Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1905-03-16
RUSSIANS GETTING
BACK TO SAFETY
Shot Torn Masses Are Re-
firing to Tie
Pass.
ROAD BLACK WITH TROOPS
Rear Guard Holds Back the Pursuing
Japanese-Me Fight Like Heroes
Under Eyeo of Their Beloved Leader
--Japs Bombard On Both Side.

| London, March 12.-oficial In
formation from the Russian head
quarters in the field, supplemented by
dispatches from the Associated Press
correspondents with the army of the
Russian emperor, show that General
Kuropatkin, after suffering by far the
most severe defeat of the war, has
succeeded, as he did after the battle
Of Lao Yang, in extricating the REM
nants of his army from a position
which military experts twentyfour
hours before believed would result in
its humiliation or surrender. The re-
treat from Lao Yang has been consid-
cred the most mastery ever executed,
but 1t is far overshadowed by this
latest feat of the Russian general,
who has taken personal command OF
the troops. After fighting for nearly
three weeks, losing In killed, wounded
and missing, probably third of his
army, or nearly 100000 men, and a
fourth of his artillery. Kuropatkia
gathered what was left together north
of Mukden and Is taking them toward
Tie pass through a rain Of shrapnel,
which is being thrown on them. from
both right and left.
This he seems to have been able
| to accomplish by resorting to the
| same tactics which saved his army
at Lao Yang. AS recently as Thurs.
day last he commenced sending his
artillery north by rail and road; that
| night he destroyed by fire what he
realized could not be removed, and
Friday morning the retreat was or
dered, strong forces protecting the
rear and tanks. Even the hospitals,
containing the more seriously wound
ed, were left behind, so as not to
hamper in any way the movement OF
the army.
This movement commenced on Fri
day morning, and as the Japanese
forces on the east which were to
join hands with the western army and
cut off the retreat, did not cross the
Decentralization road until Saturday
morning, the Russians had a full
days start of their pursuers, and hav-
ing no guns or baggage to delay them,
seem to have made good their es-
cape.
There is still, however, a chance
of General Kawamura's army taking
hand in the battle and should they
strike the Russians at Tie pass or
cut their communications to the
northward, the disaster will be COM
plete. The shrapnel fire under which
the Russians are again retreating was
found in the retreat from Lao Yang
not to have very serious effect, as the
CnattnrnH CT
which undoubtedly holds good in the
present case. So if Kawamura fails
Oyama and Kuropatkin's rear guard
en- hold back the pursuers, the losses
suffered in the battle will not be great
ly added to In the retreat.
What part of his army the Russian
general has saved is apparently not
known at the Russian headquarters.
All dispatches indicate that part of
his force has been cut off. General
Kaulbars seems to have extricated
his corps. likewise Bilderding, but not
so Linevitch. The Associated Press
correspondent says the Japanese
separated the First and Fourth Rus
sian corps, and adds that help could
not be sent them. Their fate Is not
recorded, and the inference is that
they have suffered either defeat or
capture. The censor no doubt took
out Of the dispatch what really hap
pened to these corps. The first is
Stackleberg's old corps, which has
borne the brunt of every battle since
Vafangow, and the Fourth, under Cen
eral Zaroubaieff. has also been in the
thick of all battles. Rennenkampff's
fate is still in the balance.
The Japanese report the capture Of
some railway rolling stock This Is
probably the rolling stock of the light
military railway built along the
Shakhe positions and the road which
runs from the main line along the
south bank of the Hun river towards
the Fushun mines and on which Gen.
eral Kuropatkin had his winter quar-
tiers. The confidence of the Japanese
Is shown in the statement published
by Field Marshal Oyama to his army
early in the week, that they would be
taken to Mukden Friday morning. He
was true to his word for early that
morning the old Chinese capital was
in their hands
The Russian government and people
are as determined as ever to continue
the war. The reigning family,
through Grand Duke Vladimir, has
spoken and will be backed by the
official and military classes, while the
feeling of the people, even the adj
vanced liberals, is expressed by the
Russ, the organ of the liberal party.
While many were opposed to the
war, the Russian people would re-
sent surrender to Japan. Still, in
Europe, outside of Russia, there is
feeling that peace will follow this
latest disaster to Russian arms.