Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1905-03-16
KUROPATK|N IS
ANXIOUS TO QUIT
Russian Commander Requests
Leave to Return
Home.
IS WORN OUT BY ExERTlONS
Reports Of Russian Losses Indicate
Extent Of Defeat Bulk Of Russian
Forces Has Not Vet Reached Goal
Of Tie Pass. But Struggling North

London, March 13.-The Sc. Peters.
burg correspondent of the Times says
General Kuropatkin has asked the en-
peror's gracious permission to hand
over his command, alleging that he is
In urgent need Of physical and mental
rest Il learn on the best authority
that japan twice has approached Rus
STA through informal channels on the
subject Of peace negotiations, but in
each case the proposal failed because
the Japanese demanded an indemnity
and a pledge that Russia would not
keep warships in the Pacific for
twenty-five years. The Japanese in
sistence on indemnity convinces the
Russian government that her pecuni-
airy resources are exhausted and that
by continuing the war only a few
months longer Russia will get better
terms"
Fushun, March 12.-General Oku
and staff entered Mukden Saturday.
OF General Oku's army only 800 were
wounded. Three hundred Japanese
wounded were found in Russian hos
pitfalls. Chinese set fire to hospitals
and other buildings when the Russian
retreat began.
London, March 13.-While General
Kuropatkin has apparently saved
more of his artillery than at first
seemed possible, his losses in men.
ammunition and supplies in the bat
tie of Mukden are far greater than
earlier reports Indicated and even
that portion of his army which he
extricated from the positions around
Mukden is still in danger. The JAP
anese generals, realizing that with
little more speed they could have in
fiicted crushing defeat on the Rus
sian army after the battle Of Lao
Yang, are following after the defeated
and sorely tried Russian forces.
While small portion of Kuropat-
kin's army has reached Tie pass,
forty miles north of Mukden, the
greater part of those who escaped
from the battle of Mukden are still
struggling northward, being. at latest
accounts, twelve or sixteen miles
from their goal, with the Japanese,
flushed with victory and reinforced by
fresh men, harassing them on all
sides. Even should the remnant of
the army reach Tie pass it is hardly
possible for it to make a stand there
against the overwhelming force oppos-
ing 1t, especially as the Russians must
be worn out and weakened by the
loss of men, guns and ammunition. 1t
is more likely that Kuropatkin will
fall further back towards Hardin.
more than three hundred miles north,
and wait there for the reinforcements
that st. Petersburg already has prom
Used him.
A possible obstacle to this plan Is
General Kawamura's army, which has
not been reported and which may
also be heading north of Tie pass.
General Kuropatkin admits that
1,190 officers and 46,931 men are not
responding to the roll calls This is
rather vague. 1t may or may not in
clude the thousandh of wounded who
have been sent north and again it
may not include the losses suffered
by the third army, with which the
commander-in-chief was not in COM
munication for some time.
The figures given by the Japanese
war Offices appear more reasonable.
namely, 10000 prisoners, 26,500 dead
left on the field and 10000 killed or
wounded, the latter figure including
the dead found on the field. The Rus
sian losses, therefore, total more than
one-third of the whole army. The
fact that the Japanese report the cap
ture of only six guns, indicates that
Kuropatkin sent considerable por-
ton of his artillery northward on the
railway.
The japanese losses up to this
morning were reported as 41,222, not
including the army which pushed
north between Mukden and Fushun.
Official Russia is determined to
carry on the war and st. Petersburg
reports that orders have been issued
for the mobilization of more troops.
This may prove a difficult task with
the temper of the Russian people In
its present condition. There Is still
hope in st. Petersburg that Russia
can exhaust Japan financially, and for
months there has been talk of the
mobilization of an army on the
Siberian border which would compel
japan to keep her vast army in Man
churia.