Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1905-03-16
STUBBORN IN
DIRE DEFEAT.
RUSSIA WON'T SUE FOR PEACE
WITH JAPAN YET.

So Say Her Rulers, But Her People
May Dissent.--Ouestion OF Finances
May Prove Stumbling 6iock.--kuro-
patkin Succeeds in Withdrawing
Shattered Remnant Of His Army to
Tie Pass.--Japanese Close By
Over Half Of Russian Army Oes-
troyed--Story Of the Great Battle.
The complete defeat of Kuropatkin's
army at Mukden has not, apparently,
brought Russia TO the point of asking
terms OF peace. At a war council Tues
day, it was determined to continue the
struggle to the bitter end. A new army
will be raised and despatched to the East
as soon as possible. The Pacific feet will
proceed on its way to engage Togo. This
is the official response to the japanese vic
tory. But change may come soon. The
snews of war promise to fail Russia. II
is stated that France, which has literally
responded to the war loans of her ally,
will do so no longer, il hostilities contin-
ue. The temper of the Russian people is
for peace. Above all, it may be found ut
terly impossible TO stay the northern
progress of the foe, and the remnant OF
the Manchurian army may be sacrificed
before heavy reinforcements can arrive.
The battle OF Mukden will go on record
as probably the greatest general engage
ment In history. The numbers OF the
troops engaged can only be Appropriated.
II is supposed that Kuropatkin had be-
tween $4,000 and 100000 men about Muk-
den, while the Japanese, who never say
anything about their strength, may have
had as many more. The losses, too, are
enormous. In killed, wounded and pris-
oners, the Russians lost over 100000, while
the Japanese admit loss of nearly $4,000.
Kuropatkin managed to draw out the bal
ance through the narrow gauntlet between
encircling forces Of the enemy, and by
fighting tiercely with his rear guard effect
ed a retreat to the strong position at fie
pass, 40 miles TO the northward. The Jap
anese hotly pursued. but were held back
SO we'll that the scattered fragments OF the
grand army were able to reform and take
up their position at the pass, which had
been well fortified in advance. About
huthAhfS AHtIt. ID dhuUA
about their ability to hold the pass, and
wide turning movement is feared that may
force them out.
Kuropatkins retreat was accomplished
with less loss than might have been ex-
pected under the circumstances. Only
lew guns were left behind. The railroad
accomplished wonders In handling the
traffic, though the retirement OF the sol
diers was on foot and most OF the trans
port went by team. The japanese inter-
fered somewhat with the movement by
firing ON the columns from the Hanks
with mountain guns, but no heavy force
barred the way.
The best report OF the great battle, from
a correspondent with the Russians, is in
part as follows;-
On Feb. "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 the order TO advance WAS can
celled and a second order was given for
the transfer OF General Rennenkampffs
first Siberian corps and several other or
CARNATIONS to the left flank, which was
being pressed heavily by a large, force OF
japanese. From that time forward the
japanese, who were well informed as to all
the Russian movements, began heavy at
tacks along the whole front. The Rus
slams generally held their ground, doing
well until February y, When an uneApect-
ed attack developed in the southwest, be-
fore which the Russian right. weakened
by the withdrawal OF almost two corps,
yielded. BY March il became evident
that the Japanese were moving around the
Russian right in five heavy columns, and
il became imperative to withdraw 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 re-
markable celebrity, but the various organi-
cations became badly mixed.
The Russians on March occupied their
former positions on the Shakhe river as
far as the bridge, thence to Madyapu on
the Hun river and thence parallel with the
railway, six miles distant, the right rest
ing on the Sinmintin road. The Japanese
on March beginning to turn even this
position with view to cutting of the re-
treat, the Russian right was ext ended
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