New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-09-05
GLOOM IN RUSSIA.
Confidence in KurOpathin Shaken
ArmieS Exhausted.

st. Petersburg, Sept. 5.-There Is bitter dis
appointment tonight, probably the keenest of
the whole land campaign. over the situation at
the front Up to Lao Yang the abandonment
OF positions had been expected, and that muAh
the public and the officials thought they knew
OF General Kuropatkin's plan of campaign. Had
Iiao-Yang been abandoned without fight the
public at least would have looked forward pa
tientIy to a decisive stand at Moukden; but
after desperate battle TO find Liao-Yang aban-
doned its immense stores captured de-
stroyed, and the retreat continued under the
most adverse conditions, severely tries public
confidence in the commander in chief
At this hour the authorities know little
more than what has already been given to the
public There is still much doubt to whether
Kuropatkin is continuing his retreat or whether
indeed he has been able to do so, but the public
so far l. not aware of General Stakelberg's
narrow esca pc from being cut off
The situation, it is known, is that the Rus
sian army is south of the branch railway
meeting Yentai station, ten miles north OF Lao
Yang, with the Yentai mines. where fierce fight
ing has been IN progress. The conflict seems to
have been suspended for the moment, the
armies probably resting after their long con-
tinued exertions.
The country is III suited to military operations
1t is fiatter and more open than the region south
Of Liao-Yang, but IS covered at this season with
dense fields Ct Chinese corn. growing higher than
man horseback It is more suited TO sur
prise tactics and to offensive operations than
10 an orderly retreat
One feature Of the situation. however. has ap-
parently been overlooked by the local critics in
their recent eagerness to chronicle decisive
overwhelmingly, that Kuropatkin is still in
command Of the railway, and apparently has
saved a majority Of the rolling stock. This is
chiefly IN requ:sition at present for the trans
portation of the wounded.
Moukden. with strong defences. is less than
thirty miles north of Yen-Tai. What force
Kuropatkin is holding in reserve there even the
authorities 60 not exactly know. but it is be-
heved that it must be considerable. while the
European rejnfoTcerents, which have been rush
ing east for weeks, are pouring in there daily
The japanese army is confessedIy exhausted.
and is getting further from its base Of supplies.
If it reaches Moukden without dealing Kuro-
patkin a crushing blow the Japanese will find
themselves in front Of a strongly defended city.
where the Russians will be sure of renewed
supplies, and against which ii seems impossible
that the japanese commander will be able to
hurl his brave but worn out forces.
It is possible that even now Russian reinforce
rnents may be descending from the north to aid
their rereating comrades. which is less than
two days march distant.
What effect the present reverse will have or
General Kuropatkin's reputation at home il is
impossible to say II may he remembered how
ever. that before starting for the Far East Cen
eraI Kuropatkin said that he fully expected his
reputation 10 sink lower than his friends even
dreamed. but that thereafter there would come
a turn N the tide.
The battleship Orel has gone to Cronstadt
This brings Rear Admiral Rogestvensky's
squadron up TO it's full complement