Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1905-03-23
CUT RAILWAY
BEHIND RUSS
COMMUNICATION BY WIRE AND
RAILROAD is COMPLETELY
CUT OFF.
CAR DEGRADES KUROPATKIN
DISMISSED FROM HIS COMMAND
WITHOUT A WORD OF
PRAISE.
RUSSIANS GREATLY WORRIED
DECIDED ANXIETY OVER FATE
COMMANDER.

st. Petersburg. March 19.-There is
a persistent report that railroad COM
munications have been cut behind the
Russian army.
No official dispatches have been
given out up to this hour, and no
private or press dispatches have been
received.
News is awaited with intense anx-
iety.
kuropatkn Ordered Home.
With the Japanese hanging on the
heels and TANKS of the remnants OF
the broken and defeated Russian
army, Gen. kuropatkin, the old idol OF
the private soldier, has been dismissed
and disgraced.
Gen. Linevitch, commander of the
First army, is appointed to succeed
him in command of all the Russian
land and sea forces operating against
Japan.
The word disgrace is written in
large letters in the laconic imperial
order gazetting the change. The order
contains not a single word Of praise
and also disposes of the rumor that
Kuropatkin asked to be relieved.
The Russian military annals contain
no more bitter imperial rebuke.
Russians Anxious About Army.
Decided anxiety is felt here regard
ing the fate Of the army in Manchuria
under it's new commander, no news of
military developments the last two
days having been received. The only
dispatches from the front are the
brief announcements yesterday that
Gen. Linevitch had assumed command
and that Gen. Kuropatllin was de-
parting for st. Petersburg and the AS
ISOLATED Press Changtufu dispatch
filed the morning of March 16 and writ
ten at the station of Kaiyuan, which
was then held by the Russians. In
this correspondents opinion no pause
in the Japanese advance is probable
for some time. The Russians
Are Losing Heavily
in the rear guard actions, and Japan
csc columns are reported to be push
ing northward as fast as possible to
complete the development of the Rus
sian forces. Gen. Linevitch, however,
will have d considerable accession Of
fresh troops in a day or two, the
Fourth European corps being now at
Hardin and departing southwark.
Military officials here declare that
there are now 26s,O00 men at Gen. Lin
evitch's disposal in Manchuria and it
is believed that this force will be suf-
else greater caution in their pursuit.
Although Gen. Kuropatkin's down
fall was inevitable from the military
standpoint, nevertheless
1t Arouses Sympathy
in circles familiar with the long cam
paign that has been waged against
him by the general staff.
Gen. Linevitch is distinctively a line
officer, with a long record as fighter.
He is almost as cordially dislil1ed by
the general staff as is his predecessor,
and there also is bad blood between
Kuropatkin and Linevitch dating
from a personal quarrel in the days
| when Kuropatkin was commander in
the ns-Baikal army, which led
Linevitch to demand satisfaction.
Kuropatkin assumed the position that
he could not fight an officer of inferior
rank. The succession ofe this officer
will naturally increase Gen. Kuropat-
kin's discontinue.
Sympathy for kuropatkin.
London, March 19.-No further news
regarding the situation in Manchuria
or of the whereabouts of Vice Admiral
Rojestvenslly's squadron has reached
London.
The greatest sympathy is expressed
by the British press and public for
Gen. Kuropatkin, and there is strong
criticism for the curt manner of his
dismissal, without word of thanks
for past services.
Second Russ Fleet Sails.
Antananarivo, Madagascar, March 10
The Russian second Pacific squad
ron left Nossi Be on the afternoon of
March 16. It's destination is not
| known.