Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-04-29
.DNEN1CH IS READY
Russian Commander Says His
Army Is Prepared For the
Japanese
ASSUME OFFENSIVE
Declares That The Retreat From Muk-
don Was a Mistake and That the
Russians Could Have Won--Defeat
Not So Bad as Foreign Press
Claims.

-
Gunshu Pass, Manchuria April a.
General Linevitch granted an inter-
view to the Associated Press at his
headquarters here yesterday. in the
course of which he expressed himself
Is highly satisfied with the present
condition of the Russian army and it's
readiness to assume the offensive. He
manifested emphatic regret for the re-
treat from Mukden. The new COM
mander- in chief believes that the peril
to the sxny at that iuncture was over
estimated, and that the day was far
from being lost when the retreat was
ordered
s With his eyes cleaning with an in
domitable energy and emphasizing his
words with blow upon the camp table
before him, General Lineviteh exclaim-
ed: II certainly would not have. re-
treated. realize that it Is easy now to
pass Judgment upon an accomplished
fact. but, nevertheless. / repeat it, l
would not have retreated. l persuad-
ed Kuropatkin to stand at Tie Pass,
and we halted there for time. We
could have remained, but on account
OF certain administrative factors he
considered it inexpedient and the re-
tirement was continued After assum-
ing command l gave the men a days
rest. The Japanese did not press us,
and could not do so as their condition
was quite as bad as ours.
AS for that unfortunate retirement
Itself, any observer can convince him.
self that it's significance, and especial-
" it's influence upon the army has been
lindustriously and greatly exaggerated
by the Japanese and the foreign press.
The retreat was in no sense in the ma :,
ture Of a complete rout, proof of which
Is evident in the fact that in less than
month after the retreat, the two ar
mics which were thrown into confusion
by the Japanese had been collected and
fully reorganized. The first army did
not require this having retired in or
DER.
Talks of the Retreat.
General Linevitch attributes the
greater success of the first army dur
ing the retreat due to relatively more
advantageous position in which it was
located. He admitted that there were
heavy losses in both men and material,
during the retirement. and especially
to the wagon train, but he declared
that this was also exaggerated.
Touching the breaking thru of the
Japanese at the Hun river on March
8, Gen. Linevitch said he did not nor
does she now attach real significance to
It, believing that this force was not
greater than two companies of scouts
or small bodies Of cavalry, and he be-
lieves that the report that Japanese
artillery was in action, east of the
Great Mandarin road on March 10
was based on miscalculation.
Gen. Linevitch also discussed the
Gripenberg incident, taking the part of
Gen. Kuropatkin as against his former
subordinate and finished with an ex-
preston of good will towards the
press in the present war. After an ex-
preston of regret that so much harm
had been done before he was given
command, cloud OF sorrow darkened
the rugged, energetic face of the ven
cradle general and he twice repeated:
Yes, It is a sad Inheritance"
The correspondent later lunched
with the staff, where Gen. Linevitch
warned his officers against too wide
extension or scattering of forces. He
favored rather concentration, even of
cavalry.
Russian Army Has Advanced.
& IN the last fortnight the Russian
army on the right, left and center has
advanced beyond the Sipinghai posi-
ton, and the Russian vanguard posts
are now In the form of an inverted
siderably in the rear of Changtufu
which the Japanese hold and which is
strongly fortified. The Japanese are
now exerting a pressure against the
Russian advance. On account of the
nature of the country and the position
of the opposing armies it is impos-
sible to effect "Reminiscences by small
bodies Of scouts, and work of this
nature must be done by considerable
detachments, often including all three
arms Of the service, being practically
in force.
These reconnaissance do not show
at the present moment a, Japanese
turning movement i'll the direction of
Kirin, but it is impossible to say what
may be taking place along the east
ward roads from Corea and the Yalu
territory. The country there, however,
Is exceedingly mountainous and diff
cult for military operations, and it is
thought that the roads are impossible