The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-03-17
The Russians, After Fighting
Hard Several Days, Retreat
!IN VERY GOOD ORDER,
Saving Their Guns, Stores and Amuni
tion. The Losses on Both Sides
q. We're Very Heavy, but the
Japs Seemed to Have
suffered Most
suffered Most.

suffered Most.
I The battle which has been raging
lin the Vicinity Of Mukden between
the Russians and japanese for tue last
two weeks came to a close last Friday
Eby the retreat OF the Russians. A
dispatch from ST. Petersburg says the
dispatch announcing the with drawal
OF the Russians from their positions
on the Shakhe river and that they
we're In full retreat, was the first
definite news received here to the
effect that the battle was
ended and that General KuropatkIn
was making the best of his way north.
ward. 1t does not come unexpectedly
The defeat Of General Kuropatkin has
been expected since Field Marshal
Oyama made bis brilliant stroke
against the Russian right.
CONFLICTING REPORTS.
The Associated Press says advices
from the Manchurian battlefield leave
little doubt that General Kuropatkin
mas suffered another reverse, but
whether his defeat Is a rout or
whether he has repeated his strategy
OF Liao Yang and succeeded In with
drawing his army and the bulk OF his
supplies is not clear.
Dispatches from General Kuroki's
headquarters say that the Russians
evacuated the whole line along the
Shakhe river aud are In full retreat
northward with the Japanese in close
pursuit. Admitting the correctness
OF this, dispatch, the fall OF Mukden
seems imminent, and It's probability Is
IN measure confirmed by the report
that the Japanese have taken Man
chiatun, a Village some ten miles
southeast of Mukden.
sc. Petersburg insists that no disas-
ter has occurred, but admits that Kur-
opatk1n's LETT is In critical position,
Kuroki having driven a wedge In be-
tp en5Linovitch's main army an Ran.
Kuropatktn's communications have
been cut is denied at the western cap.
ital, where 1t Is stated that report
from the commander was receiv.
ed Thursday Contents are not known,
| however, beyond the statement that
Mukden is still in possession of the
Russians.
The dispatch from Mukden makes
The significant statement That tile
Japanese are extending their great
turning movement still! further north
in the direction Of the immensely i'm.
portants trategic point Of the Tie Pass.
| dispatches received give d, tai,
OF The blow which turned The Russian
right and saws tnat the Russian lo.se.
IN This hghLIls ware very heavy.
WHAT THE JAPs CLAIM.
The Japs claim that tho tirst iou
days lighting on the flank has ended
as successfully a> tae Jap tnesa c1ulo
wish. Ii has resulted in the cD.o pl. te
turniD,; of the Russian Ri lit nd ON
res the certain DEF, at OF the en- ire
Russian army. 1t IS harl 10 see no
lie Russians can possibly hope Tor
o5her results The left Jaral eso aIu4
les have swung north 10 pom, OH l. e
man highway, five miles notGn OF the
Mukden line, the two lef5 afmie
which are ex cutting tn, iurniug nov :
ment are now parallel 10 ard four
miles westward Of the railro ID Tue
| Two aimies swung arouI d w.th G. an
fan as pivot until they ru: C I'd q
position at right angles with the oii
ginal line and are now advancing di
rectly east
RUSSIANS IN REVOLT.
line Russians made q strong fight
at the start, but later their re islauc,.
was slight, their men retreating IN
disorder before the onward rush OF In,
Japanese who have advanced over 20
miles In four days Constantly In toi.c,l !
With the Russians. The Russians had
many strons oefenses In several lines
but did not defend them as sU.ongly
az expected. The soldiers everywhere
were disheartened by the fa.l of Port
Arthur, and 1t Is beiieyed they are
almost in open revolt. \ number OF
strong positions were given up with
out show OF resistance and the bat
0lehelds snow evidence OF has5y re.
treat, being covered with cloUhing,
heavy felt boots and thousands Of
whips thrown away probably because
they impeded the Russian hasly flight.
Many rifles and thousands OF c!ips OF
rifle cartridges were also thrown away,
the Russians retiring east and north
In confusing. 1t was evident that
all their plans for retreat were discou.
certed by the rapid rushes of the Jap.
anese.
COssACKs DIsORGANIZED.
The entire Russian right seems al
together disorganized. The reports
show the Russian troops are almost in
a panic striken condition, one army
corps opposed to the Japanies extreme