Warren sheaf., 1905-03-16
JAPANESE PURSUE
FLEEING RUSSIANS
MIKADO'S MEN POUR ANNIHILA-
TING FIRE UPON RETREAT
ING TROOPS.

L
DEFEAT is CROWNlNG
- DISASTER OF THE WAR
Kuropatkin Said to Have Lost 300
Guns - 10000 Soldiers Reported
Taken Prisoners and as Many More
Killed or Wounded.
St. Petersburg, March 13. 49, The
broken Russian army is desperately
struggling northward, after enormous
losses in men, guns and supplies. The
rout seems complete, and an unofficial
report says that Kuropatkin has lost
900 guns and about $4,000 prisoners, be-
sides about the same number of killed
or wounded. To the east and west OF
the retreating army the Japanese are
closing in, and it is apparent that Russia
has met with the crowning disaster OF
the war. Official reports from Toxic
Say that thousands of Russians are
crowded into the district between the
railway and the Mukden road, while the
Japanese are pouring an annihilating
fire upon the demOraliZed mass. In a
dispatch to the emperor, Gen. Kuro-
patkin announces that he is in full re-
treat, and adds: How many are sur
rounded is not known" On three sides
the enveioping Japanese are drawing
in their lines, and it seems possible that
Oyama's supreme effort to interpose
strong force between the main Russian
army and the north may be successful
Little Known of Situation.
The curtain which shrouds the ex-
tent of the Russian disaster at Mukden
has not been pierced Nothing positive
is known of the situation, not even Gen.
KurOpatkin's own whereabouts. The
cCmmander-in-ch chiefs message an
nouncing that all the armies were in
full retreat is the last definite word
from the battlefield. The absence of
news gives fine play to imagination. and
the city is filled with the most pessi-
mlstic reports. The public generally
believes that the situation is much worse
than is officially admitted here.
While the military men do not at
tempt to minimize the Russian defeat,
the failure Of Toxic TO report officially
the exact situation affords glimmer
of hope that the position OF Kuropat-
kin's army is not SO black as painted.
The fact that 1900 cars loaded with ar
tillery and carrying wounded men came
northward from Mulden during the last
ten days, is interpreted as giving ground
for hope that Field Marshal Oyama's
plunder will not be as great as report
ed. The dust storm and the exhaust
ed state Of the Japanese armies after
their herculean efforts during the 1e
days battle may also have rendered the
retreating army good service. But the
main point. namely. how large pro-
portion OF the army is surrounded, and
whether it has been captured or still
has a chance to cut its way out. is not elu-
cidated. Everything indicates. how
ever, that Kuropatkin has suffered
catastrophe of the first magnitude.
Pursue Fleeing Russians.
Toxic, March 13-The Russian forces
are now retiring from Mukden, north
ward. They are flanked on both sides
by the Japanese troops in pursuit, and
are suffering heavy losses. The jap
anese wedge driven through the Rus
sian center on the Hun river continues
20 advance north. 1t has already arrived
at Hampu. some distance northeast OF
Mukden.
1t is reported that the Russians are re-
tiring north along the railway. evident
ly very badly confused, being caught be-
tween the wedge and the extreme JAP
anese left, northwest of Mukden.
They have been heavily punished dur
ing their retreat along the described
route. the Japanese shelling the dis
ordered masses of the Russians.
Czar's Losses Severe.
The full extent of the Russian disas-
ter is still unknown. 1t is known. how
ever, that the casualties and losses in
guns and munitions of war are enor-
nous. Even approximate figures are
unobtainable as yet 1t is expected
that the prisoners will number many
thousands Local estimates of the
number taken vary from 10000 to
so 900.
1t is not clear yet whether Gen.
KTOpatkin planned to stand and hold
his line north of the Hun river or
retire. until he found it was too late
to accomplish his plan with the forces
at his command. owing to his con-
fdence in the ability of the Russian
army to withstand assault. His action
in heavily reinforcing his right in the
neighbOrhOOd OF Mukden inclines many
to. the belief that he planned to hold
the line on the Hun river and attempt
ed to check flank attacks. By a des-
perate onslaught the Japanese drove
a wedge through the line of the Hun
river and then, pressing northward
practically created a giant Gordon
around Mukden, bagging a tremendous
force Of the Russians by the operation.
Desperate fighting continued during
the night, the Russians striving to
break the encircling barrier
1t is now known that. as a result of