Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-06
The Pennsylvania troops did nobly.
The Battle of Mukden,

NOW that the stress and strain of the
Fourth are over there is more time to pay
attention to the course of events in the far
east, where for six days past the greatest
battle OF the war has been raging around
Mukden. The press reports from the front
are inconclusive, only a few facts being
agreed upon by all reports from both sides
1t is certain that Mukden has not yet
fallen, that the fight now in progress is
the most important of the war, and that
Kuropatkin is apparently getting the worst
of it up to date, the Japanese having
pushed home strong turning movement
to the east OF Mukden and having bent the
Russian right wing to the west, so that
there is serious talk of the possibility that
a large section of the Russian force will
either be cut off from its base at Telling
(Tie Pass) or forced to make a hasty re-
treat on that position.
1t is a natural supposition, in view of
past happenings, that the Japanese are
going to push home their attack success
fully, force the evacuation of Mukden and
probably demoralize the Russian army.
This may happen. But 1t would be antici-
pating events good deal to count Kuro-
patkin as down and out before he admits
that fact himself.
The situation at Mukden is peculiar. The
Russian and japanese armies have wintered
close against each other. At some points
the nearest trenches are only fifty yards
apart, and both armies have been drawing
water from the Sha river under a tacit
truce water parties from both sides going
unarmed and neither side firing on the
other. The winter has been spent by both
sides in constructing and strengthening
enormous Notifications, and it has been
oil tpta hot thA cid l. ioh
took the initiative was going to have an
almost impossible task in Gislodging the
other from its winter Notifications.
1t seems that the Japanese have taken
the initiative and, as was expected, they
found themselves at too close quarters In
the center to drive in a successful attack
! Poutilof or Lone Tree Hill at last ac-
counts was still In the hands of the Rus
slams. This hill has been an object of con-
test all winter. and as long as the Russians
hold it there Is good reason to believe that
Kuropatkin, who knows the defensive game
| of war II any one does, is confident of the
strength of his main position. and there will
| be no general withdrawal to Tie Pass
| When Poutiloff Hill falls into the hands OF
the Japs, If 1t does fail, 1t will be critical
| sign, and one may then look for a general
| Russian withdrawal from Mukden and
| falling back on the position at Telling
| Oyama has been forced, as was expected,
! to make a vigorous turning movement on
| the TANKS of the Russian position the main
| feature of his operations. Kuroki and Nogi
are making desperate drives at the railroad
| above Mukden. both from the east and
west. If they succeed in cutting the line.
| then Mukden may be turned into Sedan
| but in modern warfare history is better
| than prophecy, and 1t will be well to wait
| till the Japanese flank attack is successful
| before figuring on the utter rout of Kuro-
| patkins army.
What has stopped all of the big fights Of
| the war SO Tar has been the running out Of