Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1905-03-10
FATE OF NATIONS
IN BALANCE
Crisis Has Been Reached in
Manchuria and 48 Hours
viii Tell Tale.
KUROPATKIN HAS ONE CHANCE
Oyama's Marvellous Strategy Has
Driven Russians Back But Worn
Out His Men - Chinese Neutrality
is Broken.

is Broken.
Paris, March THE Journals Muk.
den correspondent states that Lieu.
tenant General Linevitch on Monday
repulsed thirteen consecutive Japan.
csc attacks on the Russian center.
The correspondent also states that
the Russian right wing was unable to
stop the Japanese movement north
west of Mukden, where General Kual-
bars Siberians oppose General Nogis
Port Arthur veterans.
Niuchwang, Farch Tt is reported
here that the scouts of General Nogis
and General Kurokrs armies are al
ready in touch behind Tie pass.
Sakhetun, March 7.-According to
reports just received the Japanese
have advanced to attack along the
whole line. Fighting has been in
progress on the right flank of the
Russian army near the imperial tombs
since morning, but at this hour it
seems to be lessening and the roar OF
artillery indicates that the fighting is
gradually sweeping further and fur
Their from Mukden.
st. Petersburg, March THE result
of the greatest battle of modern times
is expected to be determined today
or tomorrow. Two of the largest
armies of recent times both in men
and guns are now locked in death
struggle and although General kuro-
paration to cover his retreat by re-
paration ito cover his retreat by re-
moving 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 pc.
sition appears to be desperate, but
the issue is still in the balance. News
of victory for him is only regarded
as possible by his breaking through
the enveloping lines and news of
concentrated offensive is hourly
awaited. Unless Kuropatkin can
strike and strike hard, it is realized
that he must lose.
Field Marshal Oyamas strategy in
this battle is now clear. He startled
and amazed the war Office by the mar
velous daring Of General Kuroli's adj
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 bolt from a clear sky out Of the
west
Kuropatkin fell into the trap. The
situation seemed an exact duplicate
OF that at Liaoyang and the Russian
communicating fastened to mass
forces to meet KurOki. Friday the
whole situation was suddenly revers.
ed when with lightning rapidity the
Japanese turning operation began on
the plain between the Hun and 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 up
on the weakened Russian right, doub-
iirg it back in confusion, the Japanese
advance being co-ordinated with the
advaxce straight west from a Japan
ese column of 10000 men which cir
cled around or through neutral Chin
ese territory.
| Although rumors Of the presence Of
| the latter column westward of Muk-
! den were circulated as long ago as
| Thursday, KurOIatkin 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 sufficient reinforcements west
| to stem the tide when the Japanese
were within sight Of Mukden.
But the latest advices are to the ef-
fCct that the Japanese, exhausted by
their tremendous efforts, have every
where stopped and now if ever Kuro-
/ patllin's hour has come. The Japan
csc lines are extended over sixty miles
while Kuropatkin's are constantly con-
tracing. Besides he has the advan-
! tage OF the offensive of operating in
| the interior Of bis lines. Military crit
les declare Oyama has not great
enough superiority to take risks. 40
cording to the war office, Oyama has
not over 10000 men in excess of kuro-
ratkin. whose force total about 34O,-
600. Should Oyama succeed the crit.
les declare that he will prove himself
to be master Of military science and
establish a reputation for military gen.
ius Of the first magnitude. But un.
less he can completely crush Kuropat.
kin's right they say Oyama is in i'm.
milent danger of having his own left
cut off and destroyed.
| BRIBERY In col ORAQO