Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-10-18
JAPANESE GAIN
A GREAT VICTORY.
RUSSIAN LINES WITHDRAWN
TO THE NORTH.
HEAVY LOSSES SUFFERED
Deep Gloom in St. Petersbu. Over
the Situation--The Gear Bitterly
Disappointed at Kuro-
patkin's Failure.

p. IN. FRIDAY ana received NY Way VI
Paris, says the Japanese have gained
great victory and that the Russian lines
are withdrawing slowly northward, hav-
Ing suffered heavy losses. The battle
continues and dispatches are strictly
censored
Result in the Balance.
Mukden, Oct 15.-The fighting ragged
Friday with the same bitterness as on
the previous days of the engagement,
and the result is still in the balance.
The losses on both sides are enormous,
that of the Russians being $4,000.
Wounded soldiers are being brought in
from all directions. The roads are
crowded with long trains of wagons,
baggage and transport wagons, as well
as ambulances, being pressed into serv-
Ice, even Chinese two wheeled carts fill
Ing the mandate of the military. Men
hfoot are limping in, using their guns
rs crutohes, the less severely wounded
supporting their comrades, after first
aid dressing on the firing line. Even
across the fields you meet them, taking
the shortest and straightest road for
help and shelter. 1t is the most pitiful
feature of the bloody drama being en-
acted at the front, when, stiffening with
wounds, pain-racked bodies sink to the
roadside after the support of the dan
ger and glory of the active fight have
been withdrawn In the distance the
sounds Of battle are still plainly heard.
In Full Retreat.
London, Oct. 15-The Daily Chron-
acle's correspondent at Yentai, tele-
graping October IL, via Fusan, October
IA, says: "The Russian attack failed
everywhere, and they are in full retreat
along the whole line, pursued by the
Japanese. Thirty Russian guns were
paptured and the Japanese turning
movement is pressing the Russians back
to Mukden. The Russians made 16 coun-
ter attacks with splendid bravery, sac
rif1cing themselves freely, but unavail-
ingly."
Gloom in st. Petersburg.
St. Petersburg, Oct 15.-The great
feeling of concern which exists in high
circles in the Russian capital by no
means equals the foreboding of coming
disaster pervading the general public.
which Is indulging in the deepest pes
simism. In the absence of official news
the public is being fed on the widest
rumors of defeat suffered by Cen Kuro-
patkin Friday. The fact that no word
regarding the battle has been officially
given out only confirms the popular
fear The explanation offered that Fri
day was holiday does not suffice to al
lay the apprehension.
Gear Bitterly Disappointed.
Gen. Kuropatkins report Of the result
Of the days operations has reached En-
peror Nicholas at Tsarkoe Selo, but it
had not been returned here before the
war commission, which sat only until
$3.50 o'clock and adjourned. The en-
peror himself is represented as being
bitterly disappointed and spending
hours with his cabinet, studying out,
with the help of his military aides, the
reports Of the battle. The general staff,
however, by no means despairs, though
admitting that the tide the last two
days has been against Gen. Kuropatkin.
The depressing feature of the situa-
ton is that every one is willing to be-
lieve the worst. Thus reports from
Toxic and elsewhere stating that the
Japanese are advancing and the Rus
SLAMS falling back are accepted with faith
based upon the previous Russian re.
treat.
Must Bear Responsibility.
Naturally many reports are current
hs to the genesis of the forward move.
ment. It is freely stated that Gen. Kuro-
patkin was forced into taking the often.
eive by pressure Of the authorities here
This has been officially denied, and az
Gen. Kuropatkin's order to advance was
given over his own signature, 1t seems
likely that he will have to bear all the
responsibility whether the situation is
of his own making or not. Friends oil
Gen. Kuropatkin say the present often.
pive movement was inspired from st
Petersburg, as was doubtless Gen. Stack
elberg,'s movement for the relief o
Port Arthur, and that II Kuropatkin'
star has set others higher than he ar
responsible.
Fighting Was Desperate.
Dispatches from the front give vivi
picture Of the desperate character o
the fighting along the whole line. TIL
Russian plainsmen have been agai1
forced to engage in hill fighting, which
little to their liking There have bee
desperate and repeated attacks upon al
most inaccessible positions, which leay
no question Of the resolution and gal
lantry of the Russian forces. Guns hav
been captured and recaptured in fierc
hand to hand fights, while a pitiles
downpour of rain, the inevitable accom-
paniment of great battle, has foode
the trenches and drenched both armie
without allaying the desperate conflic
Russians Sustain Losses.
st. Petersburg. Oct 15.-The en-
peror has received the following dis
patch dated Thursday from Gel
kuropatkin:
1.-TWO regiments of the Russian RICH
on October ~ sustained heavy losses
The commander of or , was killed an
the brigade commander was wounded
Both regiments were compelled Il
withdraw, abandoning their artillery
but subsequently under Col. Van
novsky, who temporarily assume
command Of the brigade, they after
desperate assault regained possessio,
pf the guns with the exception of 1
which remained in the hands of tn
Japanese. The final issue of the bat
tie Wednesday on this flank was un
successful for US. On account Of