The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-03-12
243,O0O Available Troops.
(By the Associated Press.l


Tie Pass, March 11.-2 D. m.-For
many versts all the approaches to Tie
Pass are covered with troops artil-
Iery and baggage transport pressing
horthward, and twenty-five miles
away the strong rear guard of troops,
which is personally commanded by
General Kuropatkin, is retiring slow
" doggedly disputing with the pur-
suing enemy every foot of ground In
order to cover the retreat of the re-
mainder of the army.
The losses in this defeat, which is
the most bitter yet experienced by
the Russian army, by a moderate
computation is not less than 100000
men on both sides.
The Russians in addition, sacrificed
enormous quantities of munitions ana
stores, the greater part OF when
were set on fire before leaving Muk-
den.
Ii is impossible to say whether the
Russians will be able to put UP fight
and hold this position or whether 1t
will be necessary to continue the re-
treat to Hardin, but the rank and file,
whose military qualities never shine
so brightly as in retreat and defeat,
are far from being panic stricken,
and under capable leadership and
and given a brief time to strengthen
positions may be able to check their
pursuing enemy at this point
The Guilty Dust.
The order to abandon Mukden and
retreat to the Tie Pass position was
given at nine O'Clock on the evening
n 10. rNff In
Russians held a line on the Hun River
from a point ten miles east of Fushun
to Madyapu, the west front extend
ing to point six miles north OF Muk-
den station the continuous line or
battle generally parelleling the rail-
way four or five miles distant.
A terrible dust storm ragged. and
tension had reached its extreme limit.
1t was realized if any point of the
Russian line gave way all would be
lost.
The position in the most extreme
danger appeared to be north of Muk-
den station where 1T seemed for a
time the Japanese might break
through and entirely cut the lines of
retreat General Kuropatkin concen-
trated heavy columns there, took COM
mand himself. and succeeded during
Thursday morning in forcing the
Japanese back from the railroad and
also in driving out bodies of Japa-
nese east of the railroad.
The vancouver appeared to point to
success when, suddenly and unexpect-
eddy, news arrived that the Japanese
had broken through between the Slen-
der first and fourth army corps, TAX
ing advantage of the hurricane that
was blowing clouds of dust into the
faces of the Russians to deliver an
attack which the Russians were not
prepared to meet. 1t was impossible
to support the retiring corps as the
reserves to the last man had been sent
TO the line of battle at other points
and. as the danger of communications
being severed by this attack from the
east was imminent, retreat was deter
mined upon and immediately begun.
Roads Streaming With Troops.
The four principal roads leading
northward toward Tie Pass were COM
pletely occupied by continuous file
of artillery and transort and the re-
treating army blackened the country
between
Before beginning the retreat all the
depotS, stores and military buildings
and everything that would be of SER
vice to the Japanese were set on fire.
A large amount of baggage and many
guns were abandoned. All rolling
STOCK DeIOnSlilS u TIE main railroad
was brought away and not a single
car or locomotive was left at Mukden,
though some cars belonging to the
military roads behind the Shakhe
River positions were abandoned
About 1900 severely wounded Rus
slams and several hundred japanese
were left at Mukden hospitals. to-
gether with a complete Russian med
ical staff. which was entrusted to the
care of the chivalrous Japanese. The
remainder of the wounded in hospi-
tails were sent northward and a rail-
road train remained behind almost
with the rear guard and brought off
a train load of those wounded in the
retreat many of whom reached Tie
Pass without their injuries being
bandaged-
Mukden station was abandoned at
seven o'clock Friday morning. The
retreat was dreary and disagreeable