Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1905-03-15

Overwhelmingly by Japs In the
Fiercest Battle Of the War.

EA3ASG1N 8osNAp VI ~Ao war
Dispatches from st. Petersburg
March 8, say: The battle Of Muk-
den has resulted in a Russian
defeat.
Field Marshal Oyama has once
more proved himself one Of the
greatest masters Of offensive STRAIT
egg since Napoleon, while Gen.
KurOpatkin is now engaged in
endeavOring to defend his title as
a master of successful retreats, and
bring of his army, with its i'm
mense train, safely to Tie Pass,
where a position was long ago
prepared with this contingency in
view.
The problem before the Russian
Commander. in. Chief is mach more
difficult than the one he met sue
cessiully at Lao Yang, since now
be is threatened on both TANKS,
his left wing being entangled in a
mountainous region far from the
railroad. Nevertheless, Russian
military men here express a fair
degree Of confidence in Gen. Kuro.
patkin's ability once more to ex-
tricate his army and avoid a Rus
sian Sedan. Besides his skill in
rear-guard action, they base their
hopes on the physical condition Of
the Japanese soldiers, who though
they are conceded to be the great.
est marchers in the world, r we'll
nigh exhausted by their strenuous
endeavOrs of the last fortnight.
Only to the initiated is the news
Of the retreat positively known
at this time. Emperor Nicholas
and high military officers OF course
were informed by Gen. KurOpat.
kin's telegram of Tuesday, stating
t%ersely that Mukden must be aban
doned, and they received details Ct
the beginning of the withdrawal
as they appeared in portions VI
the official dispatches given out
yesterday. last evening a news.
paper contained a vague report OF
doubtful origin, credited to Chi
nese sources, but the first positive
statement was derived from the
Associated Press dispatch from
Gen. Kurokfs headquarters, the
contents of which we're quickly
telegraphed to many liberals from
friends abroad. The report prob
ably will not be printed 10 this
mornings papers, the govern
ment, true to its policy Of break.
ing bad news gently, only pre-.
pared the way by authorizing the
publication Of a number Of pre-.
monitOry kilograms. The news,
however, is only what was ex
pected, ultimate retirement having
been discussed from the moment
Oyama inaugurated his brilliant
move westward.
From information in the posses.
sion of the Associated Press it il
known that Gen. KurOpatkin con.
templated retirement before the
beginning of the battle, and thai
be had hoped to accomplish il
without q serious combat. The
Japanese, however, forced him tC
accept battle. The double turn.
ing movement cOmpels him to send
the major portion Of his reserves
to the lighting line and render ar
effective counter stroke ont Of the
question, and the decision to re.
tire vas Immediately taken Oh
March 6, as was stated by the AS.
ISOLATED press on that day. With.
drawal was actually begun during
the night.
The great question now, and one
over which the general staff burn.
ed it's lights late into the night, il
whether Field Marshal Oyams
has entangled the Russians in his
strategic net sufficiently to pre-
vent 8 successful Aetreat to Tie
Pass. Gen. RennenkampH's force
to the eastward admittedly is il
great danger Of being cut of and 9