The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1904-05-13
RUSSIANS RETREAT.
ZassaIitch Ordered to Make No Fight
at Feng Wang Chen.

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 pro-
gress of the campaign, the most inn
portant is regarding the capture by
the Japanese, without opposition, of
Feng Wang Cheng on May 6. The
second gives details concerning the
killed, wounded and missing among
the troops under the command of
Lieut.-Gen. Zassalitch, as the result
Of the fighting on the Yalu, the num-
Der of which totals 2,379 officers and
men.
Gen. Kuropatkin forwarded a mes
sage from Gen. Zassalitch, who had
been left in charge of the column re-
firing from Feng Wang Cheng, which
described the movements of the army
in connection with the occupation of
the town. The information caused no
surprise to officials, who had already
been advised of the decision that no
attempt would be made to hold Feng
Wang Cheng, the superiority of the
Japanese in all fighting arms insuring
4 disaster similar to that at Kiulien
Cheng. Therefore Gen. Zassalitch was
given strict orders that there should
be no fight of the rear guard. The
Russians left while Gen. Kuroki was
making his dispositions for big bat
tie.
The Japanese approached from two
directions, along the main road and
up the valley, placing batteries so
as to command the town. This pro-
cedure on the part of Gen. Kuroh
shows that the entire Japanese plan
of operation had been thoughtfully
prepared and that every division com
mander knew exactly what he should
do.
Now that Gen. Kuroki is established
at Feng Wang Cheng, the Russians
are puzzled as to what move he will
make next. The fact that he sent
two companies to Dalien Fiapu Use,
ten miles north-northeast of Feng
Wang Cheng, might indicate his pur-
pose to proceed along this road to
Ting Chan Glen, ninety miles north
from where he would march west to
the Lao Yank This would permit an
effective fianking movement, but 1t
is not considered probable, the like
lihood being that he will move along
the road by which the Russians re-
treated toward Lao Yang. This road
branches off at Chats-Chang twenty
miles westward from Feng Wang
Cheng, and continues almost directly
west of Hal Chang which was cap
tured by the Japanese during the
war. A march on
this place would compel the eVacua-
ton of New Chwang, as the force
there would be in danger of destruc
ton, or of being subjected to siege
by the armies converging from Ha-
Chang and the southern part of the |
lao Tung peninsula.
There is no confirmation up to the |
present of the report that the Rus |
slams are preparing to evacuate New |
Chwang, but few would be surprised |
if it should turn out to be correct |
The effect of a march along the road |
to Hal Cheng would be to place abso- |
Iutely in control of the Japanese all |
between the Yalu and the |
Lao Tung peninsula, with the excep- |
ton of Port Arthur The Russians |
admit that at this stage of the war |
The Japanese control the territory |
mentioned.
The Russian Invalid the army or.
gan, makes this concession.
The remainder of the press is 81
ent~
Only one afternoon paper referred
% the abandonment of Feng Wang
Cheng. and that one inconpicuously.
1t is believed that Kuroki, instead of
to Hal Cheng. will move
northwest along the road to Liao
Yang. He will find the Russians in
renched at Tien Chori Chan pass.
vest of the Mao Tien line pass.