Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-08
A LULL IN FIGHTING
Japanese on Both Flanks of
the Russians.
NOT A GUN WAS LOST
KURoPATKIN REPORTS THE Sue
CESS OF HIS RETREAT.
Another Big Battle Regarded as Pos
sible-Importance of Secur-
ing Tie Pass.

The meager news which today has
brought from the front indicates that there
has been cessation of actual fighting
kuropatkin reports that his whole army is
now at Mukden and that he did not lose a
single gun in his retreat. Kuroki's army
Is on his east flank and that of Oku his
west flank, and St Petersburg officials sur
mise that big battle may be fought if the
Japanese continue to press on Mukden
Should this movement northward on Kuro-
kfs part continue, it is regarded in St
Petersburg probable that Kuropatkin
. will be compelled to race him for Tie Pass
strategic position forty miles north of
Mukden. There is nothing in the dispatches
however, to indicate with any degree of
certainty whether the two armies will be
forced to again engage at Mukden or
whether the Russians will continue to fall
back on Tie Pass
Mukden Held by Russians.
BERLIN, September S.-Col. Gaedke war
correspondent of the Berlin Tagebiatt
telegraphs that Mukden was still held by
the Russians this morning
Report From Kuropatkin.
ST. PETERSBURG. September S-A dis
patch from Gen. Kuropatkin. timed 6:SO
O'Clock yesterday evening reports that
Gen kuroki's army about twenty
seven miles eastward of the railroad
Gen kuropatkin also reports that the
"nole or ms army has arrived at Mukden
ana is taking up positions around the city,
and adds that the army has not lost a gun
during the retreat. This dispatch relieved
the public anxiety and put an end to the
many alarmist reports which had been
current here.
From 10 generals rauort If caa,,e o.-;,1o.,.
that kuropatkfn is tentatively prepa ring to
meet the japanese again should Field Mar
snal Oydma co ltinue to press northward
Nothing more important than rear-guard
actions marked the march to Mukden The
region south of that city is now clear Of
russians. 1t is evident however. that
huropatkln Is king precautions to pre-
event the Japanese from creeping around his
Hanks. as he reports that the Japanese
cavalry is actively scouting wide on MS
hanks The Japanese are reported to be
moving up about thirty miles on either side
or the railroad. with the view TO surround
ing Mukden but whether Kuropat tkin will
accept an engagement or continue north
ward Will probably depend at the decisive
moment upon the temper and condition of
ms troops, who doubtless have been much
shaken by the long fight and the hardships
attendant upon the retreat.
The best information of the war office in
ulcates that Gen. kuropatkn lost about
1000 men during the ten days battle at
Liaoyang.
stan a f.
tie will be fought
The lack of news from the front is very
trying to the public. Not a single news
paper dispatch later than September q has
been received.
Difficulty of Retreat.
The emperor has received some details
showing the tremendous difficulties efcoun.
tered in accomplishing the retreat over the
Mandarin road to Mukden. from which it is
easy to imagine the horrible picture of the
army and the baggage and transport trains
foundering northward over a road convert
ed by torrents of rain into a river of mud
An instance is given where the wheels of a
gun drawn by six horses sank in the mud
up to the breech Four additional horses
were harnessed to the piece but the ten
horses were unable to bulge it
The general staff is of the opinion that
hurokts troops must be experiencing
almost as great difficulties as the Russians,
and that they are too exhausted to create
Il serious menace at present.
Although the public impression is that
kuropatkns army is continuing north
from Mukden no official admission to This
effect Is obtainable. But such a course is
regarded as contingent upon the ability of
Field Marshal Oyama to try to repeat at
Mukden the enVeloping movement which
failed at Liaoyang.
The only thing certain seems to be that
for the moment everything is quiet If the
armies continue to race northward to Tie
q
opinion of the best military critics it will
become of supreme Importance to Kuropat-
KIN II the door of his retreat is closed there
In the event of defeat he would be forced
westward into Mongolia.
1t is intimated that in order to pro-
tect his army against such a possible
catastrophe Russian. troops from Harbin
have taken possession of this pass.
The Gar Inspects Baltic Fleet.
Emperor Nicholas left ST. Petersburg for
CIonstadt today to inspect the Baltic feet.
On his arrival at Cronstadt the emperor
reviewed the fleet preparatory to lis de-
parture.
The Novoe Nremya today published IN
editorial urging the appointment Of Cen
kuropatkin as commander-in-chief OF the
Russian forces in the far east Evide,tIv
thls was aimed at Niceroy Alexieff who
has repeatedly been represented as inter
itrln% with kurop3tkin'S plans
Among the reports telegraphed by some
OF the Russian war correspondents is one
10 the effect that during certain night
oelo% s, Llaoyang regiment OF Japanese in
i;Antry charged one OF its own trenches 1
bayonetting number OF Japanese before
the mistake was discovered.
Russian fours fell another ouarter or n
point on the bourse today.
Uncertainty at Mukden.
MUKDEN. Wednesday September 7
night delayed In transmisslon).-The fight
ing has ceased and the Russian transport
anC army are moving without interruption.
There is much uncertainty concerning the
movements and purposes of the japanese.
L. Is impossible to say definitely yet
whether there will be another battle Here
or further north. Gen. Kuropatkin evil
IDENTIFY is not seeking to renew the battle,
but II challenged he will not decline an en-
gagement.
News of fight at some point between
Shakhe teleVen miles northwest of Lao
yanS) and Mukden is hourly expected.
among the reports current here is one TO
tne erect that Gen. kuroki has been killed
and that two Japanese generals have been
made prisoners; but no one seems to know
where the reports originated and no conffr
nation is obtainabe.