Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-03-21
FATE OF THE ARMY
CAUSES ANXIETY
NERVOUS PHASE OF SITUATION
FELT IN ST. PETERSBURG.
JAPs CONTINUE ADVANCE

Reenforcements Expected by Line
witch May Check the Pursuit
Sympathy Is Felt for
Kuropatkin.
st. Petersburg, March 1S.-Decided
anxiety Is felt here regarding the fate
Of the army in Manchuria under its new
commander, no news Of military devel-
opments the last two days having been
received here. The only dispatches
from the front are the brief announce
ments yesterday that Gen. Linevitch
had assumed command, and that Gen.
Kuropatlkin was departing for St Peters,
burg, which disposes of arumor that the
latter had committed suicide, and to a
Changtutu dispatch filed the morning of
March 16 and written at the station Of
Kaiyuan, which was then held by the
Russians. In this correspondents opiI-
ion. no pause in the Japanese advance is
probable for some time. The Russians
are losing heavily in the rear-guard ac-
lions, and Japanese columns are re-
ported to be pushing northward as fast
as possible to complete the development
of the Russian forces.
May Check Advance.
Gen. Lnevitch, however, will have q
considerable accession of fresh troops
In day or two, the Fourth European
corps being now at Hardin and depart
ing southwark. Military officials here
declare that there are now 268,000 men
at Gen. Linevftch's disposal in Man.
churia, and it Is believed that this force
will be sufficient to cause the Japanese
to exercise greater caution in their pur-
suit.
Sympathy for Kuropatkin.
Although Gen. Kuropatkin's down.
fall was inevitable from the military
standpoint, nevertheless 1t arouses SYM
patty In circles familiar with the long
campaign that has been waged against
him by the general staff. Gen. Sakharoff
was his open enemy. and Gen. Drago.
miron his most severe critic; and many
Of his own subordinates were Jealous
and grudgingly obedient. Many cpl
grams about Gen. Kuropatkins short.
comings are being attributed to Gen
Dragomirof, and the suppression Of the
former at such a critical moment is di
rectly attributed to Dragomiroft's ad.
vice.
Japs Cut Railroad.
st. Petersburg, March 1S.-Thert
was persistent report in circulation
Friday that railroad communications
had been cut behind the Russian army
No ofacial dispatches had been given
out up to seven p. m. and no private
or press dispatches had been received.
News was awaited with intense anx-
1sty.
Kuropatkin Disgraced.
ct. Petersburg, March 1s.-With the
JApaneae hanging on the heels and
TANKS Of the remnants Of the broken, de-
feated Russian army, Gen. Kuropatkin
the old idol OF the private soldier, has
been dismissed and disgraced, and Gen.
Linevitch, commander Of the First army,
II appointed to succeed him in command
Of all the Russian land and sea forces
operating against Japan. The word
disgrace Is written In large letters in
the laconic imperial order gazetted
which contains not q single word Of
praise, and also disposes Of the rumoy
that Kuropatkin had asked to be re.
Neved. The Russian military annals
contain no more bitter imperial re-
buks. While It was known that the
war council had already decided to sup
plant Kuropatkin after the Mukden dis
aater, the decision to confer the task Of
saving the remainder Of the army OF
Lnevitch In the very midst Of it,
night, although bruited Thursday night
came a. surprise.
It transpires that Emperor Nicholas
upon the advice Of Gen. Dragomiroff and
War Minister Sakharoff determined
that the step was necessary wheI
Il became apparent Thursday morn
Ing that Kuropatkin, while con
centrating for stand at II,
pass, seemed unaware that tn,
Japanese had worked around WESTWARD
again, and practically allowed himself
70 be surprised. Old reports brough
BY Gen. Gripenberg regarding Kuro
patkin's failing mentality also had in
6uence. Under the circumstances
therefore, II was considered imperative
IN view Of the exceedingly perilous posi-
ton Of the army, to turn over its com
mand to Linevitch, who alone had bee,
able to bring OF his army in order ate
the battle Of Mukden. His record dur
Ing the Chinese war had also demon
stratsd his capacity as a commando,
kuropAtkin win return to st. Petersbur
forthwith.
Desperate Task for Linevitch.
The task condded to Linevitch Of with
drawing what is left OF the great arm;
of $4,000 men to Hardin is desperat
enc He is hemmed In on all sides
Gen. ;Kswamura presumably Is pressing
northward through the mountains east
ward ready to swoop down, Gems. Nog
u and Oku are on the west Of the Russia,
forces, the whole line of the railroad 1
threatened, II not already cut, and Oh,
nese bandits are even reported to be i
the rear OF Hardin.
The war council, 1t is also understood
has definitely decided that Vice Admire
Rojestvensky shall continue his voyag
and give battle to the Japanese in til
forlorn hope Of wrestling control Of til
sea from Admiral Togo.
Movement Most Remarkable.
With Japanese Left Armies, via Fusar
March 10. = The pursuing armies full
occupied Tie pass at midnight, after