The Tupelo journal., 1905-03-17

The battle of Mukden has resulted in
a Russian defeat.
Field Marshal Oyama has once more
proved himself one of the greatest mas
tiers of offensive strategy since Ma
poleon, while Gen. Kuropatkin is now
engaged in endeaVoring to defend his
title as a master of successful re-
treats, and bring off his army, with it's
immense train, safely to Tie Pass.
A Difficult Problem.
The problem before the Russian
commander-in-chief is much more diff
ficult than he met successfully at Lao
Yang, since now he is threatened on
both tanks, his left wing being entan-
gled in a mountainous region far from
the railroad. Nevertheless, Russian
military men here express a fair degree
of confidence in Gen. Kuropatkin's
ability once more to extricate his
army and avoid a Russian Sedan. Be-
sides his skill in rea guard action,
they base their hopes on the physical
condition Of the Japanese soldiers,
who, though they are conceded to be
the greatest marchers in the world,
are well nigh exhausted by their siren
uous endeavors of the last fortnight.
The Public Don't know 1t.
Only to the initiated is the news OF
the reverse positively known at this
time. Emperor Nicholas and high
military officers, of course, were in
formed by Gen. Kuropatkin's telegram
of Tuesday, stating that Mukden must
be abandoned; and that they received
details of the beginning of the with
drawal as they appeared in excised
portions of the official dispatches given
out Wednesday.
Last evening a newspaper contained
a vague report of doubtful origin,
credited to Chin@ sources; but the
first positive statement was derived
from the press dispatches from Gen.
Kurokfs headquarters, the contents of
which were quickly telegraphed to
many liberals from friends abroad.
Break Bad News Gently.
The report probably will not be
printed in this mornings papers, the
government, true to it's policy OF
breaking bad news gently, only pre-
pairing the way by authorizing the
publication of a number of Fremont
tory kilograms.
The great question now, and the one
over which the general staff burned its
lights late into the night, is whether
Field Marshal Oyama has entangled the
Russians in his strategic net sufficient
to prevent a successful retreat to Tie
Pass. Gen. Rennenkampff's forces to
the eastward admittedly are in great
danger of being cut off, and a consid-
cradle force of Japanese appears to be
operating on the Russian right well
toward Tie Pass.
A Serious Contingency.
If the Japanese on the right sue
coed in reaching the railroad and in
terrupt traffic, if only for a few hours,
it may have the greatest consequence
for Gen. Kuropatkin, who is now en-
gagged in a literal race with the Jap
anese to reach a naturally d~efensible
40 miles northward. Thus far
he has stood off all attacks directly
against the tanks of his army and
holds the way of retreat open. He I'M
doubtedly was forced to abandon a
number of siege guns on his hakhe
position, but if he succeeds in turning
over the army intact, with the principal
portion of it's artillery train, to his
successor the Russian case will be by
no means desperate.
Kuropatkin May be DepOsed.
After this action, Gen. Kuropatkin's
deposition may be regarded as certain.
War Minister Sakharoff is picked as
his probable successor, though Grand
Duke Nicholas Nicholaevich, Of the
board of s~trategists, may be intrusted
the direction of affairs.
A high military official said last night
that the emperor had had enough OF a
general whose Interpretation of a VIC
tory was a successful retreat.
Sudden Death.
Cincinnati, March 9.-Col. A. w. Nc.
Cormick, a prominent attorney OF this
city and state, died suddenly of heart
trouble at his home on Walnut Hills, |
where his wife is lying at the point OF
death. Col. Mccormick was 76 years
Of age, a veteran of the civil a
John w. Gates Improving.
Mexico City, March 9.-John ".
Gates is slightly improved, and though
his throat is much infamed. he has
for Tampico. He anticipates
the restoration Of his health on reach