The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1905-03-15
UNDER HEAVY FIRE
RUSSIAN ARMY MARCHES
TO TIE PASS SUCCESS
FULLY.

lures 10000 men-Retreat a
Commenced Just in Time
to Avoid Being Sur
rounded.
Toxic, March 12.-Field Marshal
Oyama estimates that the number
of Russian prisoners captured will
exceed 10000. The Japanese cas-
ualties are estimated at Al, 900. The
japanese captured retreating Rus
sian column at the Pu River yes
terday.
! Official information from the Rus
sian headquarters in the field, sup
plemented by dispatches from the
! Associated Press correspondents
with the army Of the Russian en-.
pire, show that General Kuropat-
. kin, after suffering the most severe
defeat of the war, has succeeded, as
he did after the battle Of Lao Yang,
in extricating the remnants of his
army from position which militia
ry experts "a hours before believed
would result in it's annihilation or
surrender. The retreat from Lao
Yang has been considered a most
mastery event, but it is far over
shadowed by the latest feat Of the
Russian general, who has taken
personal command of the troops.
After fighting for nearly three
weeks, losing in killed, wounded
and missing probably third of his
army, or 100, 900 men, and fourth
of his artillery, Kuropatkin gath
cred together what was left north of
Mukden and is taken them toward
Tie Pass through rain of shrap.
incl, which is. being thrown on
q hem from both right aud Left.
This he seems to have been able
to accomplish by resorting to the
same tactics which saved his army
at Liao Yang. AS recently as
Thursday last he commenced send
ing his artillery north by rail and
road. That night he destroyed by
Z fire what he realized could not be
removed. Even the hospitals con.
tanning the more seriously wound.
ed were left behind, SO as not to
hamper in any way the movement
of the army. This movement com.
menced on Friday morning. and, as
he Japanese forces on ihs east
which were to join hands with the
western army and cut off his retreat
did not cross the Fushun- Mukden
road until Saturday morning, the
Russians had full days start O
their pursuers, and having no guns
or baggage to delay them, seem tt
I have made good their escape.
There is still, however, a chane,
! of General Kawamura' army tax
ing a hand in the battle, ano
should it strike the Russians Al
} Tie pass or cut their communica
tions to the northward, the disaster
to Kuropatkin's once fine army
l will be complete. The schrapne.
fire under which the Russians art
again retreating was found not te
have a very serious effect, as the
army was scattered and struggling
which undoubtedly holds good in
the present case.
i What part of his army the Rus.
tsian general has saved apparently
is not known at the Russian head.
quarters. Ali dispatches indicate
that part of his force has been cut
off. General Kaulbars seems IT,
have extricated his corps, likewise
Bildering, but not SO with Line.
witch. The Associated correspond.
ent says the Japanese surrounded
the First and Fourth Russian corps
land added that help could not be
sent to them. Their, fate is not re.
corded, and the inference is thai
they have suffered either defeat OF
capture. Rennenkampk's fate is
still in the balance.
Tie Pass, March 11.-For many
versts all the approaches to Tie
pass are covered with troops, artil-
Ilery and baggage transports press
ing northward, and twenty-five
miles away the strong rearguard O
troops, which is commanded by
y General Kuropatkin, is retiring
slowly, doggedly disputing with tht
pursuing enemy every foot Of th'
ground in order to recover the re
Z treat of the army.
The losses in this defeat, which
|islthe most bitter yet experienced
by the Russian army, by moder
ate computation, is not less thar
800, GOO men on both sides.