The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-16
Russians Fighting Desperately
10 Avert Disaster.
WHOLE ARMY IN DANGER.
Absence Of Definite News Makes
ST. Petersburg Fear the Worst.

Casualties OF tho Enemy at 10000
Left 1000 Dead on the Fieid-Paris
Hears That seventy-six Guns We're
Lost by tho Russian Right wing.
Speed, Cabs Despatehss to THE SUN.
LONDON, Dot. l6.-For a week what Is
described by one writer after another as
The greatest battle Of modern times has been
~aeed near Yentai and the end is not yet.
But seven days Of fierce, stubborn fighting
has resulted In what none disputes to be
complete disaster to Russia's great army.
Not even In St. Petersburg is there any
real attempt to disguise the obvious fact,
which 10 fully recognized throughout Eu-
tope.
There arc two views held In regard TO
she motive foroe behind Gen. Kuropatlrin
when at last he took the offensive on Oct.
Q. Some declare that he acted on strict
orders from st. Petersburg to attack as
soon as the last reenforoements arrived
At Mukden, the object being a desperate
effort to relieve Port Arthur, whose speedy
fall is again expected. Others hold that
Gen. Kuropatkin attacked because he was
obliged to, because he found that II he
did not he would be enveloped by the jap
anese armies. which were gradually creep
Ing around his tanks.
But whatever was hoped for, Gen. Kuro-
patkins position Is now serious. II the
morale OF his army has been destroyed,
As 1t well may have been escape from the
Japanese armies now gathering around
him seems almost impossible. unless, which
Is inconceivable, the Japanese themselves
are 30 exhausted that they are unable to
push their victory to the uttermost end.
But speculation on this point is useless.
Time. and not long, will alone show the
exact extent OF Russia's disaster.
Meanwhile even more important, more
interesting and more difficult to diagnose
Is the actual internal situation OF European
Russia. Events Of a deep if mysterious,
significance are occurring at st. Peters
burg. The Grand Dukes have retired
to their country estates and M. de Witte,
form ,r Minister of Finance and later Presi-
dent of the Ministerial Council, announces
that he will return next week, This, &C
cording to The Suns st. Petersburg cor
respondent, was completely unexpected
and is being widely discussed,
IT." says the correspondent "is being
associated with the Mikado's reported in
tention to proclaim a future policy upon
the fall Of Port Arthur ard make the occa-
sion serve for the opening of direct nego-
tiations with Russia, in which M. de White
will use his influence.
The London correspondent Of the Cologne
Gazette telegraphs to-day that in British
diplomatic circles the possibility Of an
early ending of the war is entertained,
The correspondent says that he has the au-
thority CT persons of undoubted standing
for making the statement.
The result of the latest japanese victory,
they say. is that hostilties may ter innate
un ex pectedly at an early date and the
question Of intervention may not arise.
RUSSIAN REFINEMENT.
A despatch to the Central Neus says that
after the Japanese had partly occupied
shahopao last evening the Russian main
body retired to the mountainous districts
east of the railway. where they halted and
faced the Japanese right.
The Russians around Pensihu fed to the
northeast
The Japanese last night engaged three
Russian reserve divisions which were under
the personal command OF Gen. Kuropatkin.
FRIDAYS PLOTTING.
WASHINGTON, Oct l5.-The Japanese
Legation has received this official despatch,
dated Toxic to-day:
Marshal Oyama reports that the engage
ments which took place on Friday were as
follows
His Imperial Highness Prince Kanin
7eho at point seven miles east Of Pensihu.
Our attack and advance are progressing
satisfactorily throughout the whole front.
Our left army captured ten more guns
Further report from Marshal Oyama
Is as follows
Throughout the entire front OF all
our armies the enemy was driven back
10 the right bank Of the Shabo, thus funda-
mental ly destroying the enemy's plan OF
attack. The casualties OF the enemy are
estimated at over $4,000. The corpses
Which we're buried by our men on Thursday
exceeded 1000 The trophies consist OF
large number of rifles, ammunition, cars,
&C. besides the guns already reported
JAPANESE CAPTURES.
TOXIC, Oct. I5-Evening.-A despatch
10 the JiH says that .the Japanese have
ut'Ven the Russian right wing back to the
'ha River, north Of Shahopao, captur-
ing large amount of arms and provisions.
Inc Russi casualties are estimated at
"Vo" men, OF whom 1000 have been left
On the fielc.
Marshal Oyama estimates the Russian
casualties al 10000. The fighting con-
HHues TODAY and tho Rus.;ap. o~o ..;u