The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1905-03-07
MUKDEN THEIR SEDAN
Ku~e patkin's Army Encircled
by Nogi's Veterans.
A yEHITABLE VALLEY OF DEA7H.
Army Of japan Holds Its Main Gem
ter Position While Wings Enyeiop
Russian Flanks, Threatening
Their Railway Line.

LONDON, March IA Newchwmg
dispatch says that the great Japanese
movement for the development of
Mukden has so far met with over
whelming success, and II Is almost GER
tain that the stronghold Of the Rus
SLAMS will prove another Sedan.
II Is believed that the japanese cen
ter Is only required to hold its ground
while the wings stretch far to the
northwardI to encircle the Russian
TANKS OF threaten the railway.
A Tokyo report says that the left of
the japanese army Is rapidly closing
OH Mukden. A general attack Is only
matter of hours. The right wing OF
the force advancing eastward has cap
tured Onshiniu and Tachucapu,. close
to the railroad and twelve miles south
OF Mukden.
The Russian center has retired TO
Tinchatun station. ten miles south Of
Mukden. Ii Is believed the Russians
have set fire TO their stores and re-
treated.
forces seems impossible 1t is already
estimated. that the troops opposing the
left wing have lost more than 10000
men.
The Russians are throwing away
their arms and clothing I'M order TO
facilitate their escape.
General Nogi's Third army from Port
Arthur has advanced far on the left
wing and swept all before it, Nogi's
men are reyeling in the field work,
which they regard as child's play after
the siege of Port Arthur.
Generals Oku and Nogl are hammer
ing the Russians back upon Mukden.
The dramatic feature Of all the recent
lighting has been the forced march Of
General Nogi's Port Arthur army.
which, advancing between the Hun
and Lao rivers. not only passed the
Russian right flank, but reached "A
point so near Mukden that its bursting
gates of the town.
The imperial tombs are few min
ntes' ride from the Mukden railway
station. Not only is there no natural
line of defense OH that side of the city.
but not even temporary Notifications
have been raised
There is suggestion in some dis
patches that General Nogis efforts may
be neutralzed by the tremendous
strain imposed Oh his men by their ex-
traordinarily rapid advance. In making
this march General Nogi seems to have
employed the same tactics he used AT
Port Arthur. believing that any sacri-
Zee was UNSUITABLE TO achieve the great
end.
The road northward from Mukden il
crowded so far as the eye can reach by
continuous file of two wheeled Chi
nese carts full OF Russian wounded,
the best testimony of the valor with
which the army of the east, fighting
, continuously for fortnight. has de-
Tended every inch of the ground over
which 1t has been compelled by supe-
rior numbers to retire.
The valley in trout of the Russian
position has become valley of death.
Corpses strew the debatable ground
from which neither side can remove its
dead.
Again and again the Japanese
charged down tue slope and up the
hill. Again and again the Russians
counter attacked, trying to gain pos
session of 'the hill with the tower. -
No quarter was asked for or given by
either side. The enmity ceased only
| in death, the wounded, with breasts
torn open by shrapnel or bayonet, es,
saying another shot with their last
breath.
Everywhere corpses, corpses, corpses
| For two days the Russians have
been concentrating heavy artillery
fire on 1.-THE hill with the tower" stop
ping the japanese sapper work. AT
o'clock In the morning the Russian
! ekirmshers heard noise at "the hill
with the tower" Creeping forward
they discovered that the japanese were
heaping up corpses as defenses. The
Russian field batteries Immediately
opened fire and forced a cessation OF
| the work.
Japanese prisoners are filing pas
toward the rear They are ravenous
with hunger. They say they started
with provisions for three days ant
were then ordered to make them las
for six days. They had not eaten since
Sunday morning. General KuropatkiI
has ordered that they be fed, and they
are eating as they march In.
II is reported that the scouts of Gen
eral Nogi's and General Kurokfs ar
mics are already in touch behind iii
pass.
General Macarthur For the Front.
! TOKYO, March Major Genera
| Macarthur Of the United States army
accompanied by his aids, Captain Par
ker w. West of the Eleventh cavalr,
and Captain John Pershing of the Eff