Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-09-16

uuedua' 10 the TASK assigned him.
HIS division had just arrived from
Russia and its fighting efficiency was
not known. When he struck Kuro-
kl, Orlof was wounded early in the
night and was compelled to hand
over his command. The division
could not resist the onslaught of ia
pans best troops and gave way and
retreated. In the mean W bile Kuro-
patkin was just launching his at
tack, but when he found the Japanese
were turning his left he was COM
PEELED to abandon the offensive, with
draw and order a retreat. AS il
turned out, General Stakelberg had
come to Orloff's rescue and checked
the japanese thanking movement
Just before they reached Yentai,
Had Kuropatkin held on little
longer the fate of the day might
have been different, as this was the
critical moment for Kuroki referred
to in dispatches from the Japanese
side.
The battle of Liaoyang was con-
cluded after almost seven DAYS con-
hnuous struggling. General Kuro-
patkin was defeated, but after hold
ing his ground for four days he eff
fected II mastery retirement along
the railroad, probably with his army
almost intact, and tsking away the
bodies of half of his men who had
fallen in action.
The part that the Japanese force,
under command of General Kuroki.
played in the conflict was remarka-
ble. From August rs to 80, when
he effected a junction with the other
Japanese armies around Liaoyang,
he advanced night and day over al
most roadless mountains, pushing
the enemy before him. He then
made a rapid change of base from
Anping to a point on the eastern
side of the railroad, thus leaving u
wide gap between his troops and the
main body Of the Japanese. The
purpose of General Kuroki was to
cut the railroad, which was General
Kuropatkin's only possible avenue
of retreat, and attempt a surround
ing movement. On the night of
September 3, his force reached a po-
sition two or three miles from the
railroad, with the right division
ready to strike, but General Kuro-
patkin was able to send superior
force against him and hold him at
bay while the Russian army made
good its retreat. For two DAYS it
seemed possible that the Russians
might assume the offensive on large
scale, and perhaps force the Japanese
right army, as the command of Gen
eral Kuroki is called, to abandon its
position, but they did not.
The race for Mukden between
Kuropatkin and Kuroki was won by
the Russian, who had the railroad
and airline roads to travel over while
the lighter equipped Japanese had
to swing out around through the
mountain passes. Kuropatkin's
generalship has been never to face
the enemy long enough to let por-
ton or them get in his rear, but to
pull up tents and retreat before that
happens.
The race of General Kuropatkin
the British press and
public. That Kuropatkin should
get Though with a respectable REM
nant of his great army is viewed in
the light of robbing the Japanese
of the complete fruits of their
victory. Kuropatkin is said to have
almost broken down under the strain
or the tremendous work he has been
obliged to do.
English military critics also mar
vel at the tremendous Typographical
difficulties General Kuroki overcame
to intercept Kuropatkin, who, they
hold, has shown ability to take
advantage of every phase in the
strategy of retreat. Had Kuroki
succeeded he would have accom-
plished. in English eyes, an almost
'uperhuman achievement.
1t is almost taken for granted that
Japanese occupation of Mukden
must quickly ensue. No serious
English critic supposes that Kuro-
patkin will dream of making such
,nother.attempt to stem the Japanese
advance as ne did at Liaoyang. III
he Russians can reach Hardin they |
will, according to the English
opinion, be lucky.
Before that becomes a question of
moment, however, it is expected that
desperate engagements must be
ought, and the Japanese are expect.
ID to risk even heavier casualties
han they sustained at Liaoyang in
he final endeavor to annihilate Cen
raj Knropatkin. General praise is
accorded the Russian commander for
lis temporary extrication and to the
Russian troops for their SPLENDID
discipline in defeat.
The Japanese are greatly disap.
pointed at the failure of their plans
o impose FINAL conflict on the Rus.
lana at Liaoyang in the hope of
'reaking up the present Russian
'rmy In Manchuria. They are now
cushing reinforcements and supplies
'orthward in every possible way,
lslng boats on the Lao river and it's
tributaries. All the native roads
eading into Liaoyang are filled with
and other conveyances
arrying grain and ammunition into
he Chinese city.
The Japanese, who had been &C.
used of moving forward slowly, are
low advancing very rapidly. Little
walls the Russian increase of troops.
or the japanese are receiving rem
0rnpmanta from Ninnha M