The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1905-03-17
OYAMA GIVES NO REST
TO WEARY RUSSIAN ARMY
CZAR,S SHATTERED LEGIONS
DRIVEN FROM TIE PASS.

hanus OI Japanese nnO SOhtihuS ~
Harrass Fleeing Enemy - General
Kawamura's whereabouts Still a
Mystery-May Yet Head or nurOpat-
kin.
General Kuropatkin and the rem
nants of the army which was defeated
by the Japanese on the Shakhe ana
Hun rivers, and again around Mukden
and Tie Pass, are now in the noun
tains few miles north of the southern
entrance to the pass trying to shake
off their pursuers, who apparently are
not going to repeat the mistake of Lao
yang and allow the Russian army to
escape. Kuropatkin has been relnforc-
ed by the garrisons of TELLING and other
northern towns and few new troops,
who were on their way from Russia
when the battle of Mukden began. But
even with these there seems little nope
for him. True, he has some thirty or
forty miles of hilly country, extending
from Tie Pass to Fenghuatsien, which
might enable him to hold off the enemy
for a time, but once out of the hills, he
has before him nearly three hundred
miles of fiat, open country and ni nnu-
merable rivers and streams to cross.
This is what is termed the Great val
ley of the Sungari, but is, in fact, an
Z immense plain bounded on the east by
high mountains and extending north
ward into Siberia and westward into
Mongolia Kirin, east of the railway,
and Harbin, the most northerly point
on the railway, where it branches on
to Vladivostok eastward and to Siberia
westward, are the centers of this Won
derfully rich country, resembling IN
many respects the northwest territories
of Canada. From Tie Pass the railway
runs over hills known as the divide to
Kaiyuan, twenty miles, then striking
into a valley, on either side of which
rise high hills. emerges on to the plain
just northeast of the important Chinese
city Of Fenghuasien. From there to
Harbin hardly hill can be seen from
the railway train, the line running al
most straight, except where an occa-
sional curve is necessary to reach a
city or favorable crossing of a river.
Besides the railway there is a splendid
wagon road from Tie Pass to Kaiiyuai1,
where it branches, one branch making
detour to the westward, skirting the
mountains and running almost direct
to Harbin. The other branch passes
Through the mountains to Kirin, from
which center there are many roads
The distance from Tie Pass to Hardin
is very little less than three hundred
miles, and except for the first few miles
every acre is under cultivation or sup
porting herds Of cattle, sheep and
horses
So far as the commissariat is con-
cernei the Russians need have no fear.
HardIy pound Of last years crop OF
beans, millet or meat left the country,
the Russians buying it all but storing
1t at stations along the railway, i'm
mense shelters being erected for its re-
cepticr. They also purchased all the
cattle and horses and had Cossacks
herdjng them. The weather on the
plain is very much colder than in the
Mukden section of Manchuria, the ther-
,nometers in the trains dropping sew
eral degree sas the divide is crossed
and continuing to go down until Lake
BaikaI is reached. AS a rule the ground
does not commence to thaW until April
except a very little on the surface ir
the middle of the day, the sun being
strong even in winter.
The most important Russian town be-
tween Tie pass and Harbin,' with the
exception Of Kirin, which is not on the
railway, is Kwansufing, also spell
Kungchuling.
This town is a little over 100 miles
north of Tie pass. Here were gathered
great stores of provisions, alongside oi
which were erected Red Cross hospitals
the best by the far the Russians ha6
south Of Hardin. At all the other sta
tions there was also hospital accommo.
dations, so that if Kuropatlin escapes
from Oyama at Tie pass he has gooc
country to cross at the most favorable
season of the year. Another few weeks
and the roads would be impossible
But IL he is hard pressed, there is no
q defensible position, unless he abon
fIons tn erailway and seeks safety ir
the easern htills. Later in the year
Of course, the rivers would afford some
protection but in winter, being frozen
they are as easy to cross as is thu
country. West of Hardin, along th'
railway, the first hills are encountered
about midway between Hardin and tht
Siberian border. These mountains arr
most formidable, several switchback'
and tunnels being necessary to carry
the railway over them. ="