The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1905-03-17
CONFLICT IN FAR EAST

railway to the north, it would be i'm.
possible to remove the large stores
which have been gathered together at
Mukden. These, it seems certain.
Have Been Destroyed.
The Japanese have not yet reported
orally do almost Immediately. but it
seems hardly likely that Kuropatkin
could have removed all of his artil-
lery. On the list of January, accord
ing to correspondents who have just
returned from Mukden. the Russians
had in position along the Shakhe and
Hun rivers 1900 guns, including
number of 6 and 8-inch guns on &C.
ment foundations stradding the rail-
way just north of Shakhe station. In
addition many guns arrived in Muk-
den during January and February, so
that the Russian artillery when the
big battle started must have num-
hered nearly 1000 pieces. 1t is likely
that kuropatlNin has sacrificed some
of these, and is bending all his ener-
gies to extricating his army. That his
task is a difficult one all the dis
patches indicate, but Russian sympa-
thizers point to his retreat from Lao
yang, where conditions were opposed
to him. The retreat from Liao-yang
was accomplished during a terrific
rain storm over roads hub deep in
mud, while at the present time the
Manchurian roads are frozen as hard
as stone, and have been worn as
smooth as asphalt by the continual
usage of the big wide-tired commits.
rat wagons. The result of
oyama's Great Turning Movement
depends almost entirely upon Kawa-
muras army, which has not yet been
located definitely, although supposed
to be moving from the east toward
Kuropatkin's line of retreat Should
he reach the military road, which runs
almost in a direct line from Fushul.
to Tie pass, before the passage of the
Russian arm" the circle will be COM
plete.
Even should Kuropatkin extricate
his army, it is believed in European
capitals that peace soon will follow
this latest Japanese victory. The call
ing to ST. Petersburg of M. 1swolsky,
Russian minister to Denmark, who
formerly was in Toxic, is most signifi-
cant. No time will be lost in starting
the negotiations as soon as Russia in
Inmates her wish to close the war.
News Reaches Russia,
st. Petersburg, March 12-"Last
night all our armies commenced to re-
treat"
The greatest defeat in the history
of the Russian-Japanese war was made
known in ST. Petersburg last night,
but only in the paltry eight words
from Gen. Kuropatkin to Emperor
Nicholas, which We're flung about the
streets in newspaper extras and
passed from mouth to mouth. Two
thoughts formed instantly in the
minds of everyone, and two words
were on every lip-Surrender-pea
the former dreaded, the latter hoped
for.
Fight to Bitter End.
st. Petersburg, March 14.-The i'm
mediate answer of the Russian govern
ment to the defeat at Mukden is the
announcement that new army will be
raised and the forces in the Far East
reorganized; that Vice Admiral Ro-
jestvensky will be ordered to sail on
and try conclusions with Togo, and
that the war will be prosecuted to the
bitter end.
This is the present temper of EN-
peror Nicholas and his dominant adj
visors, voiced in firm official an
nouncement that the position of Rus
STA is unchanged and that the initia-
tive for peace can only come from
Japan.
But while this is the official attitude.
nothing but peace talk is heard in st.
Petersburg.
Gen. kuropatkin has telegraphed to
Emperor Nicholas, assuming himself
all the responsibility for his defeat,
making no excuses except that the
strength Of the Japanese was miscal.
culated, and refusing to place any of
the blame upon the council of generals
upon whose advice he determined to
give battle.
Reported by oyama.
Toxic, March IA. = Field Marshal
Oyama. reporting yesterday, says:
Prisoners, spoils and the enamy's
estimated casualties against all of our
forces in the Shakhe direction follow.
but the prisoners. guns and spoils are
increasing momentarily:
"The prisoners number over 10000,
including Gen. Nachamoss. The killed
and wounded are estimated at 10000.
The enemy's dead left on the field
number 26,500. The spoiis include
2 flags, about 60 guns. 10000 rifles, $50
ammunition wagons, 1000 carts, 2OO,-
600 shells. 25,oOo,o0O rounds of small
arm ammunition. $4,000 bushels of
cereals, 275,000 bushels of fodder. Is
miles of light railway outfit. 1000
horses, % cart loads of maps. 1000
cart loads of clothing and accoutre-
ments. 100000 rations of bread. TO-.
600 tons of fuel and 60 tons of hay. be.
sides tools. tents, bullocks, telegraph
Wire and poles. timber, beds, stoves