Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-08
GLOOM AT CARS COURT.
St. Petersburg Wracked With Fore
bodings of the Result.

ST, PETERSBURG, March g. 80 pm
Tokyo dispatches announcing that Gen. Ku-
roki is making progress and had already
reached a point fourteen miles south of
Fushun yesterday, showing that Lient. Gen.
Lnevitch. commander of the LIST Manchu-
rlan army Is again giving way, is the lasest
and worst word which reached st. Peters
burg this morning regarding the situation
at the front.
With the fate of the gigantic struggle be-
tween Gen. Kuropatkin and Field Marshal
Oyama probably already decided, as it is
now I o'clock at night at Mukden, and ST.
Petersburg waiting breathlessly for news,
omnous silence reigns. No private or press
dispatches giving news of todays battle
have yet arrived here, and the mere fact
that the curtain is rung down, taking
leaf out of past experiences, is pessimis-
ticaily interpreted.
Ugly Rumors Afoat.
There are ugly rumors circulating in the
streets that the day is lost and that the
Russian army is in full and disorderly re-
treat, with only the gallant rear guard
fighting off the victorious Japanese.
According to other rumors the lack of
news is accounted for by the report that
the Japanese have cut the Russian lines OF
communication. But these are only rumors.
All the military critics this morning, how
ever. agree that Kuropatkns position is
extremely critical, and that today should
decide the issue.
Moreover. the majority are of the opinion
that Kuropatkin has held his ground as
long as possible. and that they unable
to see how if beaten he can escape utter
ruin. AT the same time all dwell on Ku-
Topatkin's excessive prudence. his refusal
to take the risks of war at opportune
moment being indeed the cause of much
censure, and the fact that he has stuck
to his position therefore encourages the
hot h. &c -fr1-r fn-
terstrOke such he planned at Laoyang,
but fiinched before when Gen. Orloffs corps
was crushed.
Liaoyang Duplicated.
The situation at Liaoyang is now dupli
Gated, with the turning movement re-
versed. Kuropatkin, behind strong works,
is holding the Japanese center and right,
while concentrating for blow at the Jap
aaese turning column the plain west of
Mukden. Those who still pin their faith
to KuropaIkin declare he must have con-
centrated all his reserves on his right flank,
and that he has been waiting for the
ment when the herculean efforts of the
Japanese TO crush and envelop that wing
will be exhausted in order to launch a
blow which will determine whether he is
the victor or the vanquished. 1t is slgnif-
cant that Gen. Dragomiroff, Russia's great
est SlrdtrSlSt, ilO" an O!U man, WHOM the
emperor has called upon to act as his mill
tary adviser, has openly Joined the ranks
of kuropatkin's critics, going to the ex-
tent OF defending Gen. Gripenberg's
course in the military organ.
This is Interpreted as sealing Kuropat-
kins fate If the battle has gone against
him. On the other hand. a victory would
confound the detractors of the commander
in-chief and give him an unassaiiable po-
sition.
Public interest Is at higher pitch than
at any time during the war. From diff
ferent motives every class Is most eager
20 learn the result of the battle Groups
surround the bulletin boards and the even
ing editions of the newspapers are snatched
from the hands Of the newsboys
Rumors Of Lines Cut Denied.
The Associated Press is now In a posi-
ton to positively deny the current ru-
mors that Gen. Kuropatkin's lines of com
munication have been cut Within an hour
a cipher dispatch from Kuropatkin to EN-
peror Nicholas containing a report OF the
days operations has arrived and is now be-
ing transmitted to Tsarskoe-Seio. Its con-
tents are unknown except that Kuropatkin
at nghtfall still held Mukden
The Associated Press hears from high
source that the position of the Russian left
is critical, Compelled by the failure of
Gems. Oku and Nogi TO crush the Russian
right yesterday Field Marshal Oyama
again transferred the weight to his right
and Gen. kuroki succeeded in driving In a
wedge between Gen. Linevitchs main army
and Gen. Rennenkampfs corps, which is
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