The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-29
DRAWING IN HIS LINES.
KuropatI1in Is Concentrating His
Forces at Liao Yang.

| EOrceS at Lao Yang.
St. Petersburg. Aug. 29.-12:5O p. m.-
/ General Kuropatkin since yesterday
morning has been drawing in all his
| forces from his eastern and southern
fronts toward Lao Yang An Ping,
Tzugo. Laindiansian and Anshanshan,
the main positions of the outer defense
line of Lao Yang have been abandoned.
The heaviest fighting occurred on the
extreme left where the Japanese aG-
vanced to the assault again and asaln
with bayonetS. The position at TzgoW
and Anping were held by the Tenth
European corps. The attacks were 0e-
livered with fanatical bravery. The
Russians lost a large proportion of Off
GERS, ten guns and from 1900 to 1000
men, but the Russians had been gen.
orally successful in beating off the as
saults all along the long line. and the
Russians declare that the order to re-
tire came as a surprise, just when they
were expecting orders for a general ad-
vance. This is considered to be proof
that General Kuropatkin, finding his
main positions menaced on the flank
and anticipating difficulties in with
drawing owing to the condition of the
roads, which have suddenly been turn
ed into mud bogs by the rain. consid-
cred that a retreat was imperative. The
retirement from the east front was
greatly impeded by the conversion of
the Ian river into a mountain torrent
and this probably also accounts for the
failure of the Japanese to follow up the
retiring Russians.
The japanese column moving up the
Lao river and threatening General
kuropatkin from the west is regarded
as being extremely dangerous and Cen
eral Kuroki's extreme right seems also
to be working around General Herschel-
mann'S position at An Ping and to be
moving toward Mukden. The strength
of the enveloping Japanese armies may
be judged from the fact that General
Oku alone who is coming from the
south, is officially reported to have 75.-
900 men Whether General Kuropatkin
intends TO accept battle at Lao Yang
may not be known positively for sew
era1 days, but the belief several times
indicated in these dispatches prevails
here that he will withdraw northward,
having found that he is not strong
enough to cope with the Japanese and
realizing that Lao Yang is made no
longer tenable on account of the Jap
anese threats at his west rear. His re-
tirement undoubtedly will cause keen
public disappointment as it was gen
orally believed that he at last had suffl-
cient reinfOTcements to accept a deciS-
i've engagement and by the military
critics his retreat is interpreted to mean
a great prolongation of the war.
The Toxic report that General Kuroki
had succeeded in cutting the railroad
south of Mukden is not confirmed by
the telegraph department, where ii is
said no notices have been received of an
interruption of communications.
1t is realized here that if the railroad
of the Russian army would be rendered
serious. if not desperate. as it would
probably compel General Kuropatkin to
accept an engagement against his will.
The rain, which has again been fall
ing in Manchuria, will probably serve
the Russians more than the Japanese
as their retirement as soon as they
reach the railroad will not be impeded,
it is likely to almost com
pletely stop japanese forward move
ment.