New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-04-29
LINEVITCH CONFIDENT.
OPPOSED TO RETREAT.
KuropatAiniS Tactics BLamed-Posi-
tons of the .Armies.

r7ua-shu Pass. April 2S-General Linsvitch
ssntsd an interview 10 The Associated Press
.,-respondent az his headquarters here to-day,
!, .hs course OF which he expressed himself
,,-rlv satisfied with the present condition OF
-. Tussisn army and its readiness to assume
-. oasas.ve- He manifested emphatic regret
-. re retreat from Moukden. The new COM
..nssF IN chief believes that the peril to the
- Il that Juncture was Overestimated and
-, she day was far from lost when the retreat
- ordsred Emphasizing his words with
- on che camp table before him, General
T,.v7itch exclRinledi
-vould certainly not have retreated realize
-. n Is easy now 10 pass judgment on accom-
-Issbes facts. but, nevertheless, I repeat I
I--s not have retreated. ] persuaded Kuro-
49, 10 stand at Tie Pass, and we halted
ssSere sor time. We could have remained, but
- aooouut Of certain administrative factors he
-,si6ered il tneKpedient, and the retirement
- continued After assuming command I
we the men a days rest. The japanese did
e. uress Us, and could not DO so, as their con-
,S,or vas cutie as bad as our own.
ss FOR that unfortunate retirement itself any
,,-esrrer can convince himself that It's signiti-
800 and especially its influence upon the
~v hes been industriously and greatly eX-
osge-afed by the japanese and the foreign press
NJ retreat was ~ no sense in the nature Of
cor-rlets rout proof OF which is evident in the
80 +baf 10 less than month after the retreat
~ Two armies which were thrown into con-
S-sion bv the japanese had been collected and
t~I,, reorgauized. The First Army did not re-
srlire his having retired in order.
General Linevitch attributed the greater sue
sss OF The First Army the retreat TO its rela-
+,velv more advantageous position He admitted
thar there were heavy losses IN both men and
material n the course OF the retirement, espe-
oially 70 the wagon train, but he declared that
this also vas exaggerated Touching the break
,nr through q the Japanese az the Hun River
On March 9, General Linevitch said he attached
no real significance 70 il, believing that this
force was not greater than two companies Of
scouts OF small bodies OF cavalry, and he be-
Ieved that the report that japanese artillery
was II action east Of the Great Mandarin Road
On March 10 was based on q rniscalculation-
General Linevitch also discussed the Gripen-
berg incident, taking the part OF General Kuro-
uatkin against his former subordinate. After an
expression OF regret that SO much harm had
been done before he took command the gem
erals face grew sad. and he repeated: Yes, it
IS q sad Inheritance"
The correspondent later took luncheon with
the star, where General Linevitch warned his
officers against TOO wide extension or scatter
ing Of forces. He favored rather concentration.
even OF cavalry.
IN the last fortnight the Russian army on the
right, left and centre has advanced beyond the
sig!nghai position, and the Russian vanguard
posts are now in the form OF an inverted cres-
cent the left horn OF which is considerably in
the rear Of Chang-Tu-EU, which the japanese
have strongly fortified The japanese are now
exerting pressure against the Russian advance.
On account OF The nature OF the country and
the position o. the opposing armies il is i'm
possible 10 effect reconnaissance by small
bodies Of scouts, and work OF this nature must
be done by considerable detachmeuts. often in
Guiding 81 three arms OF the service, being prac-
ideally "Reminiscences In force. These recon
n0issances Go not show at the present moment
japanese turning movement in the direction
q kirin, but il is impossible 10 say what may
be taking place along the eastern roads from
COrea and the Yalu territory. The country
there. however. is exceedingly mountainous and
difficult for military operations. and il is thought
that The roads are impossible for troops with
artillery trains
The japanese are actively certifying around
Kai-Yugn and the line OF japanese defences ap-
pears 10 be approximately in the vicinity OF the
villages OF Shahedzi and Syasouske and the val
ley o. Kaok
Prince Hilkoff. the Minister OF Railways, has
arrived here