Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-03-08
DEFEAT OF RUSSIANS
Kuropatkin Cannot Hold Muk-
 den Against Oyama.
WILL RETREAT TO NORTHWARD.
Slaughter Is Worse Than That Of LiaOyans-Doth Armies Have Suf-
 fered Tremendously In Ten Days Fighting.

LONDON, March S.-A St. Peters, burg dispatch this morning says: That the battle of Mukden will go down in history with Liaoyang in the long list of Russian defeats is the almost uni versal belief in pessimistic St. Peters burg, which has forgotten the meaning of the word victory. The war office does not admit that the issue of the great battle has been decided, although it is positively staged in high quarters that General kurOpatkin has telegraph ed to Emperor Nicholas that it will be impossible to hold Mukden and that the withdrawal of the army northward has already been begun
 For ten days the Japanese and Rus sian armies in Manchuria have been engaged in mighty conflict, the issue of which has not yet been reached. Al though the most of the news from the scene of the battle comes through Rus sian sources and consequently may be supposed to present the facts in as fla vorable light as possible for the Rus
 
 nese have made some great gains. St. Petersburg has an unofficial report that General KurOpatkin's center has been broken and that thirteen siege guns have fallen into the hands of the Japa- nese. These guns, which are of the six and eight inch caliber. were given per manent implements on the line of the railroad north of Shakhe station, the fact evidencing the confidence of the Russians that the Japanese could not penetrate thither In St. Peters burg it is generally believed that Gen. eral Kuropatkin is fighting rear guard action to cover his retreat and that the night will have witnessed large withdrawal of troops toward Tie pass.
 The losses already exceed those in the battle of LiaOyang on the Russian side. and the Japanese are supposed to have suffered much more. though this does not seem to shake the Japanese tenacity, for at noon they attacked Yenhsitun. advancing their infantry and occupying Yenhsitun. when the artillery battle increased furiously, shells setting fire to many buildings. the smoke from which, joining dust storm, shrouded the vast plain in clouds in which the battle rOared and the sun sank.
 The Japanese have made a success sion of desperate attacks on General Tserpitsky's division on the west front south of Mukden, repeating the as sault at intervals of two hours with constant re-enforcements. About 50,- 900 Japanese, with POO pieces of artil- lery. participated. All the attacks were repulsed, there being enormous losses on both sides. One extremely impor- tant position changed hands several times. Finally General Tserpitsky, on horseback, placing himself at the head of his troops, led his regiments to the attack with colors flying and music playing. The attack was successful. After it was over the victorious sol diers crowded around General Tser- pitsky, shouting his praises and even kissing his hands and feet. The Rus sians captured several quick firing guns and many Japanese prisoners, in cluding officers.
 . It was reported that Major General Gerngross of the East Siberian rifles has taken and held TashichaO.