New-York tribune., 1905-02-18
GRIPENBERG'S CHARGES.
KurOpatkin focused of Causing Re-
cent Russian Defeat.

St Petersburg, Feb. 1.-THE arrival in st
Petersburg Of General Gripenberg former com
rnsnder Of the Second Manchurian Army who
reached here at midnight has caused a sensa-
ton in military circles. The general saws that
he relinquished his command after the recent
attempt of the Russians 10 flank Field Marshal
oyaua because General Kuropatkin refused 70
send him help when victory was in General
Gripenberg's hands and ordered him to with
draw.
General Gripenberg viii personally report on
the situation to Emperor Nicholas. II is too
early TO say what the result will be- although
II is evident that Kuropatkin's enemies are push
ing their campaign against him His friends
say that Kuropatkin's side OF the story is that
he only intended TO make a demonstration in
force, and that Gripenberg pressed the attack
too far and became too much involved. General
Gripenberg said to-day:
am glad TO give an account OF the battle of
my army, the kilograms have seen being <ar
from the truth. kuropatkn, of course, author
ized the advance. but he imposed the condita on
that II should not go beyond Hei-Kou-Tai nd
sandepas. My plan was TO capture He-Kou-Tai
and then outhank Sandepas. From the First
Army Corps before Hei-hou-Tai detached a
brigade which occupied Hei-Kou-Tai on jan
The Japanese cut in from the south, and the
brigade came under crossfire, but held OUT
until ! got up another brigade TO cover its re-
treat The japanese were now concentrating
on their left In the evening of January 25
and my army were ordered under no circum-
Stances 10 fall back from positions The
next morning my whole front was engaged, the
troops being disposed as follows:
on the extreme right, the First Corps Then
the 1st Rife Corps and the Fifth division Of the
second Corps. which had just arrived from Rus
sia Altogether I had siXty-two battalions The
enemy had twice as many.
The battle Of January 20 was continued until
the evening. We did not surrender an inch of
ground Ny left flank. which was clearing the
--1.ar hniT7 IL I ,-Iya A..
commander in chief, who had sixty battalions
ezailable for renforcements He declined TO
ser5 any. apparently taking the japanese DEM
ors--z-i7n al the centre as being a general ad-
vs-cz Nevertheless. 1 decided to storm Hell
Kos.--E ne next day. All the surrounding vii
lsEss Ez-= already in our hands.
Fs-1r January q the fiercest fighting oc-
crr-e5 We again held our own. The road to
Ssu5spas the japanese point of concentration
was clear Of the enemy. I therefore again ap-
r.eaed 10 the commander in chief for reinforce
rents II he had listened to my entreaties we
would have riven the iron ring of 100000 Of the
The japanese. being menaoed by a strong
force Of Russian cavalry from the south and
southwest, evidently realized the danger of at
tacking In desperation, January IS, they
four times desperately assaulted our outer posi-
tious and were beaten off each time in such
brilliant fashion that ii does my. heart good to
remember the gallantry OF my brave comrades
might easily have followed up these repulses
by headlong offensiVe,> but I was tied down
by the commander in chiefs restrictions and
his refusal TO send me reinforcements. How
aIxlously awaited reply on both subjects!
Just think OF what victory meant! Complete
victory was in our grasp. The loss OF thousands
Of lives was not dreadful before such result
The reply Of General KurOpatkin arrived at
O'Clock ir the evening in the shape of an
order TO leave a small force in positions
and move up the army TO his support, in view
OF the expected japanese advance on the centre
How was ii possible for the japanese to attack
the centre when all their available forces were
diverted west?
II is impossible TO describe the impression
produced Upon by the order At first
was afraid TO communicate il 10 my victorious
army. but there was nothing else TO do. We
retreated during the night of January % with
tears IN eyes and bitterness in our hearts.
Il was then that / decided that my presence
at the theatre Of war longer possible,
and the next day handed in a report TO the
commander in chief, demanding my relief