Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-05-17
Russian Army Amazed and
Indignant at Report
That They Fled in Disorder Be-
fore laps from Mukden.
Own Version Shows That Barring" Few
Seihaeks, They Went LeisureIy.

correspondence of The Associated Press.
Gunsnu Pass, Manchurja. April 15-
Here in the army the newspaper articles
and kilograms portraying a disastrous
rout of the Russians after the battle of
Mukden are read with amazement and
indignation. The reality was as follows:
The attack on the Russian positions
by the japanese began, Feb. 10. The
first Manchurian army and parts of the
third army repulsed all attacks and as
t. the character of this repulse the
best proof is the fact that, March :,
after the repulse of the last attack on
the Gaotu pass, the Japanese in COM
plcte disorder abandoned their biV-
ouacks, many objects. ammunition, cart
ridges, conserves and rice, and retired
almost four miles. The same thing took
place on the rest of the front of the
first army. The second Manchurian
army, rerulsing all the desperate at
tacks on the western front, was unable,
however, to throw back the Japanese
forces which were encircling Mukden
from the north. This success of the
Japanese compelled the Russians to
withdraw the first and third armies to
the fortified positions Oh the line of the
Hun river.
On March 9, the Japanese succeeded
in breaking through the Russian posi-
ton on the Hun river, which together
with the armies of Nogi advancing to
the railroad from The west and with
Oku's assistance, forced the comman-
der to give the order to all three armie IS
to retreat to Tie pass. In spite of the
nf IN n
troops from the advanced positions
took place i'm good order. The retreat
was rendered more difficult by the pam
l.. in the wagon trains. Many wagons
and also SO guns with caisons were I'M
harncssed and aban ioncd. Neverthe-
| less. the corps retired with tOlerable or
der.
One of the rear guards under COM
mdLd of Mai. Gen. Ganctiald and few
| battaions losing the direction which
| had been given them for the retreat,
were surrounded and after furious
| fight, succeeded in partly breaking
| through with heavy losses. In this way
began the sudden confusion, which be-
came panic among the wagon trains,
communicating partly to those batter
les and parks. which owing to the dust
storm lost their way and got between
the wagons.
The troops of the line were almost I'M
touched by the panic. and retired fight
ing steadily. defending successive posi-
lions while the rear guard had to re-
pulse the Jauanese with the bayOnct.
Under the pain of these slowly retreat
| ing. the tired and wornOut warriors.
SI,x N
all the wounded were gotten away eX-
cepting 400 especially seriously wounded
who were left i'm several hospitals IN
Mukden together with 400 wounded
Japanese. The Russian losses from Feb.
| 10 to March I. consisted of Killed
| wounded and missing. ds follows:
Two generals both seriously injured
and now prisoners.
Staff and other officers, 1885.
| Prvates 67,61I.
Dividing the latter figure into classes
we have in round figures about oo,0o0
| wounded gathered up. 1900 killed, 1000
to 5000 taken prisoners. and 10000 to L.
coo left on the field and missing OF the
| last two classes, the number of those
taken prisoners must be calculated at
more than 5000 to 5000 the rest We're
either wounded. and drivers and 'vari-
Gus commissary men not belonging in
the rank and file of the troops.
OF guns the Russian lost S3. of which
three were mortars. three old-typed
piston and IS quick-fircrs. AS to the
siege artillery, every gun eff it with all
their ammunition. was sent north two
days before the retreat hogan.
The information concerning the losses
given above was received by The As
ISOLATED Press correspondent from the
staff of the new commander-in-chief
and has the authorization of the chief
of staff Gen. KarkevitCh.