The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-16

Frontal Aitac, vas RepuIsc'l--Tokio
Hears That Northern Army Il within
striking Distance Of Tie Pass russian
Wounded Helms SEMI Further Betb
France 10 Float the Russian Lean.
Special cable DsIpstehsl 10 THI Sun,
sr. PETERSBURG, March l5.--den. KuFo-
patldn reports that the japanese to-day a.
tackled the central Russian position on tbs
Fan River, which Is ton miles south Of Tie
ling. and were repulssd, leaving ZOO dead
on the field.
Prince Khilko1. Minister Of RailwsyH
announces that he has reosived kilograms
from Gen Kuropatkin, dated March ~,
in reference to the army transport require
ments, they being as always, couohed IN
calm, businssslike language. Prince Kill
kof adds that his department is still ener'
getoally engaged. as for a year past, IN
supplying the army. All It's plans are now
concerned with the despatch Of fresh troops
and munitions over the TranS-siberian
Railway.
Rscsntly eghtsen instead Of twenty
four trains daily have been despatched.
This is to DO attributed more 10 the
fact that the snow is Delaying trans
portation than to trouble with the en-
ployces Of the railway, These troubles
were less serious than those In European
Russia. because immediate concessions
were made to the mems demands.
Prince Khilkoff believes that Gen Ruro.
patldn oan withdraw his army a. an or
ganized force. He instances tho fact that
the commandments removed 10000
wounded from Mukden while the japanese
enveloping movement was being carried
out, which shows that bis force retains 50
orderly defensive formation.
Despite the Minister'S statements, II IL
the opinion among th6se best informed
as to the situation In Manohuria that The
Russians are unable to make a successful
retreat TO Hardin, and that It will be =
most difficult task to mobilize a new army.
The grain stored throughout the winter
alongside the southern and central Russian
railway lines il spTouting since the thsw
and is now useless. This fact is assisting
the rapid spread Of the peasant rising and
the destruction OF Government property.
TIE feat that the railway cars were
monopolized by the Trans-Siberian line
prevented the Government from moving
the grain from great wheat areas to market.
WITHIN sTRTKING DISTANCE or TIE PASS.
TOXIC, March l5-Evening The COR
respondent Of THE Sun learns on good au-
thority that the japanese advance guard
Is in the immediate vicinity Of Telling
and that a detachment Of the northern army
Is within striking distance Of the Russian
position.
TOXIC, March l5.-The Intelligence De-
partment states that Russian wounded are
being constantly transported TO KdyIan.
twenty-five miles north OF Telling, on tho
confines Of ths Mlnchuriau desert. Al
though KaiyJsn is inferior to Telling in its
facilities for defence the exhausted Russian
troops are rercatinS thither.
The Japan Mad. summarizing Gen.
Kuropatiiins dilemma, says that II he makes
a stand at Telling with his relatively insig-
ni6caut force Of 10000 men he will invite
the cutting Of the railway to the north which
will result in starvation for the Russians
II he abandons Telling it viii mean the
REIMBURSEMENT Of a great depot Of supplies.
1t transcends possibility that he can hurry
his troops TO Ksiyusn preparatory 10 trans
porting them across the desert 10 Harhin.
as he would have to entrain 10000 wounded
in addition to caring for the $50 900 men
who are still NJ for active service, and all
this with the Japanese within six miles Of
him. All the indications are that the posi-
ton Of the Russians is extremely grave.
The Nich Nich Shimbun prints an un-
dated despatch stating nat the Japanese
are within three miles Of ITCHING.
The American steamer Tacoma, with
oontraband for vladivostok. which was
icebound for two weeks Of Bokkaldo, was
captured yesterday by a japanese guard
ship,
PARIS HEARS BETREAT WILL NJ TO HARBtN
PARIS, March i5.-Despatches from 81.
to Paris newspapers say that
Gen, Kuropatl1in has only 10000 troops
and able to take the fold. He
does not believe Il will be possible 10 remain
At Telling and prefers 70 intrench himssIf
1t Hardin, where he could keep in touch
With Vladivostok
The magnificent brigade Of Caucasian
-ossacks. who bore the brint Of the fighting
on Friday and Saturday. wers practically
,nnihilated. Only two Of the officers sur.
yive. All belonged to the St. Petersburg
a,yv,.r aaY-r..ugx ,rnv-.