The Saint Paul globe., 1904-05-09
RUSSIANS HEAR
GLOOMY REPORTS
Official Dispatches Given Out
at st. Petersburg Have
Depressing Tone.

ST. PETERSBURG, May 9, $3.50 a. m
Two official dispatches calculated to
increase the depression existing among
ali circles in Russia were given out last
night. From the point of view of the
progress of the campaign the most Ina
portant is that regarding the capture by
the Japanese without opposition of Feng
Wang Cheng, on May 6. The second gives
details concerning the killed, wounded
and missing among the troops under the
command of Lieut.. Gen ZassaIitch, as the
result Of the fighting on the Yalu, the
number of which totals 1897 officers
and men.
Gen. Kuropatkin forwarded a message
from Lieut.. Gen. Zassalitch, who had been
left in command Of the column retiring
from Feng Wang Cheng, which described
the movements of the enemy in connec-
ton with the occupation of the town.
The information caused no surprise to
the officials who had already been ad-
vised of the decision that no attempt
would be made to hold Feng Wang Cheng,
the superiority of the Japanese in all
fighting arms insuring a disaster similar
to that at Kiu Lien Cheng. Therefore
Gen. Zassalitch was given strict orders
that there should be no fight of the rear
guard.
The Russians left while Gen. Kuroki
was. making his dispositions for a big
battle.
Lacks Confirmation,
There is no confirmation up to the
present of the report that Russians are
preparing TO eYacuate New ChWang, but
few would be surprised if 1t should turn
out to be correct. The effect of march
along the road to Hal Cheng would be
to place absolutely in ths control of the
Japanese all Manchuria between the Yalu
and the Lao Tung peninsula with the
exception of Port Arthur. The Russians
ADMIT that at this stage of the war
the Japanese control the territory men
toned.
Where Gen. Kuropatkin's main force is
now stationed has not been announced,
though Gen. Zassalitch states that the
cavalry left for Schlindjane. There con-
tlnueS to be the greatest ignorance re-
garding the plans of the commandment
chief, who is taking every precaution to
prevent information reaching the enemy,
the censor at Liao Yang refusing to pass
a single press dispatch which in any way
1ndlcates the Russian movements. Mes
sages from other points are strictly CEN
sored.
It is believed that Gen. Kurok, instead
of proceeding to Hal Cheng, will move
northeast along the road to Lao Yang.
He will find the Russians entrenched at
en-Choey-Chan pass, west of Mao
T1en-Ling pass.
1t is pointed out that the abandonment
of Southern Manchuria will be beneficial
to the Russians, as it will enable the
complete concentration of the forces
WHICH nave heretofore D6en scattered IN
consequence of ignorance as to what the
enemy proposed to do
The gruesOme figures in the Russian
losses on the Yalu are higher than had
been reported by Maj. Gen. Kashtalinsky,
who himself appears to have been wound
ed by flying stone. The casualties show
that one-f fifth of Cen Zassalitch's COM
mand was placed out of action. The
Eleventh and Twelfth regiments lost more
than half their men In the fight. The
Third battery of the Third artillery bri-
gade was almost annihilated. losing So
killed or wounded and 72 out of 10 horses.
The Third battery of the Sixth brigade
lost "A killed or wounded and Al horses
OF the machine gun detachments only 26
We're not killed or wounded.
The name Of the priest of the Eleventh
regiment who led the gallant charge, and
who was among the wounded. is HI. e.
Tcherbackofsky, Of the Orthodox Greek
church.
Gen. Kuropatkin says that no prison
ers We're taken by the Japanese, but he
admits that seven officers and 679 men
were left on the field, but it is not known
whether they were wounded or dead.