The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-09
TIE PASS NEXT.
Reported That Japanese Have
the Place Invested.
KurOpatkin Probably Will Be
Forced to Surrender.
SURROUND RUSSIANS.
Japanese Have Bagged an Army
of $4,000 Men.
Railroad Destroyed to the North
of Mukden.
SURROUND RUSSIANS

New Chang, March 9, via Tien Tsin.-
1t is reported here that Tie Pass has
been invested by the japanese and thai
General Kuropatkin having no alterna-
tive, will probably be forced to surren-
der within a week.
The Russians have not been reinforc-
ed from the direction of Hardin since
March 1.
General Nogi's army made a forced
march of 25 miles daily and acting in
conjunction with General Okus army,
surrounded $4,000 Russians in the d.
rection OF Tie Pass and cut off their
supplies The hurrying Japanese armies
passed a division Of Russians without
giving 1t any attention until the envel-
oping movement was completed when
they crushingiy attacked the Russians
on all sides.
Railroad Destroyed.
Toxic, March 9.-The headquarters
of the Japanese armies in the field re-
ported today as follows:
In the Sinking Yenden direction our
force. ate. defeating the enc my at
Mashuntan, is still pursuing him in
the Shal1he river dire .tion. East of
The railroad the enc ny is showing
signs of retreat. Our while line opened
4 general ettack from midnight March
z and dislod2ed the enemy from bis
positions, pressing his force towards
the Hun river.
The whole district west of the rail
road end south of the Hun river is in
our hands.
"On the right bank of the Hun river
the operations continue
The enemy in the neighborhood of
Yangshithtun and Lkuanpao still
makes a STUBBORN resistance. The en-
we repulsed them inflicting heavy loss
Our force is now pressing the enemy to-
ward Mukden.
In the district north of Mukden, de-
spite the enemy's obstinate resistance
we have occupied SiaOchitun five miles
northwest of Mukden, Pschiatzu two
miles northeast of Siaochtun and San
taitz five miles north of Mukden- Our
force destroyed the railroad north of
Mukden.'
A second dispatch received from head
quarters today says:
''Since yesterday the enemy has fire.
quently and dercely shelled our killed
and wounded who were being removed
Ningkuantun, near Yangshihtun.
Gloom ut st. Petersburg.
ST. Petersburg. March $40 P NJ
The general staff officers can furnish no
clear explanation of the exact situa-
ton at Mukden, declining to make pub
Tic any details beyond those contained
in the official dispatches.
The atmosphere of the war office is
intensely gloomy. The officials admit
that General KurOpatkin has suffered
bloody defeat, but they insist that it is
not a decisive disaster. Their explara-
ton of the dispatches of Generals Ku-
ropatkin and Sakharoff reporting fight
ing on the north 'front.' is that they re-
fer to JapaneSe attempts to break
through the Russian line screening the
communications with Tie Pass, but the
public regards it as an acknowledge
ment that General Nogi has already
severed the Russian line of communi-
cations and enclosed at least a portion
of General Chickering'S army which
was bringing up the rear.
The disDa tches of the Associated
Press show beyond doubt that General
Nogi has actually succeeded In reach
ing the rear, although it was spe-
affirmed that the line was re-
paired and reoDened. 1t is possible
that this temporary interruption may
have caused the Toxic report.
The most important known develop
ment of the day is the report that a
flying Japanese column has appeared
northeast of Mukden and is heading
rapidly west. This probably is part
of General Kurokis army, which is
making a detour by forced marches
and swinging around to effect a juno
ture with General Nogi. If the
maneuver succeeds the net will be
closed.
It is said here that General Kuropatkin
with his headquarters staff is now at
Fanlziatung station on the railroad ten
niles below Tie pass.
The general staff admits that the earn
age in the battle will probably exceed
stan officers insist that the Japanese must
have sustained the heavier losses The
Russians believe they will surely reach
50, 00o-