The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-30


The total forces engaged stand at the enor-
nous figure of 76l, 500.
Oyama had divided his army into five
sectors. the commanders from east to
west being Kamamura, Kuroki, Nodzu,
Oku and Nogi, the latter with his Port
Arthur veterans. The plan Of campaign
was to suggest turning movement by the
eastern columns while the real hankng
operation was carried out by that on the
west. Kuropatkin seems to have fallen
into the trap. for when on March the Port
Arthur veterans reached Sinmintung.
thirty-three miles west Of Mukden. the
Russians did not realize that there was a
new force they had to contend with, mis-
taking the advance guard for part Of Oku's
men.
Up to March Kuropatkin's reports
were couched in an optimistic tone. He
was capturing half q score OF prisoners
here, coming into possession Of two or
three machine guns there and repulsing
the enemy's assault everywhere.
On March I, however. he seems to have
realized that his intelligence had been
concentrated on taking one Of his adver.
sary's pawns. while all the time the tolls
OF checkmate were closing sround his
own unconscious king. Even then he had
not recognized that the troops operating
against his right and rear were the Port
Arthur army, but at any rate he saw that
he was effectually outhanked.
The order to retreat was given, and the
movement began on the night Of March T..
The Japanese recognized the familiar
symptoms at once. Kuroki was In full
pursuit by midnight and Nodzu from 2
A. NJ, and before Kuropatkin reached the
Hun River. where he hoped to make
determined stand. the Japanese we're at
his heels. forcing him across the river and
never allowing him an instant to rally.
At II o'clock in the forenoon Oku, after
desperate fighting which cost the Russians
5000 casualties. broke through the ring
that 80 stoutly encircled the south and
southwest OF Mukden, and from an attitude
which for the moment had become almost
defensive passed to one of vigorous pur-
suit.
Kamamura, renewing his vehement as
sauts against Machuntun and Tita. saw
his stubborn foes fleeing at nightfall, and
Nogi's men before noon were engaged In
wrecking the railway north of MI kden.
Thrice during the first fifteen days the
Japanese assaults had been hampered by
snowfalls. Once again, on March o, the
weather interfered in favor OF the Russians.
There arose a dust storm such "a only those
who have encountered the phenomenon In
Manchuria can appreciate, q storm which
obscures the sun. cuts exposed parts Of the
body like a whip, forces Icy GOODNESS through
the thickest gar .1ents and renders even
breathing difficult. Such conditions suited
disorgauized flight rather than organized
pursuit, and probably mitigated the Russian
disaster. 1t was heavy enough, however.
The Japanese closed In from all sides.
The armies in the east and east central
sectors swept the Russian left from the hills
northward of Fushun. The center army
crossed the Hun River and then, wheeling
westward, formed with Nogi's army
ganlet through which the Russians who
had reiterated before Oku's men on the west
OF Mukden had to pass. These things
happened on March 10. the last day Of the
great cattle or series Of battles, for the five
armies had been engaged for nineteen
days, fighting over front Of 100 miles.
The Russians left some 50 900 dead. They
had over 10o,O 900 wounded and lost $4,000
prisoners. with enormous quantities of
foodstuifs and war material The Japanese
casualties tOtaled sou
It had always been anticipated that II
forced to fall back from Mukden the Rus
Sims would make another stand at Telling,
where they had constructed permanent
Notifications and accumulated great stores.
but that expectation had not imagined that
the retreat would be in the nature Of rout.
After the loss Of over 80 per cent. OF the
whole army, to have stopped at Telling
would have been to invite final disaster.
Kuropatkin, after a strong rear guard
resistance, continued his fight. and the
Japanese. following oose on his heels,
entered Telling on March 10.
Next day 1t was announced from st.
Petersburg that Gen. Kuropatkin had
been recalled and Gen. Linievitch put In
command of the army. Kuropatkin started
back for st.. Petersburg but stopped at
Hardin, and then returned to the army as
division commander. Linievitch withdrew
his forces toward Kirin and Hardin and the
war int, est again shifted to the sea.
BATTLE OF THE SEA OF JAPAN.
After its panic in the North Sea the Baltic
feet stopped at Cherbourg and then split.
Admiral Rojestvensky, with most OF his
ships. went around the Cape and the rest
went through the Suez Canal. The two
squadrons met again at Madagascar, whore
they took on supplies Of coal. Crossing
the Indian Ocean, they passed through the
Straits OF Malacoa into the South China
Sea and steamed along the coast to Saigon
and then to Kamranh Bay, French Ind.,-
China.
Here they took on more supplies, and
another international crisis arose. THE Sun
correspondent who visited Kamranh Bay
and saw the assistance the French authori-
ties were giving to the Russians attempted
to send despatch from Saigon describing
the conditions. The local French authori-
ties refused to transmit the despatch
Later it was sent from Hongkong, and
It's publication aroused all Europe because
Of tho apparent violation Of neutrality II
described. France, finally stirred to action,
ordered the Russian ships from It's Eastern
waters, and Rojestvensky, now fully
equipped. sailed north for battle.
Admiral Togo was in waiting at the Port
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