Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1905-03-10
THE LAST DITCH.
Kuropatkin and 0yama
new new fen days in what
may be the decisive
battle Of the war.
KUROPATKIN ENDEAvORS TO SAVE
ARMY BY RETREAT.

All hope that General Kuropatkin
will be able to turn defeat into VIC
tory is rapidly vanishing. The
position of the Russian army has
been growing increasingly desperate
during the last "a hours. Oyama in
the centre, Kuroki on the right ard
Nogi and Oku on the left are draw
ing a Gordon around Mukden and
penniDg in the Russian army. The
best that st. Petersburg can hope
for is that Kuropatkin will be MASTER
full enough to save most Of his army
by retreat. But the Japs seem de-
termined not to let him get out of
the trap. 48 hours more and the tale
will be told.
The above is synopsis of ten days
of terrific battle, soon TO end. This
battle, which means the capture of
Mukden by the Japs and the retreat
north of the decimated Russian hosts,
will probably 60 down in history as
the greatest of all time. Three
quarters of 3 million troops engaged
100000 Japs and a few less Rus
sisns), with loss of killed and
wounded probably to reach ten per
cent. More than fifty thousand men
have already been slain. Nukden,
or the Hun river, will probably be
one more added to the "15 decisive
battles of the world" The most
magnificent strategy that the Rus.
slams are capable Of will be needed
to save the army from total annihila-
tion or capitulation.
Kuroki has gotten to the Russian
rear, and, after 100 attacks, broken
through and separated Rennen-
kempf's cossacka, who are in danger
of being captured.
Mukden trail, over which Kuro-
patkin has been receiving supplies
from the North, has been captured
and closed by the Japs. Both
armies are racing for Tie Pass, the
only gap in the mountains north of
Mukden by which the Russians can
escape.
In the present state of political
turmoil in Russia Kuropatkin and
Oyama may be fighting the decisive
battle of the war. Superior strategy
saved Kuropatkin at Liaoyang. 1t
remains to be seen whether it can
save him at Mukden, with the jap
panese army reinforced by Nogi's
veteran troops. The overwhelming
defeat of Kuropstkin would iuevi.
tally end the war. There would be
nothing left for the Japanese to fight.
The Russian Government could only
start anew on another war, and it is
inconceivable that in their acute po-
litical and economic discomfort the
Russian people would submit TO
such sacrifice.
In the Alexandra Palace, sur
rounded By the ministers and mem
bers of the court, and with the
Empress at his side Emperor Mich
olas on Friday affixed his signature
to q rescript containing His Majesty's
decree to give elected representative
of the people an opportunity to exs
press their views in the preparation
OF the laws Of the empire. This is
the Cars final response to the agita-
ton in favor of participation by the
people in government which has
brought Russia in the last few
months almost to the brink of reyo-
luton. For the present at least, il
involves no change in the regime of
the autociacy, and it means neither
a legislation nor a national assembly.
At the same time it recognizes the
principle of the peoples right to be
heard regarding laws under which
they must live, The signing of the
document came at the end of a dra-
matte scene, the climax of which was
an impassioned speech by Emperor
Nicholas to his ministers, in which
be declared that he sought only the
welfare of bis subjects. "I am will
ing," the Emperor said, "to shed nv
blood for the good of my people"
An attempt was made to blow up
Grand-duke Vladimir, but the would.
be assasain was captured.
Rojestyensky, with his immense
Baltic squadron, has left Madagascar
and is travelling east. 1t 10
supposed be is getting out of the
wav of Ap,;ra1 Ttox-Lz -.