Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-08
Evacuated Line Along Sha
River Last Night.
NOW IN FULL RETREAT
THE FALL OF MUKDEN APPEARS
MOST IMMINENT.
Machuntun Captured This Morning
Kuropatkin's Gravest Danger
From Southeast Attacks.

Dispatches from the far east to-
day indicate that the Japanese, &C.
spite the desperate resistance of the
Russians, are closing in around
Mukden.
Last night the Russians quit their
entire line along the Sha river and
retreated nearer Mukden.
The Japanese are within a few
miles of Mukden, and are raining
shells into the city. The fall of the
place seems imminent.
This morning the Russians were
driven from Machuntun, southeast
OF Mukden, and are being pursued
northward.
Altogether, the fighting rese.n-
bles siege more than field bat
tie. The gradual encroachment Of
the Japanese upon the Russian de-
lenses has resulted in the contrac-
ton of the Russian line around
Mukden.
The tenth day of fighting shows
that both sides are nerving therl-
selves for final desperate combat,
which shall determine Kuropatkin S
ability to retreat to Tie Pass with
out terrific loss.
Today's advices leave little doubt
that General Kuropatkin has suf-
fered another reverse, but whether
his defeat is rout or whether he
has repeated his strategy of Lao
wang and succeeded in withdrawing
his army and the bulk of his supplies
is not made clear.
St. Petersburg insists that no dis
aster has occurred, but admits that
Kuropatkin's left is in a critical o.
sition, Kuroki having driven a
wedge between Linevitch's main
army and Rennekampff's corps.
The report that Kuropatk;n S
communications have been cut IS
denied in the Russian capital, where
it is stated that report from the
commander has been received today.
It's contents are not known, how
ever, beyond the statement that
Mukden is still in possession OF the
Russians.
A dispatch from Mukden makes
the significant statement that tie
Japanese are extending their great
turning movement still further
north in the direction of the I'M
mensely important strategic point of
Tie Pass.
Dispatches received today give
details of the blow which turned the
Russian right, and say that the Rus
sian losses in this fighting were very
heavy.
GENERAL KUROKTS HEADQUAR-
TER, IN THE FIELD, Tuesday, March Z.
via Fusan.-The tenth day of the Japanese
attack finds the battle progressing favor
ably Its long duration was expected, and
II probably will continue several days more
before It is concluded. The japanese forces
have reached nearly to Mukden. within two
miles of the railway and are bombarding
strongly.
The Russians everywhere are making a
desperate resistance, frequently trying Of
fensive operations and arranging every de-
fensive device of modern warfare. The
fighting resembles siege more than a field
battle
The past two nights there has been hard
fighting in front and east of Witosan. The
infantry were closely engaged while The
Russian batteries shelled the trenches and
star shells were used to illuminate the bat
tie field
Hand grenades are employed freely in
close fighting.
Last night the Russians attempted to
break the japanese line by crossing the
river west of Witsosan, but they were re-
pulsed
Red Gross Workers Busy.
1t was quiet on this front today with the
exception of some artillery work this morn
ing. This afternoon Red Cross flags were
raised in order that the wounded lying on
the slopes and between the hills north of
the river might be collected The Red
IL