The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-03-10
THE FIGHTING AT MUkpEN

form of bulletins from Mukden point
ing to the imminence of disastrous
defeat, perhaps capitulation, for the
immense army of Gen. Kuropatkin. His
has been broken through or turned in
many places. 1t is possible that his
line of communication has beenlcut to
the north and in this latter event
nothing can avert his present surrender
to the victorious Japanese-if Oyama
can restrain the impetuosity of his
men. The greatest danger to the COM
pleteness of the Japanese victory lies
in the disposition Of the little brown
men to go too far in pursuit Of broken
columns, but in any event the victory
will be only qualified.
The battle, which has lasted nine
teen days, has developed military gen
ius of the highest order in at least two
men-for if Oyama has shown himself
a great master of offensive strategy,
Kuropatkin has demonstrated tremen-
dous resources in retreat. For his re-
treat, it is clear, is a battle with a
constantly changing scene of opera
tons.
The reports of the progress Of the
tated by the aggressive tactics OF two
of Kuropatkin's new corps command
erS-Linevitch and Rennenkampf.
Linevitch. acting of his own motion,
attempted to turn the flank of Kuroki's
army. Kuropatlkin had placed his
forces with a view to receiving an as
sault. Linevitch left no choice for the
commander in chief but to accept the
general engagement that was at once
brought on. Linevitch failed in his at
tempt on Kuroki and was driven from
his position. He fell back Feb. Is and
since that date the ragged line Of bat
tie Of the two armies has blazed with
an incessant fire OF incredible weight
~ AiiSNSsA oiio NiiC 6oiAo ANNA-
nenkampf, with his heavy artillery and
Cossacks, appears to have made the
most determined stand. From Feb. "a
to Feb. &c he held his position on the
extreme right flank, then falling back
on Da pass, twelve miles to the north
and leaving an opening which the Japs
were quick to take advantage of. Up
to March Rennenkampf held the new
position on the Hun river with sixty
field pieces, but his losses must have
been enormous, and his final retreat
was discounted.
Up to the time of this second retire.
ment the fighting was heaviest on the
right wing, but since Kamimura
brought his fresh fifth army corps to
the support Of Kuroki there has been
no reported difference in the vigor Of
the attack or defense along the entire
line. Kuropatlsin has moved steadily
to the north, fighting every inch Of the
way, leaving thousands Of dead, but, it
appears. generally removing his
wounded. For two days the wounded
have been left on the field. Mukden
is no doubt in the hands of Japanese
and 1T is not conceivable that the Rus
sian commander can extricate any
considerable number of his hosts from
the trap which the Japanese have
closed around them. -..
The dispatches tell little of the story
Of this battle-one of the greatest. if
not the very first in point Of deadliness,
in the worlds history. The fatalities
were certainly enormous, much of the
fighting being at long distance and the
fire being maintained on the part Of
Kuroki and Kamimura with the IL inch
howitzers captured at Port Arthur and
used with fearful effect on the massed
regiments Of the Russians. Their de-
lenses were utterly useless against this
heavy fire and the retreat from point
to point was marked by slaughter.
With his supplies cut off, at least
$4,000 of his men, absolutely at the
mercy of Nogi and Oku, himself and
his entire army .hemmed in between
the walls of steel. formed by the Japa-
nese, Kuropatkin's condition is prac-
teal hopeless. The story of the dread
full carnage is not yet told. We know
in general way that Kuropatkin had
100000 men on the field and that, as
many as possible of these were brought
into action on several days. The Japa-
nese attacking force consisted of about
100000. Considering the nature of the
country, the weight of metal fire and
the duration of the battle we may look
for such a. tale of horror when the cas-
ualties are reckoned as will make the
Liaoyang affair seem comparatively
Insignificant