Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1905-03-16
THE RUSSIANS HAVE LOST MANY
GUNS AND LARGE QUANTi. +
TIES OF AMMUNITION.
THOUGHT PEACE WILL FOLLOW
BELIEVED IN EUROPEAN CEN.
TIERS RUSSIA MUST SUE
FOR PEACE.

The fate of the Russian army of up
ward of quarter of million men
and the two thousand pieces of artil-
lery with which 1t was expected con-
fidently Gen. Kuropatkin and his lieu
tenants could prevent the advance of
the Japanese beyond the Shakhe and
Hun river positions. still is in the bal
ance. They have been driven from
those POSITIONS and now are rushing
nor%hward toward Tie pass, around
which are high hills which were pre-
pared for defense after the battle Of
Yiao-yang in September, there being
no hope at that time that the Japan
csc would allow the defeated army to
rest south OF Tie pass. That the Rus
slams have lost many guys and large
quantities of ammunition and supplies
is certain, for with but single track
railway to the north, it would be i'm
possible to remove the large stores
which have been gathered together at
Mukden. These, it seems certain,
Have Been Destroyed.
The Japanese have not yet reported
the capture of guns, which they gen
orally do almost Immediately. but it
seems hardly likely that Kuropatkin
could have removed all of his artil-
lery. On the list Of January, accord
ing to correspondents who have just
returned from Mukden, the Russians
had in position along the Shakhe and
Hun rivers 1900 guns, including a
number of 6 and 8-inch guns on ce-
ment foundations stradding the rail
way just north of Shakhe station. In
addition many guns arrived in Muk-
den during January and February, so
that the Russian artillery when the
big battle started must have num-
bered nearly 1000 pieces. 1t is likely
that Kuropatkin has sacrificed some
of these, and is bending all his ener-
gies to extricating his army. That his
task is difficult one all the dis
patches indicate, but Russian sympa-
thizers point to his retreat from Lao
yang. where conditions were opposed
to him. The retreat from Liao-yang
was accomplished during a terrific
rain storm over roads hub deep in
mud, while at the present time the
Manchurian roads are frozen as hard
as stone, and have been worn as
smooth as asphalt by the continual
passage of the big wide-tired commits
sariat wagons. The result of
oyama's Great Turning Movement
depends almost entirely upon Kawa-
mura's army, which has not yet been
located definitely, although supposed
to be moving from the east toward
Kuropatkin's line of retreat. Should
he reach the military road, which runs
almost in direct line from Fushun
to Tie pass, before the passage of the
Russian army. the circle will be COM
plete.
Even should Kuropatkin extricate
his army, it is believed in European
capitals that peace soon will follow
this latest Japanese victory. The call
ing to st. Petersburg of M. Iswolsky,
Russian minister to Denmark, who
formerly was in Toxic, is most signifi-
cant. No time will be lost in starting
| the negotiations as soon as Russia in
IL.
News Reaches Russia.
st. Petersburg, March 12."Last
night all our armies commenced to re-
treat"
The greatest defeat in the history
of the Russian-Ja panese war was made
known in st. Petersburg last night.
! ! but t only iii the paitry eight words
] from Gen. Kuropatkin to Emperor
Nicholas, which We're flung about the
streets in newspaper extras and
passed from mouth to mouth. Two
thoughts formed instantly in the
minds OF everyone, and two words
| we're on every 1ip-surrenderpe peace
the former dreaded, the latter hoped
for s..3.
May BE a Rout. Il
| Washington, March 10. Interest
was intense among the military ex-
perts who are following every move
/ ment in tie Far East The evacua-
| ton Of Mukden they accept as evil
dence Of disastrous defeat for Kuro-
patkin and an Indication Of demorali-
| cation among the Russian troops
They think Kuropatkin now is exert
ing all Of his energy and ability to
| prevent the retreat from becoming
4 ront, and they doubt that he will sue
coed.
Institute Closed.
Il 49, II 4