The San Francisco call., 1905-03-08
Hope for Victory Is
Dim in Russian
Capital.
War Office ClingS to
Faith in KurO-
patkin.

ST. PETERSBURG, March 8, 2:15
a. m.-That the battle of Mukden will
go down in history with Liaoyang in
the long list of Russian defeats is the
almost universal belief in pessimistic
St. Petersburg, which has forgotten
the meaning of the word victory. The
War Office does not admit that the is
sue of the great battle, which already
exceeds in magnitude of operations
and losses that of Shakhe, has been
decided, although it is positively said
in high quarters that Kuropatkin has
telegraphed to Emperor Nicholas that
it viii be impossible to hold Mukden
and that the withdrawal of the army
northward has already begun.
Nothing from General Kuropatkin
later than Monday has been given
out, but advices to St Petersburg
newspapers and dispatches dated to
s o'clock last night indicate that the
position of the Russian army after
day of furious and unprecedented
fighting is desperate, but not abso-
lutely hopeless, some Russian corre-
spondents even predicting q Russian
victory soon, and one affirming that
the extreme Japanese left has al
ready begun to retire southwark.
Everything probably now depends
on General Kuropatkin's reserves.
While the japanese hurled them
selves forward a. every point yester-
day, their main energies were behind
the blow west and southwest in an
attempt to envelop the Russian right
and drive a wedge through the line at
Madyapu, but General Kuropatkin
seems to have been unable to success
fully change the front on the line of
his shattered right, aligning from
northwest to southwest to protect the
railroad at Mukden, and at nightfall
it was reported he was practically
holding all his positions. At the same
time he was drawing in and shorten
ing his line to the southeast.
According to reports all the concen-
trated attacks of thei Japanese to the
westward failed, and the efforts of
Generals Nogi and Oku to push their
encircllng movement north and east
ward across General Kuropatkin's
line of communication were blocked.
Reports, however. are conflicting.
If kuropatkin has plan for striking
real blow, upon which, in the opinion
Of experts, his salvation depends, there
is no indication yet of such a purpose.
The commander in chief has been con-
flning his strategy, as at Lao Yang,
to meeting the attacks of the Japanese
and accepting battle at places chosen
by Field Marshal Oyama.
bOIn SlQeS are terribly exhausted by
ten days of continuous fighting, and
all the correspondents at the front in
innate that the issue must be decided
definitely to-day.
AT the military clubs here General
Kuropatl1in is already regarded as
beaten, the only question being his
ability to execute a retreat. Those who
believe there is still a chance of actual
Russian victory are few and far be-
tween. The majority regard the fight
ing yesterday as in reality a rear
guard action, entertaining no doubt
that there will be heavy withdrawal
during the night. These officers, how
ever, are dependent upon practically
the same information as the public.
No exact figures are hazarded as to
the losses, although it is evident that
they will exceed those at Liaoyang
on both sides. According to all ac-
counts the Japanese who had attack
ed were the heavier losers everywhere
except in the west. In the matter of
supplying food and ammunition the
Russians, occupying defensive lines,
enjoy a great advantage, which may
prove decisive at the crucial moment,
all the dispatches from the front dwell
ing upon the terrible exhaustion and
hunger of prisoners who have been
captured.