Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 37, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 March 1905 — WAR DURING A WEEK [ARTICLE]

WAR DURING A WEEK

SCREEN IS DRAWN OVER MILL ... TARY OPERATIONS. Dispatches of Past Week Show No New Light on the Conflict in the Far East —Remnants of Russia’s Routed Army in Full Retreat. The week, which opened with the Russian army in full retreat from Mukden, closed with its fate in doubt. Kuropatkin’s divisions that had escaped death, or capture arrived at Tieling, where reserve supplies and a fortified position awaited them. Then the Russian army was driven out of Tieling. The remaining stores wei’e burned, many guns abandoned, and the retreat resumed. St. I’etersburg, naturally, was filled with alarming rumors. It was reported that the railroad had been cut at Changtufu, 40 miles north of Tiding; that there were strong JapaneseTColumns east and west of the railroad even farther to the north; that the Russian forces had been driven into the hills east of the railroad and were trying to reach Kirin or Vladivostock; that they were without food, ammunition, and artillery. There were no dispatches, official or otherwise, to confirm or 'deny these sensational reports. The week's dispatches added a few’ details to the sum of Russia’s disaster at Mukden. The war office at Tokio estimated the Russian force engaged in the battle of Mukden at 376 battalions of infantry, 178 squadrons of cavalry, 171 'batteries of artillery, or a total of 327.500 men and 12168 guns. Field Marshal Oyama reported the capture of 40,000 prisoners. His armies counted 26,500 dead. He estimated the Russian wounded at 64,500. This total of 130,1X10 casualties reduced the effective Russian force to 197,500 men —all that got safely through to Tiding. St. I’etersburg reports credited Linevitch —who succeeded Kuropatkin —with 268,000 men, the figures being achieved by including the railway guards and the Fourth army corps, which had just arrived at Harbin. This force of 268,000 men, badly equipped, short of supplies, was retreating before a force of perhaps fully double its strength. At a council of war held at Tsarskoe Selo it was resolved to send a new army of 400,000 men to the far East to continue the war. General Kuropatkin was recalled', practically in disgrace, and General Linevitch placed in command. The war party apparently is still in power at St. Petersburg. There are disturbing indications that Russia's credit is reaching a limit. The refusal of the French syndicate to contract for a fresh loan of $125,000,000 has caused uneasiness in St. Petersburg. At Paris it is stated vaguely that the loan has only been postponed. In St. Petersburg it is insisted the loan will be made within ton days. The proposal of the Russian Minister of Finance that the banks of St. Petersburg float an internal loan of $100,000,009 has not been well received. Still, It would be foolish to assume that Russia has reached the limit of her resources. The fact that her gold reserve still stands at $'174,500,000 proves that the Czar's empire is not penniless.

Czar's Minister for Peace. While Emperor Nicholas, whose word is final, still declines to abandon the prosecution of the war and the government maintains its ability to continue the conflict, The Associated Press states that powerful influences, including several of the emperor's own ministers, are now strongly urging that the time has come to indicate to Japan Russia's desire for peace upon a reasonable basis. Should Japan then attempt to impose too onerous conditions, these influences argue that, in view of the universal wish to see the bloody confliet ended, Russia’s position will be strengthened abroad by the alienation of sympathy from Japan, and the situation at home Improved when the nation is made tb"understand that the emperor’s pacific proposals have been met with impossible terms. One of the emperor's ministers in a conversation with The Associated Press correspondent said: “We have suffered bitter defeat on land and sea. We can, however, still continue the war. But both countries have suffered great losses in blood and treasure, and it would only profit the rivals of both were we to fight on until one or the other Is exhausted.” “What would be Russia’s attitude on the subject of Indemnity?” “Russia never yet has paid indemnity and history practically affords no precedent for indemnity when territory is not occupied to insure payment and Japan holds not a foot of Russian territory. Japan could, however, take the proceeds of the sale of property and rights of the Chinese Eastern railway, which was built with Russian money.”