Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-03-15

feet against the northern and north
western fronts, rendered advisable a
contraction of the Russian lines, and
withdrawal from the Shakhe river TO
positions on the Hun river was deter
mined on. This was in no sense the
beginning of the general retreat. and
kuropatkin and the generals COM
handing the armies We're far from re-
garding the battle as lost. The first
army to retire from the fortified posi-
tons east and southeast of Mukden
was the third army, which fell back
to positions similarly fortified in ad-
vance on the north bank of the Hun
river. The burning of abandoned
stores, provisions and forage disclosed
the Russian retirement and the Japan
csc followed closely.
Japanese Seize Opportunity.
confusion in orders and retirement
in impenetrable darkness across the
country, were responsible for the fail
ure of some organizations to occupy
the positions to which they had been
assigned, and.a remarkable dust storm
the following day. made it impossible
to verify the alignment and fill the
breeches, which the Japanese, how
ever found, and skillfully turned to
their advantage. The Russian posi-
lions now formed a boot, the toe at
Nadyapu and the heel on the Hun river
at Fushun, about five miles wide, and
to meet the apparent danger that the
Japanese might plug the top of the
boot Kuropatkin sent thither forty
battalions from the command OF CEN
eraI Miloff, which were rendered avail
rf hn line The
Russians began to slowly force the
Japanese back at this critical point
but the Japanese in turn were REM
forced on their extreme east ana gen
eral Kuropatkin, seeing all apparently
going we'll at the other positions ana
determining to stake all on a decisive
blow, collected the remainder OF the
strategic reserves, strengthened ny
sevral other units, and led them per-
sonally on March to the north front
and threw them on the flank OF the
Japanese, Who We're attacking SAN
taitse and endeavoring to cut the rail-
way.
Japanese Break Thru.
The scale of weights was all on the
Russian side The Japanese then re-
tired. abandoning battery Of eight
guns, success apparently croWnlng
tha Russian arms. At this moment
two sets of reports were received, the
first that a column of Japanese was
moving farther north around the rlsht
flank. and the second that the Japan
ese on the Hun river had taken adj
vantage of the storm which was blow
ing the dust in the Russians faces,
and of the breaches in the posltlons
on the Hun, to thrust a column thru
at Flu. pass and kyouzan, on the lnstep
of the boot. Here the fords were de-
Tended by only three companies OF the
Barnaul regiment, which We're 1ofceu
to retire before Japanese cavalry ana
four mountain guns.
With the entire Russian strategic
reserves already engaged, 1T became
impossible to meet the danger in those
two sources where it was Imminent
and critical, and at o'clock IN the
evening the order to retire to Tie pass
was given. Thru the narrow boot
leg massage, scarcely five miles wide,
a densely packed mass of transports
ma ssed northward, coming under the
fro of a small squadron, of Japanese
cavalry and four mountain guns winch
earlier in the battle had managed to
pet across the Russian line OF COM
and conceal themselves ~
tho mountains to the eastward. Inc |
forces of General Tserpitzsky began an
orderly retirement from the poot toe
and during March 10 huropatkln sue
cessfully held at bay the Japanese Wiz
were trying to reach the ralirpau' Ane
night of March 9 Mukden station pre-
scented a remarkable scene. shortly
before o'clock came the ordef 70
complete the evacuation OF the sta.ioll
and the city, with directions thal
afterward must pc coli-
pleted by 5 o'clock in the morning. Ing
enormous task was completeu ~
nine hours. including the hasty emoar-
kation of the wounded, VINO cfowueu
the station platform and occupied .lie
hospitals. -. ;, +ha ,oorn-
ing when the private trains Oh hu
ronatkin. Kaulbars, Sakharolf Bllder-
ling and zabelin departed, but thou-
sands remained.
Strenuous Train Service.
At9:45 p. M, the first string 0! elshl
trains was dispatched and a can was
sent to Tie pass for thirteen locomo-
lives. The forwarding OF these loeo-
without interrupting the
oorthward movement of trains was
3elicate piece of train dispatchlng, OUT
,ba overworked railroad staff accom-
,lished it successfully At a. M, the
second string was started northWard'
md at 9:45 a. m, the last train OF the
bird string Of sixteen departed. All
he trains had ffty-two to fifty-hVe
.ars. Three trains connected the am
nunttion of the artillery which had
,een dispatched the evening before IN
40. cars, and the train carried warm
.,othing. one was coal laden and one
vas loaded with Red Cross supplies,
me with engineers, depot supplies,
hree with conlmissariat fre1ghts and
ha remainder with wounded. The last
rain out was the service train, WIN
II the employees of the railway, prop
rty and station papers.
The Skill exertions and devotion Oh
his little band of civilians rendered
ervice of Importance to the RUSSIAN
.rny. It saved thousands OF wounded
oldiers, an immense amount of am
ounition and millions of dollars worth
f property and cash. 1t must be re-
rendered that five miles north OF
iukden a fight was in progress. Trains
arlier had been bombarded with Shi-
,ose shells and the railroad was twice
amaged. The trains travelled unlight-
d and without whistling under eight