The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-03-15
THE MUKDEN DISASTER.
Summary of the Russian Losses in
Men, Gun and Munitions.

| Men, Gun and Munitions.
London. March 13.-While Gen.
Kuropatkin has apparently succeeded
in saving more Of his artillery than
seemed possible, his losses in men, am
| munition and commissariat supplies
in the battleof Mukden are far greater
than earlier reports indicated, and
even that portion Of his army which
he succeeded in extricating from the
positions around Mukden is still in Sc
rious danger.
The japanese generals, realizing that
with a little more speed they could
have inflicted crushing defeat on the
| Russian army after the battle Of Lao
Yang, determined not to again allow
an opportunity to pass and are follow
ing after the defeated and sorely tried
Russian army. While a small portion
Of Kuropatkin's army has reached Tie
Pass, the greater part Of those who
escaped from the battle Of Mukden are
still struggling northward, , ing az last
accounts between twelve and sixteen
| miles from their goal, with the Japan
ese, flushed with victory and reinforced
by fresh men, harassing them from all
sides. Even should the remnant Of the
army reach Tie Pass, it is hardly pos
sible for it to make stand there
against the overwhelming force oppos-
| ing it, 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
right back to Harbin with what he can
save, and wait there for the reinforce
ments that st. Petersburg already has
| promised him. A possible obstacle to
the plan is Gen. Kawamura's army,
| which has not been located and which
may also be heading for the northern
capital.
Gen. Kuropatkin admits that I,190
officers and 46,931 men are not re-
spending to roll calls. This is .rather
vague. It may or may not include the
thousands of wounded who have been
sent north, and again it may not in
clude the losses suffered by the third
army, with which the commander-ln-
|
some time. The figures given by the
japanese war Office appear more rea-
sonable, namely 100000 prisoners, z6,-
500 dead left on the field and $4,000
killed or wounded, the latter figure, of
course. including the dead found by
the japanese. The Russian losses
therefore, total over 100000 men, or
more than one-third of the Whole
arnay. The fact that the japanese re-
port the capture of only sixty guns IN
dicates that Kuropatkin at the last
moment succeeded in sending a con-
siderable portion of his artillery north
| ward on the railway.
Succeeding field reports increase the
extent of the Russian disaster. 1t VIII
| require months to supply and reor-
ganize the Russian armies. ESTIMATES
of casualties given by captives reach
forty per cent. The artillery losses We're
especially heavy The captured guns
have not vet been counted, but the .lu-
| merous captured stores and munitions
are valued at millions Of dollars. This
loss materially adds to the Gripping
| of the Russian armies. The japanese
people are receiving details Of the VIC
tory with calmness. Toxic and other
cities are exceedingly quiet, and the re-
cent admonition Of the people TO re-
frain from spending money in celeora-
+;ons and devote their savings to war
charities is being universally obeyed.
The japanese losses up to this morn
;ne were reported as 41,222, not IN
cluding the army which pushed north
between Mukden and Fushun.
Official Russian is determined to car
nv on the war, and St. Petersburg re-
ports that orders have been issued for
the mobilization of more troops. This
may prove difficult task with the
temper of the Russian people in its
present condition. There is still hope
in St. Petersburg that Russia can ex-
haust Japan financially, and Tor
months there has been talk Of an army
on the Siberian border, which "oulo
compel Japan to keep her vast army
| in Manchuria.