New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-15
FLAMING MOVES FEARED.
Rumors Of Vide Turning Opera
tions against Tie Pass.

ttCNo II SUtHot 4 e. toS
Tie Pass. March 14-As after the battle Of
Liao-Yang. the advance of the japanese army
against the new positions Of the Russians at
Tie Pass is very slow The leading columns
are eight ten miles southwark and in touch
with the Russian van posts. but the operations
at present are not serious.
Field Marshal Oyama shows slight intentions
of pressing his advantage in an immediate at
tack on Tie Pass. 1t is possible however. that
q wide turning movement. OF which reports are
current. is in progress. In such operations the
japanese have the immense advantage of sew
eral bases and lines OF supply. to which is now
added the Hsin- -Alin-Tun road. while the Rus
sian army necessarily is dependent on one base
and one line of communication. and therefore
may easily be outfanked.
In the grand army order is being brought out
Of chaos with remarkable celebrity. The plain
in front of Tie Pass. which on March IL seethed
with the dense and confused mass Of transport.
artillery and troops. corps. divisions and regi-
ments. apparently inextricably mingled, has
been cleared. the regiments have been reor-
ganized stragglers have been sent to their re-
spective commands. organizations have taken
their assigned positions. and to-day the same
soldiers wAo on March 10 became a terror
stricken fsurging. disorganized mass OF gray at
a fes shots from a little detachment OF Japan
ese. or who even fed in panic. firing indiscriIn-
inateiy in all directions as they ran at thu
mere baseless cry of japanese eayairyF' are
nov gathered singing about the eamDhres. with
nssv courage ready to oppose with stubborn re-
sistance an attack on Tie Pass
It is unfair to accuse the entire army of this
panic General I.inevitch entered Tie Pass with
his regiments in perfect order. with music
playing and the men singing. and scarcely a
straggler was lost in the long, difficult march.
other organiza lions made equally praiseworthy
retreats. and especially the rearguards of all
the armies. who performed their difficult task
steadily and resolutely.
There is much to be said in excuse for the
panicstrickan condition of some of the troops.
They were largely composed Of undisciplned
men, and wagon drivers mingled with the
soldiers, who for fifteen days were under con-
slant fire. crowded together in mass whence
egress was impossible.
It is one of the odd facts of warfare that the
morale OF the beaten Russian army has been
largely restored. while the japanese. though the
victors. apparently so broken and have in
Cured such heavy losses that they are unable
to press the advantage. Otherwise it is mex
plicable why the Japanese have not followed up
their vigorous pursuit with an attack on Tie
Pass when they might have taken the position
almost without struggle. 1t is now too late
for any easy success.
The struggle for the possession of Moukden
cost both sides close upon 100000 men. The
Russian loss of officers includes a large pro-
portion of the regimentaI commanders and field
officers.
All the newspaper correspondents with the
exception of three or four have left here for the
north. because there is here nowhere 20 live and
nothing TO eat Many of the Russian officers are
in surly mood, and much Of their grudgingIy
given information is coIored with jealousy and
the rampant spirit of cabal. It is. however. pos
sible now to give general view of the engage
ment
On February "a all was ready for an attack
on the westward. Various portions OF the army
had been disposed for an advance on the right
flank Suddenly in the evening OF that day tho
order to advance was cancelled and a second
order was given for the transfer Of General
Rennenkampfs First Siberian Corps and several
other organizations 10 the left flank. which
being pressed heavily by a large force of Jap
anese. From that time forward the Japanese.
who were well informed as to all the Russian
movements. began heavy attacks along the
whole front. The Russians generally held their
ground doing well until February 2S. when an
unexpected attack developed in the southwest.
before which the Russian right weakened by
the withdrawal of almost two corps, yielded.
BY March l it was evident that the Japanese
were moving around the Russian right IN five
heavy columns. and it became imperative 70
witt draw the thin line from the southwest and
form new line from the bridge across the
Shakhe River parallel with the railway. The
change Of front was accomplished with remark
able celebrity but the various organizations be-
came badly mixed.
The Russians March 4 occupied their for
mer positions the Shakhe River as far
the bridge. thence to Ma-Dya-Prl. on the Hun
River. and. thence parallel with the railway. six
miles distant. The right resting on the Hsln-
Min-Tun road. The Japanese on March begin
ming to turn even this position. with view cf
cutting of the retreat, the Russian righs Was
extended eastward from the Hsin- -Min-TUn roasl
TO the railway.
on March both sides began most visorous