Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1905-03-16
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itOiulHg ulliirth Vh huN
through the severe winter, and wait
ing until the captsre OF Port Arthur
brought TO his support Gen. Nogi's vet
eran army, as well as many thousand
new levies from Japan; waiting, IN
fact, until he had assembled an army
strong enough TO do the great work in
hand, he proceeded in an intelligent
and effective way to the accomplish
ment of that task So fully has he sue
ceeded that the Russian armies, utterly
crushed, are doing their best TO leave
the vlctors far enough behind 10 afford
them a chance to reform and once more
make stand. Oyama has dealt his
foe so heavy blow that it would seem
almost beyond the power of Russia,
even with her proverbial fortitude, to
again oppose him with any hope OF a
successful issue. Ii he has not com
pletely annihilated Kuropatkin's army,
and forced its dispersion or surrender,
which would have been an almost
supefhuman feat. he has at least won
one of the most signal and decisive
victories the world ever saw The
moral effect could hardly be greater II
Kuropatkin had actually capitulated.
After the japanese victory at Lao
yang. won after a tremendous struggle
with an enemy who had selected his
position and fortified it with care, and
who was little, II any, inferior in num-
bers, 0yama pressed the defeated army
as hard as he could, but was unable to
envelope it from the eastward, as he
had planned, Kurokrs advance being
checked by practically the whole Rus
sian army long enough for it 70 with
draw before the japanese center and
left could cross the river to join in the
pursuit. The retreat was directed
with great skilland reflected high credit
on Kuropatkin's ability to rescue a
great army from dire straits. The Rus
sian is seen at his best in the hour of
defeat. His stamina under such con-
ditions surpasses that Of almost any
other soldier. Such thing as Rus
sian Waterloo or Bull Run has never
yet beea recorded. The Russian may
be defeated, but he cannot become
panic-stricken.
Kuropatkin managed to take up a
defensive position few miles south OF
Mukden, and there brought the Japa-
nese to a halt. The latter had I'M
doubtedly suffered severely in their vic
tory. and did not dare risk an attack.
The season being late, Oyama decided
to wait until conditions were more
favorable, so that the next blow might
be decisive. The Russians quickly re-
covered, aud being heavily reinforced,
kuropatkin, after excusing his previous
retreats, and announcing that he was
now strong enough to overwhelm his
foe and lead the relief to Port Arthur
made the attempt. II was a dismal
failure. II Oyama could not for the
moment advance. he bad no intention
of letting his adversary do 50. IL wat
another Fredericksburg. Forty thous
and Russians tell. and with the failure
the doom Of the southern fortress wa,
written. Sull later, one more fruitles'
attack on the japanese left was under
taken. which was thrown back will
loss. as they say in football. BY thes,
bloody repulses. the Russians haC
lprobably sacrificed the balance o
strength to the enemy, especially aftel
the arrival OF Nogi.
| Now il was Oyama's turn to Try
Kuropatkln still faced him from a lin,
bristling with sheltered works, wherein
were mounted at least 2000 moderr
guns. Oyama's strategy was simply
that Of the boxer. lie gave his oppo
nent a light tap with his right. where
npon Kuropatkin shifted his guard thai
way. The moment this was done
Oyama planted a singing blow witt
his left on the unguarded point. follow
ing up the advantage with a genuinl
! / lab with his right and then pumpln.
+ away with both fists until be had hi
! lopnonent "allin.~ The military sharp
will say that Oyama's movement OF
/. the Russian leit. which drove back tina
wing several miles ana uncovered i'm
. portant mountain passes threatene
; Kuropatkin with an euvelopug mor,
a ment from that quarter which he wa
B Obliged 60 stay by weakening his cer
ler and right, whefeupon Oku fe
/. upon The weakened quarter. and in III
+ rear 81 hin Nogi pressed on % CD
] laorthward. gaining 4 line west ofMul