The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-09-04

ST. PETERSBURG. Sept. 4, 1925
q. m.-All Russia viii learn by the
morning newspapers that General
Kuropatkin's army is in full retreat
TO the northward; that Liaoyang has
been abandoned and that General
Stakelberg's corps is surrounded and
cut of.
The hopes OF victory raised in Rus
sian breasts by the telegram Of the
commander in chief. published yester-
day, saying that the Russians had ad-
vanced against General kurolSi on Fri
day and that an attack on the Russian
right had been repulsed, proved short
lived. General KurOpatkin had scarce
y begun the offensive against General
kUrol-i's army when be was compelled
by the overW helming force Of the Jap
anese Ranking movement TO give UP All
idea of continuing his advance and
hurriedly withdrew in the direction or
1dukden
The retreat is the logical consequences
of the Russian plan Of leading on anu
Hiring out the japanese at the success
sive stations of the road northward.
thus placing their foe at the constantly
growing disadvantage OF lengthening
lines of communication.
STAKELBERG BLUNDERS.
The success Of this plan was narred
BY a blunder Of General Stakelberg,
whO in the words Of General Kuropat-
kin, insisted on placing his own in
depreciation Of orders instead of full
filing them" General Stakelberg erred
in falling to cross the Taitse River
when General huropatkn desired that
the whole army should retreat to its
northern bank, as was exclusively re-
ported in dispatches on September 2.
This blunder, IT is feared. Will involve
the loss Of the whole OF the First ST.
berian Army Corps. consisting Of the
First. Second and Sixth Rife divisions,
the Tssuri Cossack Brigade. the First
Siberian Artillery Brigade and sapper
battalion.
The abandonment Of the whole posi-
tion at Liaoyang involves the loss Of a
great accumulation Of stores, though ii
Is believed that many Of these already
had been sent north before the COM
mencement Of the fighting. IT is more
than possible, however, that the Rus
slams destroyed what they could not re-
move.
something akin to CONSERVATION pre-
walls among Russians who have
learned Of the disaster TO General
Stakelberg's corps. All realize that
there is small hope now for the relief
Of Port Arthur, but the military Of
fcials are unanimous in the belief that
II win be only folly for General Kuro-
patkin TO remain and run the risk Of
being surrounded with his whole army.
ELUDES TRAP SET BY OYAAIA.
They assert that the commander in
chief, by his withdrawal nOrthward,
has actually converted what might
have been disaster TO himself into
what is regarded as q reverse for the
japanese, for the failure Of the Jap
snese TO hold General KurOpatkin's
army and iuflict a decisive blow, it is
claimed, cannot be regarded otherwise
than as a reverse. Field Marshal
Ovama's tenacious frontal attack and
the clever flank movement could not
have had any other object than to COM
pei the Russians to accept a decisive
engagement.
General Kuropatkin's retreat I'M
doubtedly viii have a discouraging eff.
feet on the garrison Of Port Arthur,
which can no longer hope for any re-
lief from this source. IL is doubtful,
however, if the Japanese are in a posi-
ton to press the siege, and il is more
than probable that they have diverted
a portion Of the besieging army to re-
infOrce their corps operating in Man
churia. This would account for the
temporary lull in the fighting. It is
noticeable that the siege reports reach
ing here do not mention further as
saults on the fortress, but only speak
OF commandments.
REPORT OF KUROPATKIN.
The following report has been re-
ceived from General Kuropatkin,
dated September 3:
The enemy last Friday) night at
tackled and seized most Of the positions
occupied by our troops at Sykwantun
and the troops holding the positions in
question retired 10 a rear guard posi-
ton between the villages Of Shansun-
tun and Shishanga.
The same night the First Siberian
Army Corps, which has sustained
heavy losses during the last five days
and which was in danger of having its
flank turned, owing to the enemy's su-
perior forces. retired several kilometers
70 the westward.
In these circumstances, ordered
Liaoyang evacuated and the troops to
retire nOrthWard-"
= General Kuropatldn says further:
'tOn the night Of September 1 Gen