The San Francisco call., 1905-03-13

m.-The immediate answer of the Rus
sian Government to the defeat at Muk-
den is the announcement that new
army will be raised and the forces in
the Far East reorganized; that Vice
Admiral Rojestvensky will be ordered
to sail on and try conclusions with
Togo, and that the war will be prose-
cuted to the bitter end
This is the present temper OF Emper-
or Nicholas and his dominant advisers.
voiced in a firm official announcement
that the position of Russia is un-
changed and that the initiative for
peace can only come from Japan.
Should the island empire choose to
tender moderate terms and recognize
its adversary as the dominant power
In the Far East, peace could be easily
arranged; but the voice of her diplo-
mats in various parts of the world in
dicate that she is not ready to do this
and the Russian Government. with the
full magnitude of the disaster at Muk-
den still undetermined, but with the
1905 campaign seemingly already hope.
lessly compromised, retreat to Harbin
inevitable and Vladivostok practically
lost, declares that the time has not
yet come when Russia can be forced
to humble herself.
1t is reported that the dispatch of
two new army corps. including the
Fourteenth from Poland. and several
smaller units has already been de-
termined upon and that plans for fur
ther mobilization are under discus
sion.
MUCH TALK OF PEACE
But while this is the official attitude.
nothing but peace talk is heard in ST.
Petersburg. The difficulties of another
mobilization on large scale will be
nrI-- 70 II ie- efo fAI i,,
quarters that it will be impossible.
Nevertheless, it might be accomplished.
The real hope, however, for anything
like successful termination of the
war is admitted to rest upon the pros
poets of the financial exhaustion of
Japan. Russian resources. it is figured.
can stand the drain better than those
or Japan, and a protracted campaign.
IT is hoped, will bring about Japan's
financial ruin. Finance Minister Ko-
kovsoff, at the conclusion of a confer
ence of the national finances few days
ago, Is said to have tapped the table
before him and exclaimed:
We can win the war at this desk"
The Russian capital is still in,
Ignorance of the nature and extent of
the reverses in Manchuria. The only
information of it's magnitude is that
which has been derived from the few
TOXIC kilograms that have been ';aIs
lowed to be published here To the
censor at Tie Pass the word "prisoner'a
does not exist and not the slightest
lntimation of what, If any, units and
organizations have been cut off and
captured has reached this city. either
in General Kuropatkins official dis
patches or in reports from corres-
pondents at the front. "a
LOOKING FOR ANOTHER CHIEF.
Aside from the reports given out by
the War Office there is practically no
further information of the progress of
events, the newspaper dispatches re-
ceived yesterday being principally
those filed before the retreat began and
transported to Tie Pass among the
papers of the telegraph office 1t is
declared that the moment that General
hurokfs wedge, aided by the dust
storm and taking advantage of the
failure of several Russian organizations
to occupy appointed positions. drove
itself deep into the Russian flank it
dlsarranged all the plans of General
kuropatkin, who was on the point of
launching momentous counter
stroke; but where or how it was to be
accomplished is not stated.
General kuropatkin telegraphed to
Emperor Nicholas, assuming himself all
the responsibility for his defeat, MAX
Aii6 III eACuSeS except LndC the strength
of the Japanese was miscalculated, and
refusing to place any of the blame
upon the council of generals, upon
whose advice he determined to give
battle. This manly course and the
generals personal exertions in direct
ing the retreat will. however. hardly
save him. His reputation as an often
sive strategist is gone, and though the
Emperor's military advisers know not
where to look for a better general, his
resignation will be accepted.
KUROPATKIN'S SUCCESSOR.
1t will be difficult to find a capable
successor, but 1t is said now that it
probably will be General Grodekoff
Governor of Amur, although in
casting about for another commander
in chief some military officials are
turning to General Dragomiroff, who
is considered to be Russia's greatest
strategist; but he is feeble old man,
suffering with heart affection, and
1t is highly improbable that he would
be able even to make the long trip to
Manchuria.
In losing General Kuropatkin the
army will lose the idol of the private
soldiers-an officer who, in spite of
the intrigues of his generals and his
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