The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-09
RETREATWITHOUT BATTLE
ZaSsalitch Ordered Not to
 Engage Enemy.
Kuroki's Army Now in Control of Large Part of Manchuria. New Chwang May Be
 Evacuated.

St. Petersburg, May 9.-Two official dispatches calculated to increase the depression existing among all circles in Russia were given out last night. From the point of view of the progress of the campaign, the most important Is that regarding the capture by the Japanese without opposition of Feng Wang Cheng May 6. The second gives details concerning the killed, wound ed and missing among the troops under the comand of Lieutenant General Zasxalitch as the result of the fighting on the Yalu, the number of which totals 2.3s7 officers and men.
 General Kuropatkin forwarded a message from General Zassalitch who had been left in charge of column re- tiring from Feng Wang Cheng which described the movements of the ene- my in connection with the occupation of the town.
 The information caused no surprise to the officials who had already been advised of the decision that no at tempt would be made to hold Feng Wang Cheng, the superiority of the Japanese In all fighting arms ensur- ing disaster similar to that at Kulien Cheng. Therefore General Zassalitch was given strict orders that there should be fight of the rear guard.
 Kuroki Ready to Fight.
 The Russians left while General Kuroki was making his dispositions for big battle.
 The Japanese approached from two directions along the main road and up the Valley; placing batteries so as to command the town This procedure on the part of General Kuroki shows that the entire Japanese plan of oper- ation had been thoughtfully prepared and that every division commander knew exactly what he should do.
 Now that General Kuroki is estab- hshed at Feng Wang Cheng. the Rus stans are puzzled as to what move he will make next The fact that he sent two companies to Dalian Diapu Tse. ten miles north northwest of Feng Wang Cheng. might indicate his purpose to proceed along this road to Ting Chan Tstn. ninety miles north. from where he wotld march due west to Liao Yang. This would permit an effective flank movement, but 1t is not considered prob- able. the likelihood being that he will move along the road by which the Rus eians retreated toward Liao Yang. This road branches off at Chats Chang, twenty miles westward of Feng Wang Cheng and continues almost west to Hai Cheng, which was captured by the Japanese dur ing the Chino Japanese war.
 may ADdnQon NeW CnWanR.
 A march Oh this place would compel the evacuation of New Chwang. as the force there would be in danger of de- struction or of being subjected to a seize by the armies converging from Hai Cheng and the southern part of the Lao Tung peninsula.
 There Is no confirmation up to the present of the report that Russians are preparing to evacuate New Chwang but few would be surprised if it should turn out to be correct. The effect of march along the road to Hai Cheng would be to place absolutely in the control of the Japanese all Manchuria between the Yalu and the Liao Tung peninsula with the exception of Port Arthur. The Russians admit that at this stage of the war the Japanese control the territory mentioned. The Russiky Invalid, the army organ. making this concession. The remainder or the press is silent.
 Only one afternoon paper referred to the abandonment of Feng Wang Cheng and that one inconspicuously.
 It Is believed that General Kuroki, in- stead of proceeding to Hai Cheng. will move northwest along the road to Liao Yung. He will find the Russians en- trenched at Tien Chori Chan Pass, west oI Mao Tien Ling Pass.