Red River prospector. (Red River, Taos County, N.M.) 1900-190?, 1905-03-30

Writing from Tie Pass on March
13 the correspondent of the Associat-
ed Press with the Russian army said:
For many versts all the approaches
TO Tie Pass are covered with troops,
artillery and baggage transports
pressing northward, and twenty-five
miles away the strong rear guard of
troops, which is personally command
ed by General Kouropatkin, is retiring
slowly, doggedly %disputing with the
pursuing enemy every foot of ground
in order to cover the retreat of the
remainder of the army. The losses in
this defeat, which is the most bitter
yet experienced by the Russian army,
is by a moderate computation not less
than 100000 men on both sides.
The Russians, in addition, sacrificed
enormous quantities of munitions and
stores, the greater part of which were
set on fire before leaving Mukden.
They also abandoned their most
severely wounded and all heavy guns.
1t is impossible to say whether the
Russians will be able to fight and
hold this position, or whether it will
'be necessary to continue the retreat
to Hardin, but the rank and file,
whose military qualities never shine
so brightly as in retreat and defeat,
are far from being panic stricken,
and, under capable leadership, given
a brief time to strengthen positions,
may be able to check their pursuing
enemy in the mountains here.
Order to Retreat.
The order to abandon Mukden and
retreat to the Tie Pass position was
given at 9 o'clock on the evening of
March 9. At dawn of that day the
Russians held a line on the Hun river
from a point ten miles east of Fushun
to Madyapu, the west front extending
to a point six miles north of Mukden
station, the continuous line of battle
generally paralleling the railway four
or fve miles distant. A terrible dust
storm ragged and tension had reached
its extreme limit. 1t was realized if
any point of the Russian line gave
way all would be lost.
The position in the most extreme
danger appeared to be north Of Muk-
der station, where it seemed for a
time the Japanese might break through
and entirely cut the lines of retreat.
Gen. Kouropatkin concentrated heavy
columns there, took command himself
and succeeded during Thursday morn
ing in forcing the Japanese back from
the railroad and also in driving out
bodies of the enemy east Of the rail
road.
The maneuve appeared to point to
success, when, suddenly and unexpect-
eddy, news arrived that the Japanese
under Gen. Oku had broken through
between the slender First and Fourth
army corps, taking advantage Of the
hurricane that was blowing clouds OF
dust into the faces of the Russians
20 deliver an attack which Gen. Kou
ropatkin was not prepared to meet
II was impossible to support the re
firing corps, as the reserves to the
last man had been sent to the line Of
battle at other points. This spoiled
the Russian commanders plans for ar
orderly retirement.
AS the danger Of the communica
tons being severed by this attach
was imminent, retreat was determined
upon and Immediately begun. Tn,
four principal roads leading north
ward toward Tie Pass were com
pletely occupied by a continuous fl,
of artillery and transport and the re
treating army blackened the countrl
between.
Taking Army North.
Before beginning the retreat all tn,
depots, stores and military building
and everything that would be of ser
vice to the Japanese we're set on fire
The great bridges across the HUI
were destroyed by dynamite. but thu
level ice remained. A large amour
Of baggage and many guns wer,
abandoned. All rolling stock belong
ing to the main railroad was brough