The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-10-10

St. Petersburg, Oct. 9.-Following is
the text of an order of the day issued
by Gen. Kuropatkin and dated, Muk-
den, Oct. .:
More than seven months ago the
enemy treacherously fell upon us at
Port Arthur before war Had been de-
cared. Since then. by land and sea,
Russian troops have performed many
heroic deeds of which the fatherland
may justly be proud. The enemy.
however,. is not only not overthrown,
but 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.
Much time is necessary for Overcom-
ing all the difficulties of strengthening
the active army SO as to enable it to
accomplish with complete success the
arduous, but honorable task imposed
upon it. 1t is for this reason that, III
spite of the repeated repulse of Jap
anese attacks upon our positions at
Tatchelio, Liandiansian and Lao
Yang, l did not consider that the time
had arrived to take advantage Of these
successes and to begin forward move
ment, and /, therefore, gave the order
10 retreat.
We're Ready for "a Fresh Fight.
You left the positions you had so
heroically defended covered with piles
of the enemy's dead and without al
lowing yourself to be disturbed by
the foe, and in full preparedness for a
fresh fight. After a five-days' bat
tie at Liao Yang you retired on new
positions which had been prepared pre-
Viously. After successfully defending
all advanced and main positions you
withdrew to Mukden under most diff
cult conditions.
Attacked by Gen. Kurokis army
you marched through almost impass-
able mud, fighting throughout the day
and extricating guns and carts with
your hands at night and returned to
Mukden without abandoning single
gun, prisoner or wounded man and
with the baggage train entirely in
tact.
Il ordered the retreat with sor-
Iowful heart. but with unshaken con-
ndence that 1t was necessary in order
TO gain complete and decisive victory
over the enemy when the time came
Difficulties Unprecedented.
THE Emperor has assigned for the
conflict with Japan forces sufficient to
assure US victory. All difficulties in
transporting these forces over a dis
lance of 10000 versts are being over
come in a spirit of self-sacrifice and
With indomitable energy and skill by
russian men of every branch and rank
OF the service and every social posi-.
ton, to whom has been entrusted this
work, which for difficulty is unpre-
cedented in the history of warfare.
In the course of seven months hum
oreds of thousands of men and tens of
thousands of horses and carts and mil
lions of poods of stores have been
coming uninterruptedly by rail from
european Russian and Siberia to Man
churia.
II the regiments which already have
been sent out prove insufficient, fresh
troops will arrive. for the infiexible
wish OF the Emperor that we should
Vanquish the foe will be inflexibly full
nlled. Heretofore the enemy in oper-
ating, has relied on his great forces,
and, disposing his armies so as TO sur
round us, has chosen as he deemed
nt his time for attack: but now the
moment to go 10 meet the enemy, for
which the whole army has been long
ing, has come. and the time has ar
rived for us 10 compel the Japanese
20 do our will, for the forces Of the
Manchurian army are strong enough to
begin a forward movement.
Foe strong and Gallant.
Nevertheless. you must be tnceae
ingly mindful OF the victory to be gain
ed over our strong and gallant foe
IN addition 20 numerical strength in
all commands. from the lowest 70 the
highest. the firm determination must
be TO prevail TO gain victory. What
ever be the sacrihce necessary to this
END, bear IN mind the Importance OF