. This decision
is due in part doubtless, to the growing
unwieldiness of the big force under General
KuropatAn's command. and which will be
largely increased. by constant reinforce
mentS.
General Kuropatkin heretofore has
handled every detail of the vast organiZa-
ton. The work is too much for one man,
and he is now almost broken down under
the strain. 1t is known that the emperor is
personally one of Kuropatkin's strong sup
porters. and it is thought the general will
in all probability retain chief command OF
the two armies. Kuropatktn, however, has
been seriously criticised by some of the
emperors close military advisers and it is
possible that he may eventually be super
seded.