Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-06
A DEATH STRUGGLE
Terrific Contest Waged
in Far East,
FATE IN THE BALANCE
Gen. Kuropatkin's Position
Appears Desperate.
OYAMA'SSCHEMECLEAR
LAST MOVEMENT CAME LIKE A
BOLT FROM A CLEAR SKY.
Result of Battle Expected Tomorrow
Comment on oyama's Ability
to Crush Kuropatkin.
OYAMA'SSCHEMECLEAR
LAST MOVEMENT CAME LIKE A
BOLT FROM A CLEAR SKY. g.

The latest dispatches from the far
east report that Kuropatkin last
night had in part arrested the ap-
anese advance, but that his position
before Mukden still continues most
perilous.
Today two OF the largest armies
OF modern times face each other on
the plain between the Hun and Lao
rivers, and within a few hours a de-
cisive battle is expected to be
fought
One side or the other cannot es-
cape an overwhelming disaster. The
fate OF Russia hangs in the balance.
1t is to be battle OF giant forces,
and, il the Japanese compel a Rus
sian retreat it will establish Oyama
as military genius OF the first mag
nitude, and prove loss to the Rus
sian government that will be hard
to retrieve
ST. PETERSBURG, March $3.50 pm
The result of the greatest battle of modern
times Is expected TO be determined today or
tomorrow. Two of the largest armies of re-
cent times, both in men and guns are now
locked in a death struggle, and although
General Kuropatkin has evidently made
every preparation to cover his retreat by re-
moving his accumulated stores and NUM-
tions northward, it is now the opinion of
military men here that one side or the other
cannot escape overwhelming disaster. With
both wings bent backward, Kuropa tkin' S
position appears to be desperate, but the is
sue is still in the balance. News of victory
for him is only regarded as possible by his
breaking through the enveloping lines and
news of a concentrated offensive is hourly
awaited. Unless Kuropatkin can strike and
strike hard, 1t is realized that he must lose
Oyama's Strategy.
Field Marshal Oyamas strategy in this
battle is now clear. He startled and amazed
the war Office by the marvellous daring of
General Kurokrs advance against the ex-
treme Russian left, and the series of blows
delivered at the center, where no less than
thirteen separate attacks have been
launched by the Imperial Guards ten miles
east OF Poutiloff Hill. But il is now real
ized that the heavy blows at the left were
Intended to mask the real turning move
ment, which came like a bolt from a clear
sky out of the west. kuropatkin fell into
the trap.
The situation seemed an exact duplicate
of that at Liao-yang, and the Russian
commander-in-chief FASTENED to mass
forces to meet Kuroki. Friday the whole
situation was suddenly reversed when with
lightning rapidity the japanese turning
operation began on the plain between the
Hun and Lao rivers.
japanese Ignored Chinese Neutrality.
In order to succeed Oyama threw the
neutrality of China to the winds Gem
eral Nogi with his Port Arthur veterans
moved up the right bank of the Hun and
fell like an avalanche upon the weakened
Russian right doubling it back in confusion
the japanese advance being co-ordinated
with the advance straight from the west
OF japanese column of 10000 men which
clrcIed around or through Chinese territory
Although rumors of the presence of the
latter column westward of Mukden were
circulated as long ago Tuesday Kuro-
patkin evidently was taken by surprise
possibly refusing to believe that the jap
anese would thus openly fling Chinese
neutrality to the winds At any rate IL
was not until Saturday night that he was
able to shift sufficient reinforcements