The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-03-10

accomplish it without a serious COM
bat. The Japanese. however, forced
him to accept battle. The double
turning movement compelled him TO
send the major part Of his reserves to
the fighting line and rendering an ef-
fective commensurate out of the ques-
ton, and the decision to retire was
immediately taken on March E, as
was stated by the Associated Press
On that day. Withdrawal was actual
~ begun during the night. The great
question now, and over which the
general staff burned it's lights late in
to the night. is whether Field Mar
shl Oyama has entangled the Rus
slams in his strategic net sufficiently
to prevent a successful retreat to Tie
pass.
Gen. Rennenkamff's force to the
eastward admittedly is in great dan
ger Of being cut off and considera-
bic force of Japanese appears to be
operating on the Russian right we'll
toward Tie pass. If the Japanese
succeed in reaching the railroad and
interrupting traffic if only for few
hours it may have the greatest con-
sequences for Gen. Kuropatlzin, who
is now engaged in a race with the
Japanese to reach the naturally de-
fensible position of 90 miles north
ward. Thus far he has stood off all
attacks directly against the flanks OF
his army and holds the way CT retreat
open. He undoubtedly was forced to
abandon a number of siege guns on
his Shakhe position, but if he sue
ceeds in turning over the army intact,
with the principal portion Of its artll-
lery train, to his successor the Rus
sian case will be by no means deS-
perate. for Oyama will again have
missed his quarry and comparative
ly barren victory will have been pur-
chased at enormous cost of life.
All reports indicate that the Japa-
nese were utterly reckless Of sacrl-
fices, making attack after attack, and
especially on the centre and west
ward against machine guns and in
fantry fire which literally moved
down the advancing column, making
human flesh so cheap that the survl-
vors could bastion themselves behind
piles of corpses.
After this action Gen. Kuropatkin's
deposition may be regarded as Ger
tain. War Minister Sakharof is pick
ed as his probable successor, though
brand Duke Nicholas Nicholaevitch
OF a board of strategists may be en-
trusted with the direction OF affairs.
A strong faction Of the army, those
| high in influence about the emperor.
opposed Gen. Kuropatkin from the
first, and though his early defeats
were condoned because it was reallz-
ed that Gen. Kuropatkin was doing
all that man could do with the tools
at his command, it is now felt that
after twice having had the opportunl-
! ~ TO show what he could do with d
powerful army, and having failed to
| accomplish victory either time, his
removal is advisable.
A high military official said last
night that the emperor had had
enough of a general whose interpre-
tation of a victory was a successful
retreat.
Casualties Exceed 100000.
Toxic. March Q. 6 a. m.-The. great
! battle in Manchuria ragged all day yes
terday along the entire enormous
front. The Japanese were generally
victorious, and they drove the Rus
slams from series of important po-
| sitions. By nightfall it seemed I'M
perative that Gen. Kuropatkin would
have to withdraw his shattered le-
gions and avoid a complete disaster.
Indeed, it appeared impossible for
him to effect a retreat without heavy
loss of prisoners, guns and stores.
| -