The San Francisco call., 1905-03-09

TOXIC, March 9, 6 a. m.-The great
battle in Manchuria RACED all day yes
terday along the entire enormous front
The Japanese were generally victorious
and they drove the Russians from a
series of important positions. BY night
fall II seemed imperative that General
kuropatkin would have to withdraw
his shattered legions to avoid a COM
plete disaster. Indeed, it appeared i'm
possible for him to effect a retreat
without heavy losses of prisoners, guns
and stores.
The continuous battle is already the
bloCdiest of the war. On the ground
that General Oku alone gained lie SO0O
Russian dead. The reports from the
other armies are expected to triple this
figure. Ii is estimated that the Japa-
nese have lost $4,000 men. making the
joint slaughter far exceed 100000 men.
Details OF the combat are lacking, but
1t is believed that the Japanese have
cut the railway north of Mukden, leav-
ing only the roadways and a light rail-
way from Fushun to Tie Pass as ave-
nues for the retreat of the Russians
but army headquarters refrain from
affirming or denying report to that
effect.
MUKDEN, March photographic
communication with Hardin was de-
stroyed by the Japanese early this
morning. but has since been restored.
The Russians on Tuesday captured
500 prisoners, who appeared to be al
most exhausted.
The losses ON both sides have been
enormous. The casualties on the Rus
sian left flank on Tuesday exceeded
1000.
The burning of commissariat ware
houses and the destruction of supplies
south of Mukden is said by Russian Of
ficers to be complete. Everything that
could not be carried away was de-
stroyed.
To-day the situation is more tense. A
terrific cannOnading is in progress and
the streets of Mukden rumble as with
the roll of 10000 drums.
/ MUKDEN, March s.-The Russian
army Is evacuating positions south and
| southwest of Mukden. The sky ID
/ lighted with the brilliant glare OF burn
| ing warehouses, where tons OF commits
sary supplies have been given to the
| flames. The retirement issbeing effect
ed in perfect order. the Russians beat
ing on attacks by pursuing Japanese.
| The withdrawal was necessitated by
a heavy concentration Of Japanese west
and northwest of Mukden. whittier they
have transferred a large share of the
| forces from the southern front to rein
force the original striking force of Gen
eral Nogi.
The Russians still hold their position
at Madyapu, where a strong attack /.
expected at any moment.
A division of Japanese troops ap-
peared north of Mukden, on the heights
west of Hushatai station
Except for fights at Ushuntun and
/ Tatchekiao, Tuesday was quiet, com
pared with the fighting on the previ-
Gus days. The Japanese evidently were
completing their transfer of troops
The Japanese arrangement for fur
nishing ammunition along the enor-
nous front is acknowledged by Rus
sian officers to be admirable.
A large number of Japanese anc
j Chinese spies have been captured dur.
ing the last three days within the Rus
sian lines. The former were especially
bold. A Japanese officer in full uni
form was captured on the inside posi-
ton Of a Russian battery. For severa
days the Japanese have been throw
ing proclamations inside the Russian
lines and circulating them in Mukden
warning the inhabitants OF the ap
preaching bombardment of Mukder
ard predicting the capture Of the cit.
byAMarch 10.