The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1905-03-24


IS the correspondent of the Associat-
ed Press with the Russian army said:
For many versts all the approaches
to Tie Pass are covered with troops,
artillery and baggage transports
pressing northward, and twenty-five
miles away the strong rear guard of
troops, which is personally command
ed by General Kouropatkin, is retiring
slowly, doggedly disputing with the
pursuing enemy every foot Of ground
in order to cover the retreat of the
remainder of the army. The losses in
this defeat, which is the most bitter
yet experienced by the Russian army,
is by moderate computation not less
than 100000 men on both sides.
The Russians, in addition, sacrificed
enormous quantities Of munitions and
stores, the greater part of which were
set on fire before leaving Mukden.
They also abandoned their most
severely wounded and all heavy guns.
1t is impossible to say whether the
Russians will be able to fight and
| hold this position, or whether it will
be necessary to continue the retreat
! to Hardin, but the rank and file,
whose military qualities never shine
so brightly as in retreat and defeat,
are far from being panic stricken,
and, under capable leadership, given
a brief time to strengthen positions,
may be able to check their pursuing
enemy in the mountains here.
Order to Retreat.
The order to abandon Mukden and
retreat to the Tie Pass position was
given at o'clock on the evening of
March 9. Al dawn of that day the
Russians held line on the Hun river
from a point ten miles east of Fushun
to Madyapu, the west front extending
to a point six miles north of Mukden
station, the continuous line of battle
generally paralleling the railway four
or five miles distant A terrible dust
storm ragged and tension had reached
it's extreme limit. 1t was realized il
any point Of the Russian line gave
way all would be lost.
The position in the most extreme
danger appeared to be north of Muk
der station, where it seemed for {
time the Japanese might break through
and entirely cut the lines of retreat
Gen. Kouropatkin concentrated heavy
columns there, took command himsel
and succeeded during Thursday morn
ing In forcing the Japanese back from
the railroad and also in driving on
bodies of the enemy east of the rail
road.
The maneuver appeared to point t.
success, when, suddenly and unexpect
eddy, news arrived that the Japanes'
under Gen. Oku had broken through
between the slender First and Fourtl
army corps, taking advantage Of tn
hurricane that was blowing clouds o
dust into the faces of the Russians
l to deliver an attack which Gen. Kou
ropatkin was not prepared to meet
1t was impossible to support the re
firing corps, as the reserves to tn
last man had been sent to the line Q
: battle at other points. This spoile
the Russian commanders plans for a
orderly retirement.
AS the danger Of the communics
tons being severed by this attac
: was imminent, retreat was determine
y upon. and Immediately begun. TIL
four principal roads leading nortl
ward toward Tie Pass were con
pletely occupied by continuous fiji
of artillery and transport and the II
treating army blackened the countr
. between.
+ Taking Army North. ,
= Before beginning the retreat all tn
y depots, stores and military building
O and everything that would be of Sc
d vice to the Japanese were set On fir
O The great bridges across the HUI
d were destroyed by dynamite, but tn
level ice remained. A large amour
Of baggage and many guns WEI
q abandoned. All rolling stock belon
;,, RI Tho main rajlroa5 wac hrOu OIL