The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-03-17
The Russians, After Fighting
Hard Several Days, Retreat
an u VERY GOOD ORDER.
Saving Their Guns, Stores and Amuni.
tion. The Losses on Both Sides
~. We're Very Heavy, but the
Japs Seemed to Have
suffered Most.

suffered most.
The battle which has been raging
lin the Vicinity of Mukden between
the Russians and Japanese for the last
two weeks came to close last Friday
sby the retreat OF the Russians. A
dispatch from St. Petersburg says the
dispatch announcing the with drawal
OF the Russians from their positions
on the Shakhe river and that they
we're In full retreat, was the first
definite news received here to the
effect that the battle WIS
ended and that General Kuropatkln
was making the best OF his way north .
ward. 1t does not come unexpectedly
The defeat of General Kuropatkin has
been expected since Field Marshal
Oyama made his brilliant stroke
against the Russian right.
CONFLICTING REPORTS.
The Associated Press says advices
from the Manchurian battlefield leave
little doubt that General Kuropatkin
has suffered another reverse, but
whether his defeat Is rout or
whether he has repeated his strategy
OF Liao Yang and succeeded in with
drawing his army and the bulk of his
supplies Is not clear.
Dispatches from General Kuroki's
headquarters say that the Russians
evacuated the whole line along the
Shakhe river and are In full retreat
northward with the japanese in close
pursuit. Admitting the correctness
OF this, dispatch, the fall Of Mukden
seems imminent, and its probability is
IN measure confirmed by the report
that the Japanese have taken Man-
chiatun, a village some ten miles
southeast of Mukden.
st. Petersburg insists that no disas-
ter has occurred, but admits that Kur-
opatkin's left is In critical position,
Kuroki having driven a wedge in be-
ts an,Linovltch's main army an Rem
Kuropatkin's communications have
been cut is denied at the western cap
ital, where 1t Is stated that a report
from the commander was receiv.
ed Thursday Contents are not known,
however, beyond the statement that
Mukden is still in possession of the
Russians.
The dispatch from Mukden makes
The significant statement tnat the
Japanese are extending their grea
turning movement still further north
in the direction Of tue immensely inn.
portants trategic point Of the Tie Pass.
dispatches received give d. tai,
OF The blow which turned The Russian
right and saws tlat tue Russian losses
IN this hshCIug We're very heavy.
WHAT TUE JAPs CLAIM.
The Japs claim that the tirst fou
days hghting on the flaIk has endeu
as successfully "a tte japanese c)ulo
wish. IL has re- ultcd in the C c1npl,le
tur.iDg or the Russian ris ht nd ON
res the certaia dettat OF the en- ire
Russian army. 1t is hard 10 ste no
lie Russians can possibly nope iol
o0ner results The left Japai esc ara
les have swung north 10 POM OH u e
maiu Highway, five miles nutGn OF Jne
Mukden line, the two iefJ aimie
which are ex cutting tn, turning nov :
ment are now parallel IN aid luur
miles westward OF tie railro ID Tue
two aimles swung arouud with G AN
IAN as pivot until they re: C ID
position at right angles with the OH
ginal line and are now advancing di
rectly east
RUSSIANS IN REVOLT.
The Russians made strong frh;.
at the start, but later their re islauc
was slight, their men retreatlng IL.
disorder before the onward rush OF tn,
Japanese who have advanced over 20
miles In four days constantly In touc,.
with the Russians. The Russia ans bad
many stron4 defenses In several lines
but did not defend them as sUlOngly
as expected. The soldiers every where
were disheartened ny the fa.l Of Port
Arthur, and 1t Is beiieyed they ar,
almost in open revolt. a number OF
strong positions were given up with
out show OF resistance aud the ba5-
dlefelds show evidence or hasty re.
treat, being covered with clothing,
heavy felt boots and thousands Of
whips thrown away probably bccausc
they impeded the Russian has!y flight.
Many rifles and thousands OF clips of
rifle cartridges we're also thrown away,
the Russians retiring east and north
Ia confusing. 1t was evident that
all their plans for retreat were discon
certed by the rapid rushes OF the Jap.
aneSe.
CossACKs DIsoRGANIzED.
The entire Russian right seems al
together disorganized. The reports
show the Russian troops are almost In
panic strlken condition, one army
corps opposed to the Japanies extreme
left armies retiring rapidly and prac
tically making no attempt to stop the
Japanese movement. The Japanes
victory was even greater, morally
than physically. it Is estimated that
the Russian losses were over ten
thousand. The prisoners statements
give evidence Of even greater loss. The
Japanese loss with the left armies dur.
Ing the four days does not exceed four
thousand. The Russian centers near
the railroad when last heard from re.
tained It's former position, but it may
since then have retired. The entire
command, it is believed, will be sur.
rounded and cut off.
RUSSIANS ADMIT DEFEAT.
A dispatch from ST. Petersburg saws
the atmosphere of the war office i,
| Intensely ploOrnv rrho oo,,; >