The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-03-14
KUaopATKlN's VAGUE REPORT
Last Night All Our Armies Com
menced TO Retreat"


Last Night All Our Armies Com.
menced TO Retreat"
st. Petersburg. March II. - Last
night all our armies commenced 10 re-
treat"
The greatest defeat In the history OF
the RussG-Japanese war was made
known in St. Petersburg last night,
but only in the paltry eight words from
General Kuropatkin 10 Emperor Nicho-
las which were flung about the streets
in newspaper extras and passed from
mouth to mouth
Two thoughts formed instantly in the
minds OF every one. and two words
were on every lip surrender peace
the former dreaded. the latter hoped
for
General Kuropatkin is no maker Of
phrases. his words never are quoted
like the famous "All is lost save
honor" but his laconic messages hide
more than probably any other two sem
fences in the literature Of war ST.
Petersburg knows nothing Of the OK
tent Of the disaster. not oven the lines
OF Kuropatkin's retreat. whether the
route to Tie Pass is SIN open whether
he is endoayoring TO cut his way
through to safety. or whether. "a many
Of the pessimistic believe. he has taken
to the mountains. II Il be the latter
he will inevitably be hemmcd in and
starved into surrender. as Marshal Ba-
zaine was AZ Metz
The dispatch has been studied as
closely as was ever the most abstuse
text Of Scripture over which d9gma'i-
clans have wrestled and from the
words All orr armies the optimistic
draw the deduction that the bulk Of
the Russian forces got away clear. thr
mmandcr-in-chicf sacrificing. how
ever. the devoted rear guard. who
flung themselves as prey to the JGpa-
nese wolves. who were closing in on
their trail and sacrificing also. IL Is
conceded on every hand the greater
part Of his heavy artillery especially
the siege guns and enormous qnantities
Of supplies and munitions.
or the present situation Of the army
whether It is utterly routed or mor".-
beaten. OF the proportion Of Russians
left in Japanese hands or Of the pros
pect of the escape Of the remainder
ST. Petersburg az this moment knows
less than the smallest hamlet ~
America. Since the Associated Press
Mukden dispatch was filed no = O'Clock
Friday morning no dispatch save the
brief official announcement Of the re-
treat has come from the Russian army
The members Of the general stan.
when asked for information. said.
We know nothing We hope he will
bring the army on safely. but We do
not know how he will do IT, We only
know he has commenced to retreat,
that is all
Every one now is discussing peace.
which many Of the staunchest adyo-
Gates OF the war bureaucrats and OIL
GERS. now declare 10 Boz inevitable. n.
openly is bruted that Roiestyensky'
feet has been recalled and is now on
the way homeward The admiralty,
when asked il the report were true,
said: We don't know, call again to-
morrow" and declined to comment on
the significance of the cancellation of
the purchase Of golfers. or the direc-
ton OF Rojestvensky's voyage from
Madagascar waters II can be stated
however. that no oyertures for peace
have yet been made and none arn
likely to be made for few days, be-
fore the extent Of the disaster has de
veloped
II Is realized that In the fighting be-
fore Mukden was evacuated the death
roll OF the battle Of Shakhe must have
been far exceeded. and the streets Of
ST. Petersburg. where every third won
an wears creme. will present a somb:e
sight when the casualty lists arrive