A RUSSIAN SUBTERFUGE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7762, 14 March 1905, Page 3

A RUSSIAN SUBTERFUGE.

HEAVY CASUALTY LIST. THE CZAII GREATLY DEJ ECTEIX TIIE RETREAT A PANIC. CHAOS AND DARKNESS. fßeceived March 13, 10.41 p.m.) LONDON, March 13. During Thursday's dust storm the Japanese advanced their batteries nearer Mukden, ami otherwise improved their positions. During the height oi the storm an uncanny stillness prevailed, and the city streets were deserted and tile shops shut. 'Hie Russians evacuated Mukden on Thursday, leaving lights burning ill tile houses to deceive the .Japan--cse. The Russians marched along the road 011 the east side of the railway at Jirsl onleW.v, but the rapidity of the pursuit ami the dillicull advancing under heave fire 011 both flank's soon caused stampedes, and tUe wholesale abandonment of stores and waggons. At dusk on Friday iho rearguard reached Santaitze, when it was thrown into great confusion by a sudden onslaught of the Japanese cavalry, who threw hand grenades. Around Mukden the Russian dead are too numerous to inter. General Zerpitzkv died of his wounds and Genera'l MakliinioU was captured. I An officer of the Russian general staff informed a French newspaper , that the Russian losses exceed a hundred thousand men, 100 siege guns and 300 field guns. ~ General Kuropatkin, who is with the second army, states there was 110 fighting on the night of tile 10th. General Guershelman, with the held positions at the Cliutai station on Saturdav morning. General Kuropatkin. on Suturtlny evening, reports tile .Japanese oil Saturday only attacked the third Siberian Army Corps. The Jirsl. army eselieloned in front, while the Other armies determined to retreat oil positions appointed lor all armies. The rearguard oi the third .1 r j m_\ on Saturday occupied a position [on the Mandarin road, 17 miles from Tieliug, confronting a small jforee chiefly 01' Japanese cavalry. Russians missing from roll-call from Fob. 28 to March 11 are 1100 officers and men. The Czar is greatly dejected. A Russian newspaper correspondent describes the retreat 011 the route everywhere as a panic, owing to the Japanese artillery. The whole country between Tawan, Fuho and the railway is one great chaos, ba.ggag<} trains all hampering and crowding each other, only inUni uh g&tttog awa,/, for several huura

tlio troops were in hopeless confusion. Clouds of dust made it extremely difficult to sec even in the direction of the road. t'ltinialcly the panic diminished,, and the troops then attempted to col'leet some abandoned waiggons,. I