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Show Gen. Kuropatkin Surprises the Russians ST. PETERSBURG, May 8. When the War Commission adjourned this morning it failed to give out any official dispatches regarding the situation on the Llao Tung peninsula penin-sula or at Feng-Wang-Cheng. Nevertheless, Never-theless, there Is no doubt that the Jap- anese troops were in touch with the Russian forces at Feng-Wang-Cheng, and the report that the latter had evacuated evac-uated that place is generally credited. Surprise is caused by the withdrawal of Gen. Kuropatkin toward his base at Llao Yeng, as it is said that Immediately Imme-diately after he learned of Gen. Zas-salltch's Zas-salltch's losses he sent reinforcements to him to enable him to retain his position. po-sition. The officials here frankly confess, however, that they are not fully informed in-formed of Kuropatkln's plan. Ho Is In solo chargo of the operations in Manchuria. Man-churia. The Emperor decided when Gen- Kuropatkin started out that he should have complete independence, bo there could be no grounds for complaint com-plaint that he was hampered by in structions or advice from officers in St. Petersburg, who could not possibly know all the conditions which tho troops 1 in the field would meet Kuropatkin, Ku-ropatkin, therefore, has made his own dispositions and formulated his own plan. What little Is known here shows that he intends to observe the same caution that has distinguished the operations op-erations of the Japanese. Finding that he could not offer battle at Feng-Wang-Cheng with an even chance of success, he has decided to fall back, it is believed, be-lieved, to the Mao Tien pass. Back of the pass there Is another pass, near which Is a temporary railway connecting connect-ing with Llao Yang. Considerable comment has been aroused In military circles ' Japs Follow Old Plan. The Japanese have followed, up to now, practically In all respects, their plans In the Chlno-Japanese war. They have crossed the Yalu at tho same place and danded upon the Llao Tung peninsula penin-sula the same points, and It is believed they will continue their tactics, as their dispositions foreshadow the movements made in 1S91. It is not at all unlikely that another Japanese army will be landed upon the peninsula, which will move northward north-ward along the railway line. During the Chlno-Japanese war the Japanese captured Port Arthur two weeks after their disembarkation upon the penln-sula. penln-sula. The Russians say that the Japanese Japa-nese will not find It so easy a task to reduce Port Arthur as they did before. The Japanese army marching northward north-ward along the railroad; once past Kal-plng, Kal-plng, can compel the Russians to evacuate evac-uate Newchwang, or else undergo a battle or a state of siege. If tho march Is prosecuted as far as Haicheng, where tho Japanese defeated the Chinese Chi-nese army, Gen. Kuropatkin will have to abandon Mao Tien pass, as a consequence con-sequence of strategic weakness of the position. The possession of Feng-Wang-Cheng is of the highest importance, impor-tance, as it places under the control of tho Japanese a large strip of Man-churlan Man-churlan territory' bordering on the Bay of Korea, and the road connecting, Llao Yang, Hacheng, Newchwang and Plt-sewo. Plt-sewo. The command of the road to Pitsewo will enable this army to communicate com-municate with tho Japanese to open operations in tho Llao Tung peninsula. penin-sula. Stoicism of People. The stoicism of the people Is wonderful, wonder-ful, but the fact that It is displayed shows louder than words could, the depression de-pression that exists. The Russians had not looked for tho retirement of their army from Feng-Wang-Cheng, believing believ-ing that a battle would occur there in which their troops would be victorious and would wipe out the sting of tho disasters suffered. Nevertheless, there Is no disposition to criticlso Gen. Kuropatkin, Kuro-patkin, In whom the people believe, and they will wait the doggedness of tho Slav character, manifested In the dark days of Turkish war, for the victory which they have faith Is sure to come. The energy of the Japanese meets with unwilling admiration, and It Is expected they will continue a vigorous campaign. Tho nation Is fully awakened awak-ened to what this means. It understands under-stands that Russia must exert all her strength and that a long war cannot be arolded. The latter opinion Is shared by diplomats and officials. Comfort is found In the fact that thus far Russia has not sustained a crushing crush-ing defeat, and, even should one come, it is declared It would not shako tho certainty of the people In tho ultimate success of the Russian arms, or lessen les-sen tho determination to prosecute the war until Japan shall havo beon humbled. hum-bled. Tho Emperor Is deeply pained over the Russian losses on the Yalu, and regrets that tho investment of Port Arthur could not have been prevented. pre-vented. He will, however, acquiesce without question in the plan of Gen. Kuropatkin, even 6houid that plan contemplate the withdrawal of the Russian army farther into the interior. Those close to his Majesty state that he Is more determined than ever that Russian prestige shall be vindicated In the far East as necessary not only to Russia, but to the whole white race, as an answer to the Japanese blows. Reinforcements Dispatched. Further reinforcements have been dispatched to Manchuria, and the Emperor Em-peror has reiterated his declaration that Gen. Kuropatkin shall have as many men as are needed to insure victory to the Russian arms. There is no Intention on the part of the authorities to depart from the decree de-cree outlined in the recent circular to the powers, whenever further defeats may bd suffered. Tho depression hero has given rise to rumors of all kinds of Russian disasters at Feng-Wang-Cheng, and to a report that the Vladivostok Vladi-vostok squadron has been destroyed. The former report, It Is believed, grew out of Gen. Kuropatkln's retirement, and tho Admiralty places no credence In tho story of the destruction of t the squadron, havjng knowledge of its whereabouts. |
