Arizona republican., 1905-03-11


 the Russian Japanese war was made known at St. Petersburg last night only in these paltry words from General Kuropatkin to Emperor Nicholas, which were flung about the streets in newspaper extras and passed from mouth to mouth. Two thoughts form ed instantly in the minds of all, and two words were on every lip-"surren- der and "peace"-the former, dreaded the latter hoped for
 Kuropatkin is no maker of phrases; his words are never quoted like the famous All is lost save honor" but his laconic message hides more prob ably than any other sentence in the literature of war.
 St. Petersburg knows nothing of the extent of the disaster, not even the lines of Kuropatkin's retreat whether the route to Tie Pass is still open, whether he is endeavoring to cut his way through to safety or. as many be- lieve, that he has taken to the moun- teins. If 1t is the latter, he will inevit- ably be hemmed in and starved into surrender as Marshal Bazaine was at Metz.
 ST. PETERSBURG GUESSING.
 The dispatch has been studied as
  text of scripture over which dogmati- clans have wrestled, and from the words "all our armies" the optimistic draw the deduction that the bulk of the Russian forces got away clear, the commander in -chief sacrificing, how ever, the devoted rear guard who flung themselves as prey to the Japanese wolves who were closing in on their trail, and sacrificing also, it is con ceded on either hand. the greater part of his heavy artillery, especially the siege guns and enormous quantities of supplies and munitions.
 Of the present situation of the army whether it is utterly routed or merely beaten or the proportion of Russians left in Japanese hands, or of the pros pect of the escape of the remainder St. Petersburg at this moment knows less than the smallest hamlet in Amer ica. Since the Associated Press Muk- den dispatch was filed at o'clock in the morning no dispatch save the brief official announcement of the retreat has come from the Russian army. Ku- ropatkin's preceding dispatch giving the last details as to the positions of the army having been written at o'clock on Thursday evening.
 Members of the general staff when asked for information said: We know nothing. We hope he will bring the army off safely but do not know how he will do it. We only know he has commenced to retreat; that is all.'
 PEACE PREDICTION.
 Everyone is now discussing peace, which many of the staunchest advo- cates of the war, bureaucrats and of ficers, declare inevitable. It is openly bruited that Rojestvensky's fleet has been recalled and is now on it's way homeward. a
 The admiralty when asked if the re- port was true, said: We don't know: cali again tomorrow" and declined to comment on the significance of the cancellation of the purchase of colliers or the direction of Rojestvenskys vOy- age from Madagascar waters. It can be stated, however. that no overtures for peace have yet been made and none are likely to be made for a few days. before the extent of the disaster has developed.
 Aside from peace, the defeat may bring other consequences in it's train. That an enormous impetus has been given to the reform movement is plain even to the most reactionary conse vative, but the immediate result chief ly dreaded is the effect on internal dis orders, not only in the capital but also. since St. Petersburg is not Russia upon the millions of peasants in the vast agricultural regions, among whom the spirit of revolt now is incubating and already has matched pillage and outrage in a few districts
 THE OUTWARD COLUMN.
 It was believed, however, that the government would be able to nip the uprising in the bud and prevent the radicals in the cities from bringing anything off more than demonstrations and the talk of revolution aside from the peaceful revolution which has been under way last six months, is secuted in well informed quarters. Outwardly St. Petersburg takes the defeat uncon- cernedly. A stranger in the streets would never know that the armies de- lending the honor and prestige of Rus sia had just sustained a crushing re- verse.
 There were no crowds last night, no demonstration, no change in the or dinary street life. Newsboys were hawking extras on the streets-mere dodgers with three lines of Kuropat- kin's dispatch, surrounded by wide margins of black, but there was noth- ing to indicate that the extras were more important than those in which for. a year Kuropatkin's dispatches have been issued. Z,
 AWAITING THE DEATH ROLL.
 The government has made no at tempt to palliate shock or explain the significance of the retreat It simply sent tbe dispatch when it was issued by tie general staff late in the even ing direct to the papers with author ization to print In clubs and private houses however the situation was dis cussed. Conjecture is added to fact and the invariable query is what fur ther." One circle of liberals on re- ceiving news, called for wine and sol emnly pledged "the new Russia" but generally the defeat cuts deeply and is keenly felt especially by families rep