Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-03-17
japanese FIanking Move
ment Most Successful.
Bloody Battle In Progress And
Russians Retreating.
Kuropatkir's Crippled Army May Be
Cut to Pieces.


March 10
Details Of the occupation of Tie pass
have net yr; r-rn received at Imperial
army headquarters. Az official bulle-
tin REPORTS The action ard that the jap
asese are in hot pursuit Of the re-
treating Russians bur il does not men,
ton any particulars about the fight.
General kuropatkin and the REM
nants of the army which was defeated
by the japanese on the Shakhe and
Hun rivers and again around Mukden
and Tie Pass. are now in the mountains
a few miles north of the southern en-
trance to the pass trying to shake off
their pursuers, who apparently are not
going to repeat the mistake of Lao
Yang and allow the Russian army to
escape. Kuropatkin has been reinforced
by the garrisons of Aieling and other
northern towns and a few new troops,
who were on their way from Russia
when the battle Of Mukden began. But
even with these there seems little hope
for him. True, he has some 30 or 40
miles Of billy country. extending from
Tie Pass to Fenghautsien, which might
enable him to hold off the enemy for
time. but only out of the hills he has
before him nearly 300 miles of fat, open
country and innumerable rivers and
streams to cross. This is what is
termed the great valley of the Sungari.
but is in fact an immense plain bound
ed on the east by high mountains and
extending northward into Siberia and
westward into Mongolia. I<irin. east of
the railway and Hardin, the most
n0rtherly point on the railway where
il branches off to VladivostOk eastward
and to Siberia westward are the CEN
ters Of this wonderfully rich country,
resembling in many respects the north
west territories of Canada. From Tie
Pass the railway runs over hills known
as the divide to Kaiyuan, 20 miles.
then striking into a valley. on either
side of which rise high hills. energies
onto the plain just northeast of the inn
portant Chinese city of Fenghausien.
From there to Hardin hardly hill can
be seen from the railway train. the
line running almost straight, except
where an occasional curve is necessary
TO reach a variable crossing of the riv-
err Besides the railway there is
splendid wagon road from Tie Pass to
Kaiynan where it branches, one
branch making 4 detour to the west
ward. skirting the mountains and run
ming almost direct to Hardin. The 9TH
er branch passes through the noun
tains to kirin. from which center there
are many roads. The distance from
Tie Pass to Hardin is very little less
than 300 miles, and except for the first
few miles, every acre is under cultiva-
ton or supporting herds of cattle,
sheep and horses. So far as the COM
missariat is concerned. the Russians
need have no fear. Hardly n pound of
last years crop of beans, millet or
wheat left the country. the Russians
buying it all but storing it at stations
along the railway. immense shelters
being erected for its reception. They
also purchased all the cattle and horses
and had Cossacks herding them. The
weather on the plain is very much
colder thar in the Mukden section of
Manchuria. the thermometers in the
trains dropping several degrees as the
divide is crossed and continuing to go
down until Lake Raikal is reached. As
n rule the ground does not commence
10 thaw until April. except n very lit
tie on the surface in the middle of the
day. the sun being strong even In win
ter.
The most important Russian town
between Tie Pass and Hardin. with
the exception of Kirin. which is not on
the railway. is kwansuling. also spelt
kunkchuling. This town is little
over 100 miles north of Tie Pass.
Here We're gathered great stores OF
provisions alongside of which We're Sc
creted Red Cross hospitals. the best by
far that the Russians had sought of
Hardin. At all the other stations there
VAS also hospitYl accommodations. so
that if uropatkin escapes from Oya-
man at Tie Pass. he has a good chance
to cross at the most favorable season
Of the year. Another few weeks and the
roads would be impossible. But II ne
is hard pressed there is not a defensi-
bic position unless he abandons the
Railway and seeks safety in the eastern
nils Later in the year of course. the
rivers would afford some protection,
but in winter. being frozen. they are
as easy to cross as is the country. west
Of Hardin, along the railway the flrst
hills are encountered about midway
between Hardin and the siberian Dor
der. These mountains are most formld-
able several switchbacks and tunnels
being necessary to cross the railway
ever Them
st. Petersburg. March 17.-d.50 A.
Mo.-With the evacuation of Tie Pass,
Wednesday hight. the Russian army
abandoned the last stronghold Ill
southern Manchuria and definiieiH
turned over the section to thesJapahese
for the campaign of 1885, At least no
other strategy is possible for General
knropatkin. in view Of his scanty sup
Plies Of ammunition anG stores. the
shattered conditions of his army. and
.ne wide enveloping movements whicn
HE japanese have continued almos'
without stop since the Russian oe'
,eat at Mukden. Nothing has PEE"
heard of the part which General Nd
~amura's army is .aking in these op
eations. but G. ,nera,s Nogi ana oku
operating in the low kills of the liz
rass gorge We're themselves sufncieh
=" Turn the shattered Russian army
"u' OF the fartifications Whlch n"'