Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-03-20
$4,000 Men
Believed to Have Been
Lost Of Russian Army.
The Japanese Will Be In Hardin
by April 10.
II Russians Do Not Show Fight and
Stop Retreating.

St. Petersburg. March 19. 1 A. M
Reports received from the retreating
commanders in Manchuria and issued
last night. while relieving the immedi-
ate fear of the Russian people that the
Manchurian. army already is cut or
and confirming Information already
received that the retirement is in full
progress, throw no further light OH the
condition or the losses OF the army and
contain no disTuietiny information.
The city of Fakomar. which Is well
in the Russian rear mas been seized
by forces given out as chinese bandits.
but which may be a vanguard of Jap
aneSe regulars.
From Fakoman one road leads to
kaiyuan, about 20 miles north of Tie
pass, and The great Chinese road runs
northward paralleling the railroad AMI
offering to a force there the alternative
Of striking directly the Russian line or
of pushing on toward the Sungari river
along the highway, which Is better
than the road over which Gen. Line
Witch Will have to retreat The new
commander will need AL the strategic
qualities of EUROPA tkin to effect the
withdrawal safely
How far or how rapidly Field Mar
shall Oyama will be able TO continue
pursuit remains to he seen, but the
Chinese at Hardin expect him there
+ApriE 10, and If this opinion proves to
be founded on Japanese proclamation
many persons here remembering the
fulfilment Of Oyana's assurances re-
Sarding the occupation of Mukden.
March 10, will be inclined to accent
three weeks as the limit.
The Russian government continues to
declare that whatever may be the fate
Of Hardin and of the present eastern
army. the war will continue.
Vice Admiral ROjesuvensky's orders
TO try issues with ViGe Admiral Togo
nave not been cancelled; preparations
for the mobilization Of new army
are continuing and the finance depart
'nent is busy with measures to provide
necessary funds.
The lapse Of 4 fun week since the be-
ginning of the retreat from Mukden
finds Russia in almost complete ign
rance of details as to the effect of that
reverse. KurOpatkin, before relinuuish-
ing command. professel himself as un-
able to give details Of the losses. and
no private dispatches referring to thu
number of prisoners Or their organiza-
ton have been allowed 10 sift through
the strict censorship.
The public simply Knows that the
losses in killed, wounded and prisoners
are great and is prepared to believe
them enormous. though one Russian
correspondent expresses the belief they
will not exceed 10000 all told The fun
story of the awful retreat from Muk-
den to Tie pass also remains to be told.
Later reports received confirm the
first statements that the bulk Of the
armies retired in good order. the mo-
mentary panics affecting only the SOL
diers who were crowded among the
transports in charge of mixed and I'M
disciplined drivers and fleeing civilians,
causing the loss. however, of great
amount of supplies and Il number OF
cannon which otherwise they would
have been able to bring off
Though the mobilization orders may
bring on disturbances and even upris-
ings. for the moment the internal con-
dition is somewhat better. The princi-
pal peasant disturbances have been
Cuieted.
Though sporadic disorders still exist
there has been no general spread as
was dreaded, and the authorities hava
manifested their ability to cope with
the situation.
The strikes also nave largely ceased
and the industrial activity has been re-
sumed until May l. at least when the
social Democrats profess an intention
to renew the economic agitation.