The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-03-09

operating on the Russian right well to-
ward Tie Pass. If the Japanese succeed
in reaching the railroad and interrupt
traffic, if only for a few hours, 1t may
have the greatest consequences for
General Kuropatkin, who is now en-
gagged in a literal race with the Japan
csc to reach a naturally defensible posi-
tiOn forty miles nOTthWard.
Guns Abandoned.
Thus far he has stood off all attacks
directly against the flanks of his army
and holds the way of retreat open. He
number of siege guns on his Shakhe pO-
sition, but if he succeeds in turning over
the army intact, with the principal por-
ton of its artillery train, to his successor
desperate, for Oyama will again have
missed his quarry and comparatively
barren victory will have been purchased
at enormous cost of lie.
t. All reports indicate that the Japanese
We're utterly reckless of. sacrifices. max
ing attack after attack, especially on the
center and west, against machine guns
and infantry fire which literally moved
down the advancing columns making hu-
man flesh so cheap that the survivors
could bastion themselves behind piles of
cOrpses.
Will Be Recalled.
After this action General KuroDatkin's
disposition may be regarded as certain
War Minister Sakha-rff is picked as his
probable successor, though Grand Duke
Nicholas Nicholasevitch of the board of
StrategiStS may be entrusted with the di-
rectiOn of affairs A strong faction of
the. emperor. opposed General Kuropat-
kin from the first. and though his early
defeats were CondOned because il was
realized that General kuroDatkin was
doing all that man could with the tools
at his command, ii is now felt that after
twice having had the opportunity to show
what he could DO with a powerful army
and having failed to accomplish victory
either time. his removals is advisable.
y high military official said last nlght
that the emperor had had enough of a
general whose Interpretation of a victory
was successful retreat
was a successful retreat: that Fabian
tactics are we'll enough in their way, but
that KuroDatkin went beyond those of
Fabius and neglected TO take account of
favorable opportunities for counter
strokes. Friends of General kuropatkIn,
however. say that no other general is apt
to do as well as he has done. and declare
that his removal may mean. as in the
American Civil war. the exchange of a
Hood for = Johnston.
Talk of Peace Revived.
The news Of a retreat on Tie pass is
bound to revive talk of peace, though if
Field Marshal Oyama has failed TO crush
General KUroDatktn. peace is no more
imperative now than it was last month.
Peace advocates point out the departure
Of Vice Admiral Rojestvensky's squadron
from Madagascar for J1buttl slmultane-
Ously with the loss of Mukden, and in
innate that perhaps the movement of the
fleet may have been adopted in view of
the latter event. The movement, on the
other hand. may be in pursuance of "a
plan for a junction. between Rojestvensky
and the reinforcing squadron preparatory
to giving battle TO Togo's fleet The
peace movement admittedly has a strong
following even in the ministry, but it
cannot be stated now whether the defeat
at Mukden has been effective enough TO
turn the scale. No decision can be taken
at least until the extent of the reverse is
known.
More important STILL however. is the ef-
feet on the internal affairs of Russia
Liberals Welcome Defeat.
Defeat is not unwelcome to the lib
erals, who argue that the graver the
governments difficulties the greater the
extent of the reforms which it may be
forced to concede. At the present crisis
the project of the reform rescript of
March has not been worked out, al
though ii has been the subject of much
elaboration A commission is yet TO be
appointed. Whereas yesterday the idea
was to have a purely consultative body,
meeting perhaps separately. according to
estates, the existing condition of affairs
may force the commission to propose
long steps toward more influential body
possessing the initiative in legislation
The strange spectacle is thus presented
of men who claim to be patriotic Rus
slams rejoicing over the defeat of their
country on foreign battlefields.
The revOlutionists probably will use the
result as a preteXt TO renew demOnstra-
tions against the war.