The Savannah morning news., 1904-09-04
KUR0PATKIN'S ARMY
IS IN FULL RETREAT.
Russian Strategist Manages to Fig
ure n Japanese Reverse in This.

Russian Strategist Manages to Fig
ure n Japanese Reverse In This.
st. Petersburg, Sept. 4.-12:15 a. m.-
All Russia will learn by the morning
newspapers that Gen. Kuropatkin's s
army is in full retreat to the north
ward, that Lao Yang has been aban-
doned and that Gen. Stakelbergs corps
is surrounded and cut off
The hopes of success raised in Rus
sian breasts by the telegram from the
commander-in-ch chief, published this
afternoon, saying that the Russians had
advanced against Gen. Kuroki on Fri
day, and that an attack on the Rus
sian right had been repulsed, proved
short-lived. Gen. Kuropatkin had
scarcely begun the offensive against
Gen. Kurokis army when he was COM
PEELED by the overwhelming force of
the japanese fianking movement to
give up all idea of continuing his ad-
vance, and hurriedly withdrew in the
direction of Mukden.
The retreat is the logical consequence
of the Russian plan of leading on and
firing out the japanese at the sue
cessive stations of the road northward,
thus placing their foe at the constant
ly growing disadvantage of heightened
lines of communication. The success
of this plan was marred by a blunder
of Gen. Stakelberg, who in the words
of Gen. Kuropatkin, insisted on plac-
ing his own Interpretation on orders,
instead of fulfilling them. Gen. Stakel-
berg erred in failing to cross the Taitse
river when Gen. Kuropatkin decided
that the whole army should retreat
to its northern bank, as was exclusive
ly reported in dispatches to the AS
sociated Press on Sept. /.
This blunder, it is feared, will in
volve the loss of the whole of the First
First, Second and Sixth Rifle divisions,
the Ussuri Cossack brigade, the, First
Siberian Artillery Brigade and a sapper
battalion.
The abandonment of the whole posi-
tion at Lao Yang involves the loss Of
a great accumulation of stores, though
it is believed that many of these al
ready had been sent north before the
commencement of fighting.
1t is more than possible, however,
that the Russians destroyed what they
coudd not move.
Something akin to CONSERVATION pre-
walls among Russians who have learn
ed of the disaster to Gen. Stakelbergs
corps. All realize that there is small
hope now for the relief of Port Ar
thur, but the military officials are
unanimous in the belief that it would
only be folly for Gen. Kuropatkin to
remain and run the risk Of being sur
rounded with his whole army, and that
the commander-in-chi by his with
drawal north, has actually converted
what might have been disaster to him
self into what is regarded as a reverse
for the japanese, for the failure Of the
japanese to hold Gen. Kuropatin's
army and inflict decisive blow, II is
claimed, cannot be regarded otherwise
than as a reverse. Field Marshal
oyama's tenacious frontal attack and
the clever flank movements could not
have had any other object than TO COM
pei the Russians to accept a decisive
engagement.
Gen. Kuropatkin's retreat will un-
doubtedly have a discouraging effect
on the garrison Of Port Arthur. which
can no longer hope for relief from
this quarter II II doubtful however.
n the japanese are In a position 70
press the Siege. and II is more than
probable that they have diverted q
portion Of the besieglng army 20 rein
force their corps operating in Man
churla. This would account for The
temporary lul in the hghtlng there.
Continued on sirih Page.