New-York tribune., 1905-03-05

,--sral TZurokT's Headquarters in the Field
- the japanese have gained signal
-.,,orv beyond the Hun River, defeating in de-
"a '+zo divisions Of the Russian Sixteenth
c,-,s recently arrived from Europe. with great
.,suqh+e-. and capturing huge quantities of am
nunition-
The Frssians still hold their main line of de-
fences.
The Russians fighting stubbornly between
midnight and daybreak. made four attacks in
he.,-v force against the contingent of japanese.
vbich gained their first line in front of Wal
Tao Mountain Thursday night. The japanese
maintained their foothold and repulsed the Rus
sian attacks. iniicting heavy losses on the Rus
sans
The japanese held the. ground two nights and
che day in weather below freezing The morale
Of the japanese troops is splendid.
s.. Petersburg, March 5.-The outcome of the
great engagement on the Shakhe and Hun rivers
is the absorbing topic in the capital. and has
excluded discussion of the imperial rescript. The
result Of yesterdays action is unknown
Most startling rurnors had their origin on the
oyama had cut General Kuropatkin's army in
two, but dispatches from the front reported
comparative quiet on the centre during the day,
and dc not indicate movement there of this
importance. The situation, however. is sufl-
GENTLY perilous.
n the fighting at San-Lin-Pou on Friday the
Russians were facing only a division and half
Of the four japanese divisions in the Lao River
Valley. and with the utmost difficulty repulsed
these Correspondents. telegraphing Friday
at rlidnight. prophesied a renewal OF the fight
On Saturday morning against a reinforced jap
enese army.
The general staff declines to say whether
General Kuropatkfn is standing his ground
he is already retiring. An important council
Of war was held here on Friday, and another
VII take place to-day. This indicates the grav-
.ty OF the situation.
Current gossip is 10 the effect that General
Kuropatzin's position was one of the reasons
for the issue Of the rescript.
Berlin March A dispatch TO the "Tage-
tlatt" from St Petersburg says that General
Kuropatkin. in a telegram which reached st.
Petersburg at O'Clock last evening. reported
that 100000 Japanese had broken through the
Russian left wing. and that it was cut off from
the remainder Of the army.
At 10 O'Clock, the correspondent says, another
dispatch from General Kuropatkin arrived
which read:
The japanese are marching on Moukden. My
aoGfF &c evrra anal I1r
II government circles here to-day there is
conviction that General Kuropatkin has been
fully beaten. that part Of his army has been
dispersed and that the railroad north of Mouk-
den will probably be cut.
General Oku's Headquarters. March 3.-Last
night the japanese occupied three more villages
IN the Russian second line of defences, carrying
the captured lines twelve miles east OF Chang
Tan. The Russians are falling back on their
heavy defences south OF Moukden.
The japanese movement is entirely success
tul
The japanese losses have not been reported,
but It is probable that they Will not be heavy
considering the importance Of the movement.
The pursuit Of the Russians continues.
4 heavy bonabardnent is in progress.
Noukden. March 3.-The Russian positions in
TIE centre are unchanged. The east flank is
fighting close to Man-Chun-Tan, while the Jap
snese occupy su-Fang-Tai. on the southwest
On Thursday. and also this morning the Jap
anese corpB. gave battle on the southwest within
F.gh1 Of Noukden.
Russians report that a Japanese force has
broken around the right and is moving north,
though ii is believed the Russians hold the
in-AIin-Tun road at the Lao Rover.
March 4. a. r-The Russians are holding on
desperately 10 their positions.
although the fghting has now been in progress
SIX days The officers here are unable 10 say
Whether the actions at the wings are big dem
casirations to aid the task Of shattering the
Russian centre. or whether it is Field Marshal
oyama's intention 70 turn Moukden. One Of
! General Ku-opatkip's stan officers said:
ogama's plan. in ny opinion. is 10 break the
ssALfe, then iuctose the wings and compel q
eeinofallzed retreat but till the Japanese
1el@cks against the centre have been only meas
Nabiy successful
san-Lin-P Pou. which is the key 10 our position
y the right flank, was the scene Of awfui
ssFnage last night The japanese concentrated
= II the fire Of a hundred guns and then
SACKED with the bayonet According TO the
.epSrts coming in, they were repUlsed, and in a
sumter attack we captured seven machine guns.
Trains are leaving Moukden ceaseIessly for the
h'rth with wounded men and stores.
toko, March At was announced to-day
ron the beadausr+ers NJ tba JaDsnese armies