The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-07-31

moniously jammed, when he seems 10 even increase his ardor of conversation. He volunteers the curious observation that this is to be ''Napoleon's retreat from Moscow repeated" Tt looks that way to me-" says he. He seems to fore- see disaster, but doesn't fear 1t, though foreboding the excitement of the mo- ment is exhilarating. To him the army is disorganized, but he is not uncheer- ful, even though it were doomed. NOW, we ars ewept apart and saved another knocking about. We are now fully in the open with l fair field. The air is more clear ana army trains can be seen everywhere. The roads are inadequate, so we take boldly to the plowed fields, where the horses bury their hoofs, the wheels their lfelloes, in the loose soil. About nine o'clock the dust begins to rise and the armies begin to be heated. On all sides are artillery, baggage, field telegraph wagons with telegraph wire and appar- atus wound all over them, field tele- phone vans, mess carts, arlbulances. Beside the way cart of merchandise has been abandoned by some alarmed sutler and is footed clean. Nothing re- mains but the Chinese cart and the empty boxes and packing.
 There has never been such spectacle
 as this new presented in these ancient,
 quiet fields. The army begins to won der, and, what is worse, to speculate.
 which is the first danger. Off there to
 the left are the old Imperial Northern Tombs, from where since dawn has come the sound of the guns, and where
 on the right flank--still the right flank 1.-the battle is centered, if there is a center. But there seems to be neither center nor circumference, but only tn-
 cipient chaos. We have not been with
 out the guns for two weeks. They, are
 now also going behind us on the south, and the southeast, and the west. Guns are still noisy and numerous, notwith-
 standing the long lines of them here
 making rapidly northward. The infan- l try are behind, saving the rear-mak- ] ing up the rearguard while we march 1 yet safely on.
 Here and there is a wagon train
 blocked in a village street, quiet and orderly. There are here and there the native -Chinese-mounted and bedecked with long Russian sabres
 and pistols, with which they will be robbing and plundering, and worse, be- fore the day is done. They are the army's reliance All are blackmailers, some are murderers and all are for the ] time of their service exempt from law.
 Though they are guilty on scores of | charges, no Chinese magistrate will be allowed to execute one of them accord ling to Chinese law, as that would drive the remainder from the army's service. Freed from their own native justice
 and all other, they prey, pure outlaws,
 upon whoever may fall in their way, fully assured of the protection of the
 army.
 It is a time to be without baggage and servants, for neither is safe.
 Moreover, the temper of the soldiers threatens to completely annul the in- f1uence of the officers. Every man must
 defend his own; for the first time in this war I am hampered by my effects. If the animals, cart and papers are
 saved must remain with them, lead ling with my right arm the led horse as ride along.
 Hour follows hour, we seem to have gotten nowhere, the guns sound the same The retreaters are oblivious of
 all order and are making for any open ling that leads to the north. We enter How rolling hills. There is now infantry Iintermingled with the trains, carrying on their long bayonets, loaves of bread
 and buns run through, and such vege? tables and fruit and whatever else they
 might spear in this way.
 l At ten o'clock it became apparent
 that this army is an army out of job and that tens of thousands of men are engaged in flight-call it retreat if you like, but you will change your charac- lterization at eleven thirty, when we ar- rive at Ta-wa where all contend for l the road.
 The ways are even more crowded 1t is no longer merely artillery and army 1 trains-and the troops are nervous.
 There is a kind of backwater quiet out Iof the main current in front of the vil- Haze of Ta-wa, which seems to offer an
 opportunity to rest, and we attempt to feed the animals. The Japanese are bursting shells ahead of us to the right
 and to the left. Although the enemy
 cannot see the village, their fire has struck into large concourse there and the wagons and troops which have halted for rest immediately get under
 way, the lines closing up where the shells have exploded and all becoming hurry, commotion, and worse. Wagons now plunge into impossible gullies, breaking wheels and whippletrees. | Carts and wagons that always jam kuock out each others end gates and heave and haw over stubble ditches broken walls and whatever obstacles do not entirely fay them.
 On the brow of the rise north of the village the infantry that have joined us begin to relieve themselves of their &C., coutrements. Cast-off clothing is burn ing in little heaps, fired to prevent the