Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1904-09-22

Mukden, the ancient royal city of
the Manchus, is the focal point for the
"orId-Wide attention centered in the
fuSSo-Japanese war In successive
stages the field of operations has swept
acfoSS Manchurla. LiaOyang recently
was the stage for great events. The
oattle fought there, even though but
lraSnentary facts are known, is con
ceded place among the worlds great
military struggles. Kuropatkin, in
mastery retreat, forced upon him by
the strategy of the enemy, covered for
~ miles Of sOdden roads. saving his
army and artillery from total disaster
and reached Mukden. Will he make
"a stand here, or will his weary army
take up the march again 10 position
farther north? This is the question Of
the hour. \ few miles north is Tie
Pass, position adapted by nature for
defensive operations. This, say ru-
mors, is in reality to be the scene of
the next great battle. In fact, a des-
perate battle has already been reported
here, but this is now denied.
Mukden. which in times Of peace has
at least 269, 900 inhabitants. is situated
i'll tie center of an immense aIluvial
plain, about three miles from the Hun
no, tributary of the Lao river. It is
about forty miles north of Port Ar
thur, forty-two miles north of Lao
yang and $50 miles south Of Hardin
General kurOpatkin discovered, early
in March, that Hardin was too far
north to serve as Il military base for
the campaign in Southern Mancuhria.
and he selected Mukden for his head
quarters, because it is favOrably stu
ated on the railway and on the Pekin
road.
The city of Mukden has an outer
wall of mud and a lofty quadrangle |
lar inner wall three miles in circuit, |
built Of brick. fianked by lofty towers |
and pierced by eight gates protected
by lofty brick baStiOns. This wall, on
which three carriages could drive
abreast, protects the commercial and |
official part of the city, and is densely |
crowded. Mukden, besides being the |
great grain emporium of Manchuria, |
is the center OF the Chinese fur trade |
and attracts buyers from all parts of
the world. 1t is the ancient royal city |
of the Manchus. and the former burial |
place of the rulers of China. About |
the city and about the tombs centers
the veneration of China's millions.
Aside from this, Kuropatkin may |
not only avoid battle at Nukden, but
may be compelled to abandon all hope |
of further resistance until after the
winter months. His army, repeatedly |
defeated, is badly demoraliZed, say ru-
morS. Its morale cannot but have
been affected, and though its valOr has
been Enthusiastically proven, the task of
again facing the fanatical desperation
of the Japanese might prove too Sc
we're a strain. Two months of autumn
remain for fighting. Nevertheless, it
Is more than probable that the battle
of Liaoyang marks the last important
struggle of the present year. The rains
now prevent operations. The plan
of the Japanese Will not develop until
transportation becomes possible over
the roads A determined advance on
the part of the enemy will in all prob
ability be followed by prompt north
ward movement on the part of Kuro-
patkin.
In that event, the winter will find
this situation: The main Russian army
will be centered at Hardin, with the
rear guard at Tie Pass. The main
japanese army will be quartered in
and about Liaoyang, with its advance
guard at Mukden. RumOrs have come