Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1904-10-14
RUSSIANS GOING AFTER JAPS
GENERAL KURoPATKlN URGES
HIS MEN TO VICTORY.
He Tells the Why and Wherefor Of
the Cars Armies During the Past
Seven Months-He Claims Hun.
dreds of Thousands of Men and
Abundance of Supplies on Hand.

sued by General Kuropatkin:
| More than seven months ago the
enemy treacherously fell upon us at
Port Arthur, before war had been de-
clared. Since then, by land and sea,
Russian troops have performed many
heroic deeds, of which the fatherand
may be justly proud. The enemy, how
in his arrogance continues to dream Of
complete victory.
"The troops of the Manchurian army,
in unvarying good spirits hitherto,
have not been numerically strong
enough to defeat the Japanese army.
the difficulties and for Strengthening
the army SO as to enable it to accom-
plish with complete success the ardu-
GUS but honorable task imposed upon
1t. 1t Is for this reason that, in spite
of the repeated repulse of Japanese at
lacks upon our position at Tatchekiao,
Liandiansian and Liaoyang, did not
consider that the time had arrived to
take advantage of these successes and
to begin forward movement, and l
therefore gave the order to retreat.
"You left the positions you had so
herocially defended covered with piles
of the enemy's dead and without al.
lowing yourselves to be disturbed by
the foe and in a full preparedness for
fresh fight. After five days bat
Ia of
sitions which had been prepared pre-
viously. After successfully defending
all advanced and main positions, you
withdrew to Mukden under most diff
ficult conditions.
ATTACKED by General Kuroki's
army you marched through almost i'm.
passable mud, fighting throughout the
day and extricating guns and carts
with your hands at night, and return
ed to Mukden without abandoning a
single gun, prisoner or wounded man,
and with the baggage train entirely
intact.
II ordered the retreat with a sor-
rowful heart, but with mistaken con-
fidence that it was necessary in order
to gain complete and decisive victory
over the enemy when the time came.
1.-THE emperor has assigned for the
conflict with Japan forces sufficient
to assure us victory. All difficulties
in transporting the forces over dis
lance of 10000 varsts are being over.
come In spirit of self sacrifice and
with indomitable energy and skill by
Russian men in every branch and rank
of the service, and in every social po-
sition, to whom has been entrusted
this work, which for difficulty is I'M
precedented in the history of warfare.
Stream of Reinforcements.
"In the course of seven months hun
dreds of thousands of men and tens of
thousands of horses and carts and
millions of pounds of stores have been
coming uninterruptedly by rail from
European Russia and Siberia to Man
churia. If the regiments which already
have been sent out prove insufficient,
fresh troops will arrive, for the in
flexible wish of the emperor that we
should vanquish the foe will be in
hexibly fulfilled.
Heretofore the enemy in operating
has relied on his great forces, and, dis
posing his armies so as to surround us,
has chosen as he deemed fit his time
for attack; but now the moment to go
to meet the enemy, for which the
whole army has been longing, has
come, and the time has arrived for us
to compel the Japanese to do our will,
for the forces of the Manchurian army
are strong enough to begin a forward
movement.
Must Be Nerved for Victory.
Nevertheless, you must be mindful
of the victory to be gained over our
strong and gallant foe. In addition to
numerical strength in all commands,
from the lowest to the highest, the
firm determination must be to prevail,
to gain victory. Whatever be the sac
rifice necessary to this end. bear in
mind the importance of victory to Rus
STA; and, above ali, remember now nee
essary victory is, the more speedily to
lrelleVe our DTotHeTs az Ioil al thui ;
who for seven months have heroically
maintained the defense of the fortress
entrusted to their care. Our army,
strong in its union with the emperor
and all Russia, performed great ueeds
of heroism for the fatherland in all
wars ana gained for itself well merited
renown amongst all nations.
Think at every hour of the de-
Tense of Russa's dignity and rights in
the far east which have been entrusted