The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-06
SEEIT ALL NOW.
Russians Realize That KurOpat-
kin Was Trapped.
Thought 1t Was Lao Yang
Game Over Again.
CHINESE NEUTRALITY.
Was Depended Upon as a Sort Of
Protection.
CHINESE NEUTRALITY.
Japanese Threw 1t Aside and
Marched Through Mongolia.

st. Petersburg, March $3.50 D.
m.-The result of the greatest battle
of modern times is expected to be de-
termined today or tomorrow. Two Of
the largest armies of recent times,
both in men and guns. are now locked
in a death struggle and although Cen
eral Kuropatkin has evidently made
every preparation to cover his retreat
by removing his accumulated stores
and munitions northward, it is now
the opinion of military men here that
one side or the other cannot escape an
overwhelming disaster. With both
wings bent backward Kuropatkin's
position appears to be desperate, but
the issue is still in the balance. News
of a victory for him is only regarded
as possible by his breaking through
the enveIoping lines, and news of a
concerted offensive movement is hour
ly awaited. Unless Kuropatkin can
strike and strike hard it is realized
that he must lose.
Field Marshal Oyama's strategy in
this battle is now clear. He startled
and amazed the war Office by the mar
velous daring of General Kuroki's ad-
vance against the extreme Russian
left and the series of blows delivered
at the center where no less than thir-
teen separate attacks have been
launched by the imperial guards ten
miles east of Poutiloff hill. But it is
now realized that the heavy blows at
the left were intended to mask the
real turning movement which came
like a bolt from a clear sky out of the
west Kuropatkin fell into the trap.
The situation seemed an exact dupli-
cate of that at Lao Yang and the
Russian commander-in-chief fastened
to mass forces to meet Kuroki. Fri
day the whole situation was suddenly
reversed when with lightning rapidity
the Japanese turning operation began
Lao rivers In order to succeed
Oyama threw the neutrality Of China
to the winds.
General Nogi with his Port Arthur
veterans moved UP the right bank Of
the Hun and fell like an avalanche
upon the weakened Russian right,
doubling it back in confusion, the
japanese advance being co-ordinated
with the advance straight from the
west of a japanese column of 10000
men which circled around or through
Chinese neutral territory. Although
rumors of the presence of the latter
column westward of Mukden were
circulated as long ago as Tuesday,
Kuropatkin evidently was taken by
surprise, possibly refusing to believe
that the japanese would thus openly
fling Chinese neutrality to the winds.
At any rate it was not until Saturday
night that he was able to shift suff1-
cient achievements west to stem the
tide when the Japanese were within
vices are to the effect that the Japa-
nese, exhausted by their tremendous
efforts. have everywhere stopped, and
now if ever Kuropatkin's hour has
come. The Japanese lines are ex-
tended over sixty miles, while Kuro-
patkin's are constantly contracting.
Besides he has the advantage for the
offensive of operating in the interior
of his lines.
Military critics declare Oyama has
not great enough superiority to take
-
Oyama has not over 20, 900 men in ex-
cess of Kuropatlxin. whose forces total
about $4,000. Should Oyama sue
ceed, the critics declare that he VIII
prove himself to be master of milf
tary science and establish a reputa-
ton for military genius of the first
magnitude. But unless he can COM
pletely crush KuroPatkin's right they
say Oyama is in imminent danger Of
having his own left cut off and de-
stroyed-