The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1905-03-24
DislOdged by laps, KurO-
patkin Resumes Re-
treat to harbin.
in A CRITICAL SITUATION
Details Of Latest Coup Of 0yama are
Lacking, Bot Toxic Hears That
= Many Prisoners Were Taken
BY Mikado's Forces.

Tie Pass Is now In the hands Of the
Japanese and the broken Russian
army continues Its retreat to che north.
Another Successful Ranking movement
on the part OF the japanese viii pnob-
ably seal It's fate, but it may be that
the Japanese are not in condition
to accomplish such a feat after their
exhausting. efforts Of the past two
weeks General Kuropatkin reported
to st. Petersburg that his army il
falling back in good condition, The
next town Of Importance in the limo
OF the Russian retreat is Kai Yuan,
some twenty miles from Tie Pass, but
its strategic view is not known.
The following dispatch from Toxic,
under Thursdays date, gives meager
news of the occupation of Tie Pass:
Tie Pass, which was held by a di.
vision Of Russian troops, is now in
possession OF the Japanese. After u
slight resistance the Russians evacuat.
ed at midnight the strong position
they had prepared months ago, setting
fire to the railroad station and other
buildings. The Japanese troops, which
had occupied Yingpao and East FIJI.
shun, are in hot pursuit OF the re-
treating Muscovites along the Kirin
road. 1t is predicted that the Rus
slams will retreat to Hardin. The
Japanese captured many prisoners and
the Russians destroyed vast stores.
The japanese have cut the railroad
north of Chang Tufu, forty miles
above Tie Pass"
Was Kuropatkin's Last Chance.
A st. Petersburg special says: The
news from the front is again very Sc
rious. Field Marshal Oyama is strik'
ing another blow at the defeated Rus
sian army. In spite Of the exhaus'
ton Of his forces after the twelve
days struggle for Mukden, he has
been able to organize a fresh turning
movement in the hope of completing
the victory won under the walls OF
Mukden. Tuesdays attack on the
Russian advance line at the Fan river,
It is now evident, was only a Ieint
while Japanese columns were being
worked around to get in position to
fall upon the Russian rear, and Wed
nesday the blow was struck, a dis
patch to the Associated Press from
Santoupou bringing to st. Petersburg
the first news that a battle was In
progress north Of Tie Pass. That
General Kuropatkln was taken by sur
prise is a fair inference from the man
ner in which Tuesday night he aban'
. doned the Fan river positions, leaving
40 hurriedly that he again was obliged
To burn his stores to prevent them
from falling into the hands OF the
Jananese II is evident that the Jap
anese struck in from west OF the Lac
river The pass Is practically the
gate where the mountains and LAac
river meet, and It commands the whole
country noithward. With the Japan
ese in behind the Russian army 81
TIE Pass General Kuropathn's posi-
ton Is extremely critical.
With the evacuation OF Tie Pass
wednesday night the Russian army
abandoned the last stronghold Il
southern Manchuria, and dehnitel!
turned over the section TO the Japan
asa for the campaign OF 1905. A
least no other strategy is possible 10
General Kuropatkin. in view OF MI
scanty supplies Of ammunition an
stores, the shattered condition OF hi
army and the wide enveloping move
ments which the japanese have con
t,nued almost without a stop sine
,hn Russian defeat ut Mukden.