The San Francisco call., 1904-06-29

ICAi-
eral Kuropatkin has decided to with
draw northward. This move gives the
Russians the advantage of being near
er their base Of supplies and places
the Japanese at the disadvantage of
having longer lines of communication.
Kuropatkin no longer prevents juno
ton of the enemy's forces by remain
ing at TatchekiaO. since he might
thereby imperil the safety of his own
troops. as the desperate character Of
the fighting at Ia pass and Fenshui
pass on June 81 shows that the Japan
ese have a very strong force uncom-
fortably near the Russian flank.
No further advices from the front
had been received up to midnight,
though news from General Kuropatkin
and Rear Admiral withoeft was eager
ly awaited.
Though ii appears now from General
Kuropatkin's tactics that a heavy en-
gagement may be deferred for some
days. il is possible that the Japanese
may rush matters but it is not gener
ally expected here that General Kuro-
patkin will give battle until he reaches
a position of his own selection.
POSITION OF THE ARMIES.
It may clarity the military situation
to explain that the country in which
the armies are now coming into con-
tact consists Of a series of mountain
chains running parallel with the rail
way, alongside of which the Russians
are falling back as the japanese ad-
vance. Fenshui, Molten and Dalin are
all passes which take their names from
the mountains through which they run.
General Kurol1i, who has heretofore
been east of these mountains, is ad-
vancing TO the westward from Siuyen
through a very rough country and his
columns must traverse the passes
named before emerging into the more
open country along the railway, ap-
proXimately abreast of Tatchekiao,
Haicheng and Liaoyang. The Russian
outposts and the Japanese advance
are now in close touch at all
these passes. The Russians, after har-
RAISING the japanese advance from
each Of these positions, are falling back
on General Kuropatkin's main body,
which is supposed to be somewhere be-
tween Liaoyang and Tatchekiao.
General Kuropatkin is now moving
slowly northward along the railway,
and wherever he makes his stand
there will be precipitated what is ex
pected to be the decisive battle of the
campaign.
In the meantime General Oku is ad-
Vancing along the railroad on the heels
Of the withdrawing Russians. He is
backed by a powerful army. How large
a portion Of this army he has detached
TO join General Kuroki has not been
developed but it is probably large
enough to add material severity to the
fighting before the Russians finally
abandon the mountains.
CANNOT CHECK THE FOE.
The Emperor has received the fol-
lowing dispatch from General Kuro-
patkin, dated Liaoyang. June 27;
The japanese attacked our forces
occupying Mctien, Fenshui and Ia
passes on June 26. Our infantry and
cavalry retreated, persuaded that the
advancing divisions of the Japanese
army, which were operating against
each Of the three passes, were stronger
than our detachments. In an attack
on Ia pass the japanese guards, be-
sides other regiments, participated. The
japanese made a frontal and flank at
tack in considerable force on both
sides of this position. The Japanese
troops occupied Fenshui and Molten
passes during the morning of June q
Our forces which retreated from the
Fenshui passes were attacked by small
detachments Of Japanese. These were,
however, easily repulsed.
After pushing back our advance
guard during the evening of June 26
from Vandiapudze (on the Siuyenhai-
cheng road) TO TIA pass. the Japanese
continued their advance this morning
against our position in a defile. For
some time the attack of the japanese
infantry brigade was repelled. Three
battalions were engaged In the frontal
attack, but being menaced by other
troops engaged in a thanking move
ment, our forces retreated.
"Reconnoitering parties report that a