The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1904-09-29
RUSSIAN ARMY
IS RE0RGANlzED.
100000 MEN ADDED TO- MANcHu-
RAN FORCES.
RUssIA's PRESTIGE AT STAKE
Resources Of Empire to Be Drained,
if Necessary to Turn the Scale
and indicate the Power
of Russia.

St Petersburg, Sept. 26.-The di.
vision and reorganization Of the Man.
churian army, regarding which there
have been rumors ever since the battle
of Liaoyang, was officially announced
Sunday in an imperial rescript ap.
pointing Maj. Gen. Grippenberg, com
mander of the Third army corps in the
province of Wilma, as commander OF
the second army now being modified
for immediate dispatch to the far east
leaving Gen. Kuropatkin in command
of the first army. The emperor is per
sonally convinced that the political as
we'll as the military prestige of the
empire is at stake and that every
other consideration must give way be-
fore the exigencies of war The re-
sources of the empire in men and
money must be drained, If necessary,
in order to turn the scale and vindi-
cate the power of Russia. The reor-
anization amounts to formal notice to
the world, as the emperor frankly ex-
plains in his rescript, that he intends
to vastly increase the number of troops
at the theater of war in order to force
the struggle to successful issue in
the shortest possible time.
Will Fight Out the Issue.
1t is intended to silence definitely ali
talk of foreign Intervention by the an
nouncement that Russia means to
fight out the issue with Japan on the
field of battle. Probably 900 addi-
tional men will be placed in the field.
Five corps, the Third, Fourth, Fifth,
Eighth and Sixteenth are already des-
tined for the front, and the talk is that
five more corps will be sent forward
Eventually the creation of this second
army involves the selection of COM
mander-in-chief. Not only is there no
-intimation in the rescript that Gen.
Kuropatkin will have command Of
both armies, but he is distinctly placed
upon the same footing as Gen., Grip
penberg. In the best informed circles
there is little idea that Viceroy Alex
Jeff, the present nominal commander
in-chief, will exercise the actual func-
tons of commander of the 600,-
900 or 100000 men that Russia has
resolved to put in the field. 1t Is the
best opinion that Grand Duke Nicholas
- :, ,ssfnspector general ( 81
inc EssEaYn the high command.
, 9na efora Pass Captured.
~. me y Sept. 26.-Ta Pass, the gate
V r,he hills south of Mukden,
whty essential to the Japanese for
their fanking movement on Mukden
from the east. has been captured. Col.
Gaedke, the German military expert in
the far east, telegra2hs the Berlin
Tageblatt that the pass was taken on
September % after light engagement.
Reports that the evacuation of Muk-
den is in progress have reached Gen.
oku's headquarters. A correspondent
at Hardin telegraphs that the Japan
ese are advancing along the Lao river.
These statements indicate that Kuro-
patkin has found himself seriously en-
dangered by fianking movements and
has begun his retirement without CIV
Ing battle.
The slowness of Oyama's advance on
Mukden is explained by correspond
emit with Oku's division. who states
that all operations in the north are
waiting on the result of the latest at
tack on Port Arthur. The capture of
the fortress would release a large num-
Der Of troops, which could be rushed
north on the railroad, now believed to
be in good working order, to aid in
the last battles of the year in Man
churia.
Japs Turn Russian Flanks.
London, Sept. 26. - The retreat from
Mukden has begun. Both Russian
tanks are turned, and it is evident that
Gen. Kuropatkin will fall back to Tie
pass to escape the danger Of complete
humiliation by Oyama's forces.
orloff Dismissed.
st. Petersburg, Sept. rs. - Maj. Gen.
Orion. held responsible for the retreat
of the Russian forces from Liaoyang,
has been dismissed from the army. This
action was taken in accordance with a
decision of Gen. Kuropatkin.
Jap Regiment Wiped Out.
Chefoo, Sept. 26.--With unabated
ferocity the Japanese storming attack
on Port Arthur continues. An entire
regiment Of Gen. Nogi's men has been
annihilated by the explosion of Rus
sian mine.
They yentured too near an inner
fertilization and the Russians explod-
ed an underground mine of dynamite
Not man survived