The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-03-13
JAPANESE CAPTURED
FORTY THOUSAND MEN


Continued from Page l.
Should the island empire choose to ten
der moderate" terms and recognize its
adversary as the power in the far east.
peace could be easily arranged; but the
voice of her diplomacy in various parts
Of the world indicates that she is not
ready to do this and the Russian gov
eminent. with the full magnitude of the
disaster at Mukden still undetermined.
but with the 1905 campaign seemingly
already hOpelessly compromised. re-
treat to Hardin inevitable and Vladi-
Vostok practically lost. declares that
the time has not yet come when Russia
can be forced to humble herself.
More Men For Slaughter.
It is reported that the dispatch of two
new army corps, including the Four
teenth from Poland. and several small
er units has already been determined
upon. and that plans for further mob
ilization are under discussion.
But while this is the official attitude,
nothing but peace talk is heard in St.
Petersburg. The difficulties of another
mobilization on a large scale VIII be
enormous; in fact, it is stated i'm some
quarters that it viii be impossible.
Nevertheless it might be accomplished.
War of Exhaustion.
The real hope however for anything
like a successful termination of the war
is admitted to rest upon the prospects
of the financial exhaustion of Japan.
Russian resources, it is figured, can
stand the drain better than those of
Japan, and a protracted campaign it
is hoped will bring about Japanese
financial ruin. Financial Minister Ko-
kovsom at the conclusion of a confer
ence of the national finances few days
ago is said to have tapped the table
before him and exclaimed: I'VE can
win the war at this desk
Worst Still Unknown.
The Russian capital is still in ignor-
ance of the nature and extent of the re-
verses in Manchuria. The only inforna-
tion of its magnitude is that which has
been derived from the few Toxic teIe-
grams that have been allowed to be
published here. To the censor at Tie
pass the word prisoner does not ex-
ist, and not the slightest intimation of
what, if any, units and organizations
have been cut off and captured has
reached this city, either in General Ku-
ropatkin's official dispatches or in re-
ports from correspondents at the front.
Meaeer News.
Aside from the reports given out by
the war office there is practically no
further information of the progress of
events, the newspaper dispatches re-
ceived yesterday being principally those
flled before the retreat began and trans
ported to Tie pass among the papers
of the telegraph Office It is declared
that at the moment that General XII
ro1is wedge, aided by the duststorms
ard taking advantage of the failure of
several Russian organizations to Oecu-
pY appointed positions, drove itself
CFeI into the Russian flank. il disar-
ranged all the plans of General Kuro-
rfr
ing mono ntous counter stroke; but
Ulles e or foNv it was to be accomplished
Is not stated 1855 esd
Takes All the Blame.
General Kuropatkin has telegraphed
to Emperor Nicholas assuming himself
all the responsibility for his defeat.
making no excuses. except, that the
strength of the Japanese was miscal-
Culated, and refusing to place any of
the blame upon tie council of generals,
upon whose advice he determined to
give battle. This manly course and the
generals PERSONAL eXertiOns in direct
ing the retreat will. however, hardly
save him. His reputation as an often
sive strategist iS gone and though the
emperors military advisers know not
where to look for a better general his
resignation will he accepted. II VIII
be difficult to find a capable successor.
but it is said now that~it probably will
be General GrodeI1off, governor of the
Amur, although IN casting about for
another cOmm9nder-in-chief some
military officials are turning to Cen
eral gOmiroff. who is considered TO
be Russia's greatest strategist, but he
is a feeble old man, suffering with a
heart affection, and il is highly i'm
probable that he would be able even to
make the long trip to Manchuria.
In losing General Kuropatkin the
army viii lose the idol of the private
soldiers, an officer who. in spite of the
intrigueS Of his generals and his fail
ure TO win battle, has Won their con-
hdence and affection.