Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1905-03-08
TRY TO ROUT JAPANESE.
Kuropatkin Makes a Desperate
Attempt to Save His Army
HE STRIKES AT OYAMA.
Russian Commander Seizes His Only OPP
portunity to Prevent Decisive
Japanese Victory.


From reports from the far east ana 81.
Petersburg it is evident that kuropatkln
is endeayoring by frantic effort to turn
the tide Of battle in the Cars favor. he
is striking at the japanese, evidently
finding that his retreat is imperiled ard
that he must whip the Japanese or sui
fer a tremendous defeat.
The battle now in progress is the great
est Of modern times, as nearly million
men are engaged in life and death
struggle.
The japanese advance in the north is
meeting with success.
With the Japanese Left Armies via
Fusan, Sunday, March o-Noon.-l ! ne
left wing of this force Is continuing It's
advance in the direction Of Mukden at
lacking small villages III the angie north
Of the Hun river and west OF the rail-
road. The Russian center near the river
retiring last night, the Japanese advanc-
| ing and capturing fifteen guns, including
hoWitzers and machine guns. The Rus-
sian loss is estimated at 5000 and that OF
| the Japanese at under 800.
| Three Russian counter attacks south OF
the Hun river were unsuccessful.
| Gen. Kuroki's Headquarters in the
| Field, Sunday, March D, via Eusan.-
mountain and the neighDoring heights
| continues without cessation IN the day
| time.
| The japanese force in the hills oppo-
! site Waitao mountain gained ground by
another night attack, pushing the Rus
slams further up the hills. Another Jap
| anese force is operating east of Walto
mountain, crossed the river and took the
| first Russian line.
| The japanese are now lying behind
| the trenches in the wind and snow, very
near to the Russians, eating biscuits.
| The task of the japanese was difficult
on Friday night, for the Russians at
| tackled first from the east, next west, and
then from the center. In the last at
| tempt they entered the Japanese trenches
but were repulsed with bayOnets.
Gen. Okus Headquarters i'll the Field,
March 4, 2 p. N, via Fusan-(Delayed in
transmission.)-Si last (Friday) night
the japanese left, which is now extend
ing north and south, has advanced sew
eral miles.
| The Russians are retreating in great
| disorder
The japanese extreme left is now ff-
teen miles northwest of Mukden and is
advancing rapidly.
The escape of the main Russian forces
seems impossible. 1t is already estimat-
ed that the Russians have lost over TO-,
| 900 men.
The Russians are throwing away their
arms and clothing in order to facilitate
their escape.
st. Petersburg, March 6.-According to-.
| information received here, China's pro-
! test against the japanese violation Of
her neutrality west of Mukden, was in
spired by the representations of the Rus
sian minister, NJ. Lessar at Pekin.
st. Petersburg, March 6, 2:57 p. NJ
The Associated Press has just learned
that Gen. kuropatkin has launched a
blow at Field Marshal Oyama's left CEN
ter just west Of the railroad The fight
ing is desperate along almost the entire
line.
Kuropatkin's losses in killed and
wounded up to last night are placed at
23,5OO. Oyama is believed - have al
ready lost fully 10000 men.
The japanese army, according to the
prisoners, is greatly exhausted. They
repeat the statement that some Of Gen.
Nogi's men have not had any food for
two days.
Crisis Is at Hand
The result Of the greatest battle of
modern times is expected to be deter
mined today or tomorrow. Two of the
largest armies of recent times, both in
men and guns, are now locked in a death
struggle and although Gen. Kuropatkin
has evidently made every preparation to
cover his retreat by moving his accumu-
lated stores and munitions northward, it
is now the opinion of military men here
that one side or the other can not escape
overwhelming disaster.
Issue Still in the Balance.
With both wings bent backward, ku-
perate, but the issue is still in the bal
| ance. News Of q victory for him is only
regarded as possible by his breaking
through the enveloping lines, and news
of a concentrated offensive is hourly
| awaited. Unless Kuropatkin can strike
J must lose.
Oyama's Great Strategy.
Field Marshal Oyama's strategy in this
amazed the war office by the marvellous
daring of Gen. Kuroki's advance against
the extreme Russian left, and the series
of blows delivered at the center, where no
less than thirteen separate attacks have
been launched by the imperial guards
ten miles east of Poutiloff hill. But is is
now realized that the heavy blows at
the left were intended to mask the real
turning movement, which came like
bolt from clear sky out of the west.
Kuropatkin fell into the trap.
Like Lao Yang.
The situation seemed an exact ,1upli-
cate of that at Liao Yang and the Rus
sian commander-in-chief fastened to
mass forces to meet Kuroki Friday the
whole situation was suddenly reversed
when with lightning rapidity the Japa-
nese turning operations began on the
plain between the Hun and Lao rivers.
In order to succeed, Oyama threw the
neutrality of China to the winds Gen.
Noei with his Port Arthur veterans
hn riC,t III ~
and fell like an avalanche upon the
weakened Russian right, doubling it
back i'll confusion, the japanese advance
being co-ordinated with the advance
straight from the west of a Japanese
column of 10000 men. which circled
around or through Chinese neutral
Kuropatkin Is Surprised
Although rumors of the presence of
the latter column westward of Mukden
were circulated as long ago as Tuesday,
kuropatkln was taken by surprise, pos
sibly refusing to believe that the Japa-
w.,