Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-02

Detailed Description of the Movement of Troops
and What Was Accomplished
Phases Of the Action.

attained, since they not only held their
ground everywhere, but even made progress
In some directions and occupied the whole
attention of something like two-thirds of
the Russian army. Up to March s. Kuro-
patkin with no troops at disposal to inter-
fere seriously with the decisive attack on
his right. which had now swung round and
had forced General Kaulbars to face west
ward on line running from Machia Pu to
North Northeast
The Third Phase.
By March~5 the Russian army had been
shepherded into situation where it could
be dealt with with greater facility and con-
venience. 1t was held fast in the center.
driven back on the left and completely
turned on the right The battle proceeded
without interruption, but kuropatkin now
began to draw every unit that could be
spared toward Mukden, in order to throw
back the decisive attack of the enemy the
object of which was no longer open to
doubt. The first serious attack by the Rus
san reserves upon General Oku appears to
have taken place on March 5. 1t pene trated
some short distance along the Hsin-Min-
run road, but was then repulsed. General
Nogis line was meanwhile extending more
and more to the north of Mukden and as
Stunning the character of development
No success had been gained by other parts
of the Russian line of battle of a nature 20
counterbalance this serious attack, and on
MdEcH o huTOpdthln decided to withdraw
his center and left behind the line of the
Hun and attacked Oku and Nogi with every
unit that he could collect for the purpose
from the armies of kaulbars and Bilderling.
The Fourth Phase.
The horrible situation of the Russian
army at that moment showed Linevitch, on
the Russian left, had not been seriously
harmed by kurokis attacks, and the Rus
sian first army effected it's retreat to the
line of the Hun without serious loss and
there took position and prepared to resist
But at Mukden the situation was fast be-
coming impossible. Kaulbar's army was
exhausted, nearly all the reserves used I'D
and the arrival of Chickering's third army
at Mukden, on March 8, led to a fearful ac-
emulation of troops on a restricted space
where they gradually became exposed to
the converging fire of the enemy who now
drew in upon the town from all sides except
the northeast. Nevertheless, Kuropatkin
made a most gallant effort to break clear
and is reported to have led in person an at
tack of sixty-five battalions, following an
earlier one by forty battalions
These efforts checked the advance of
Generals Oku and Nogi and even caused
at one moment serious disquiet at the Jap
anese headquarters since they were made
with great bravery and determination, and
the effort required to repulse them went
some way to check the impetus of the de-
ciSive attack
But at this critical moment Kuropatkin
received serious news from his center
When Bilderling and Linevitch fell back
on the Hun insufficient care was taken to
preserve touch between the two armies
and at 10 am. on March Kuropatkin re-
ceived the serious news that the line of the
Hun had been penetrated and Kuisan
twenty versts east of Mukden occupied by
the Japanese. On the north and the same
day Nogi was fighting to establish himself
across the Russian line of retreat. A de-
lay of twentyfour hours would probably
have entailed the entire destruction or cap
ture of the Second and Third Russian
armies and at dusk on March 8 the order
was given for a general retreat.
The Fifth Phase.
Owing to the enveloping character of
the japanese attacks, a considerable body
OF Russian troops in and around Mukden
were unable to get away, and though the
town was occupied by the Japanese at 10
am. on March 10. parties of Russians con-
tinued to resist in adjacent villages and
positions until March Ii. Nogi however.
by the evening of March 10 occupied the
line OF the Puho directly across the main
line or retreat and astride all the roads
that lead from Mukden to the north and
though part of the enemy had prob,
ably already escaped under cover of
huropatkins offensive on the 9th. all that
remained was forced to abandon its car
riages and to escape over the hills In dis
order.
Linevtch alone retained his formations
and. showing bold front to Kuropatkin.
appears to have retired In Echeion from
his right. covering 10 a certain extent the
route of the remainder of the armies BY
March IL the Russians were driven from
all the country twenty-six miles north, and
the battle Of Mukden. which had lasted,