The San Francisco call., 1905-03-11
Continued From Page 1. Column

olas, 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 dread
ed, the latter hoped for.
General Kuropatkin is no maker Of
phrases; his words never are quoted
like the famous "All is lost save hon.
or" but his laconic messages probably
hide more than any other two SEN
tences in the literature of war. ST.
Petersburg knows nothing of the ex-
tent OF the disaster, not even the
lines of Kuropatkin's retreat; whether
the route to Tie Pass is still open,
whether he is endeavoring to cut his
way through to safety or whether, as
many of the pessimists believe, he has
taken to the mountains. If 1t Is the
latter he will inevitably be hemmed
in and starved into surrender as Mar
shall Bazaine was at Metz.
The dispatch has been studied as
closely as was ever the most abstruse
text of scripture over which dog
maticians have wrestled and from the
words ''All our armies the optimistic
draw the deduction that the bulk of the
Russian forces got away. clear, the
commander-in-chie sacrificing, how
ever, the devoted rear guard, who flung
themselves as prey to the japanese
wolves who were closing in on their
trail and sacrificed also, it is con-
ceded on either hand, the greater part
Of his heavy artillery, especially the
siege guns and enormous quantities of
supplies and munitions.
FATE OF THE ARMY.
OF the present situation of the
q y l0f tnY iC ut nrIx
merely beaten, of the proportion of
Russians left in Japanese hands. or
Of the prospect of the escape of the
remainder-St. Petersburg at this
moment knows less than the smallest
hamlet in America. Since the Mukden
dispatch was filed at o'clock Friday
morning no dispatch save the brief Of
| fcial announcement of the retreat has
come from the Russian army. General
Kuropatkn's preceding dispatch CIV
ing the last details as to the positions
of the army having been written at 9
o'clock Thursday evening. The mem
bers Of the general staff. when asked
for information, said:
I'VE know nothing. We hope he will
bring the army off safely, but we do
not know how he will do II. We only
know he has commenced to retreat:
that is ALL"
Every one now Is discussing peace.
which many of the stanchest advocates
of the war, bureaucrats and officers.
declare to be inevitable. 1t openly is
bruited that Rojestvensky's fleet has
been recalled and is now on the way
homeward. The admiralty, when
asked IL the report were true. said:
I'VE don't know Call again to-mor-
row. and declined to comment on the
significance of the cancellation of the
purchase Of colliers or the direction
of Rojestvensky's voyage from Mada-
gascar waters. 1t can be stated. how
ever, that no overtures for peace yet
have been made, and none are likely
to be made for a few days, before the
extent of the disaster has developed.
Aside from peace, defeat may bring
other consequences in it's train. That
an enormous impetus has been given
to the reform movement is plain even
to the most reactionary conservative:
but the immediate result chiefly dread
ed is the effect on internal disorders.
not only in the capital, but also. since
st. Petersburg is not Russia. upon the
millions of peasants in the vast agri-
cultural regions, among whom the
spirit of revolt now is incubating and
already has Matched pillage and arson
in a few districts. 1t is believed how
ever that the Government is able to
nip the uprising in the bud and pre-
vent radicals In the cities from bring
ing off anything more than demonstra-
tions and talk of revolution, aside from
the peaceful revolution which has been
under way in the last six months.
DEFEAT OUTS DEEPLY.