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

Rnacinl Cable Correspondence to The Sunday star
LONDON March 25.-The Times mill
tary correspondent, who has received spe-
cial information through army channels
regarding the battle of Mukden, says the
battle is destined to take rank with Austen
tttz Waterloo and Gravelotte, and to be
reckoned among the greatest and most de-
cisive of modern times.
1t will be many weeks before We shall
receive detailed reports upon this great
contest. and it will certainly be an affair
OF years before each phase of the struggle
Is set down for us in such accurate man
ner that we can follow out the movements
OF each side study their causes and their
effects and form reasoned judgment upon
the whole of the proceedings.
But the general character of the battle
IS sufficiently established to authorize an
attempt to present its main features, ana
TO give a very rough approximation OF the
position of the masses on one side and the
other during what we may caH this par
oxysm of national war. For this purpose
we have taken five phases of the action.
which are characteristic of the stages
through which the battle passed. and need
only add some brief explanations in order
to recall the general situation, so far as
II is known, during each phase that We
have selected as worthy OF HOlt
Japs First Offensive.
The first offensive movement of the Jap
anese began on their right on February 10,
and five days later the strong Russian de-
tachment at Tsin Khe Chen was thrown
out of its works and driven away to the
north. on February ~ Gen. Kurokfs first
army moved forward from the Pen-Hsi-Hu
district upon kau-Tu-Ling and drove the
I, l,afr ,T,-1r cod
about ten miles north and northwest OF
Pen-Hsi-Hu. This advance was also taken
up By Gen. NodZu's army on the Sha-Ho,
where ground was gained, and the attack
assumed a threatening character without
proceeding TO eXtremities.
The general effect of these movements,
which were steadily continued during the
days subsequent to the oath, was 10 attracs
the attention of the Russian commander to
his center and left to beckon the Russian
forces to this side, and to engage the
greater part of the hostile line of battle in
@ combat of steadily increasing violence
To what exact extent these very able dis
positions affected Europatkin's decisions
we cannot yet say, but it is probable that
during the last days of February consider
able numbers of the Russian troops We're
directed to the KauTu-Ling and Mach
auan-Tun districts and Ii is In evidence
that on March l the Russian commander
reported that he had assumed the offensive.
This. indeed. he did, and everywhere with
out success.
Thus this well-conceived preparatory
stage Of the battle appears to have OBJ
tanned all the results that were doubtless
anticipated by the Japanese general staff,
and along the whole wide front artillery
duel ragged without intermission between
the opposing armies. The time had now
come for the decisive attack.
Second Phase of Struggle.
The armies of Generals Oku and Nogi
had not as yet entered the field, but on
February % Okus army depIoyed between
the Sha-Ho and the Hun. while on his left
General Nogi marched with the utmost
possible speed between the Hun and the
l.iau in a northerly direction. The vgor
and rapidity with which this movement
was conducted broke down all opposition
and despite Russian counter attacks the
advance proceeded with all success.
Kuropatkin first became aware of this
movement on March l and on March 2 he
telegraphed that measures had been taken
against the turning movement. But the
recognition of danger came too late and
the measures were inadequate. His troops
were quickly driven back on the right
toward Mukden, and General Nogi rapidiy
disposed his troops for an ateack upon
the main line of Russian retreat But in
order TO chain the Russian troops to the
position In their center and left II was
necessary for Kuroki and Nodzu to make
sustained efforts at THIS critical juncture,
In short. to sacrifice themselves
This was done In order to prevent the
withdrawal OF Russian troops to meet the
decisive attack. Serious fighting there
| fore, took place all along the front of these
and more severe. In several places the
Japanese were repuised with heavy loss,
but their object was In a great measure