Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-04-29
He EmphaticalIy Regrets the Re-
treat of the Russian Army
From Nukden
IN NO SENSE COMPLETE ROUT.
We're Not Pressed by the japanese,
Their Condition Being as Bad
As the Russians

Gunshu Pass, April 2S.-Gen. Line
witch granted an interview to the Assoc
ciated Press at his headquarters here
today, in the course Of which he ex-
pressed himself as highly satisfied with
the present condition OF the Russian
army and its readiness TO assume the
offensive. lie manifested emphatic re-
greet for the retreat from Mukdeu, The
new commandcr-m-c believes that
the peril to the army at this juncture
was overestlmated and that the day
vas far from being lost when the re-
treat was ordered with his eyes
cleaning with "A great energy and om-
phasl2ing his words with a blow upon
the camp table before him, Gen. Line
witch exclaimed;
81 would certainly not have retrcatcd,
/ realize that 1t Is easy now To pass
judgment upon accomplished facts, but
nevertheless / repeat, ! would not have
fetreated | persuaded kurOpatkiu TO
stand at Tie pass and we halted there
for "A time. We could nave remained,
but on account Of the factors he con-
sidered It ineXpedient and the retire.
ment was continued. After assuming
command | gave the men a days rest
The japanese did not press us and
could not do 81, as their condition vas
quite as bad as ours
"As for that unfortunate retirement
itself, any observer can convince him
self that its significance, and especially
its influence upon the army has been
industrlously and greatly exaggerated
by the Japanese and the foreign press,
The retreat was I'm no sense I'm the
nature Of a complete rout proof of
which is evident I'm the fact that I'm loss
than n month after the retreat the two
armies which were thrown into con-
fusion by the Japanese had been COLI
lected and fully reorganiZed. The first
army did not require this having re-
tired I'm order
Gen. Lineyitch attributes the greater
success Of the first army during the
retreat to the relatively more adyan-
tageous position I'm which II was To-
Gated. lie admitted that there We're
heavy losses I'm both men and material
during the retirement, especially to the
wagon train, but he declared this was
also exaggerated. Touching the break
ing through Of the japanese at the
Hun river on March 0, Gen. Linevitch
said he aid not nor does he now attach
real significance to It, believing that
this force was not greater than two
companies Of scouts or small bodies Of
cavalry, and he believes that the re-
port that japanese artillery was in
action east OF the Great Mandarin road
on March 10 was based on mscacula-
ton.
Gen Linevitch also discussed the
Gripenberg incident, taking the part Of
Gen. Kuropatkin as against his former
subordinate, and finished with an eX-
preston of good viii toward the press
In the present war. After an express
sion of regret that so much harm had
been done before he was given CONF
mand, a cloud Of sorrow darkened the
rugged, energetic face Of the venerable
general, and he twice repeated; Yes,
II is a sad Inheritance"
The correspondent later lunChed with
the staff, where Gen. Linevitch warned
his officers against a too wide extension
of scattering Of forces. lie favored
rather concentration. even Of cavalry.
In the last fortnight the Russian
army on the right left and center has
advanced beyond the Siplnghal position
and the Russian vanguard posts are
now In the form OF an inverted crcs.
cent, the left horn of which is con-
slderably I'm the rear of Changtufu
which the Japanese hold and which Is
strongly Tortured,
The Japanese are now eNerting 9
pressure against the Russian advance
On account Of the nature of the country
and the positions of the opposing arm
les II il impossible to effect recon
naissances by small bodies OF scouts
and work OF this nature must be dom
by considerable attachments, often I'm
Guiding all three arms Of the service
being practically reconnaissance II
force. These "Reminiscences do no
show at the present moment a Japanes
turning movement IN the direction %
Klrin, hut It Is impossible to say wha
may he taking place along IN" caster
road from Korea and the Yalu terri
tory.
The country there. however, Is eX
Ceedngly mountainous and difficult 70
military operations, and 1t is though
that the roads are impossible for troop
with artillery trains,
The Japanese are actively fortifyin
around Kal Yuan, and the line OF jap
anese defeuses appears to be approx
imately In the vicinity Of the villages o
Shahedzl and Syasouske and the vale
Of Kaokhe. Prince Hilkolf, minister d
railways. has arrived here.