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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (March 11, 1905)
VOL. XLV.NO. 13,80S. PORTLAjND, OREGON, SATURDAY, MARCH 11, 1905. PRICE FIVE CENTS. v MEETS S SEDAN Kuropatkin Admits He Is Lost. CRIES: SURROUNDED Retreating Army Now Between Two Fires. WEDGE DRIVEN IN CENTER Confused Mass Marches North Under Shell Fire, TWO ARMY1 CORPS CUT OFF Kawamura's Advancing Army to Forge Last Link In Iron Chain Which Bound Rus sia's Huge Army. . Is SPECIAL. CABLE. LONDON, March 11. The SU Peters burg: correspondent of the Times wires that the latest message from General Kuropatkin reads as follon-m "I un surrounded." TheXate of the Russian array of up wards of a quarter of a. million men and the 2000 pieces of artillery with which it was expected confidently General Kuropatkin and his lieuten ants could prevent tne advance of the Japanese beyond the Shakhe and Hun River positions still is In the balance. They have been driven from those po sitions' now, and are rushing- north ward toward Tie Pass, around which 1 are high .hills, wojoh wereprepare-l for "defense 'after the Battle oi liiao 'a'ang In September, there being no hope at that time that the Japanese would al low the defeated army to rest south of Tie Pass. That the Russians have lost many men and largo Quantities of ammuni tion and supplies is certain, for with a 6ingle-track railway to the north. It would be impossible to remove the large stores which had been gathered together at Mukden. These, it seems certain, have been destroyed. The Jap aneso have not yot reported the cap ture of guns, which they generally do almost immediately, but it seems hard ly likely that Kuropatkin could have removed all of the artillery. On Janu ary 1, according: to correspondents who have just returned from Mukden, the Russians had in position along the Shakhe and Hun Rivers 1500 guns, in cluding a. number of six and eight Inch guns on cement foundations strad dling the railway just north of Shakhe station. In addition, many guns ar rived In Mukden during January and February, so that the Russian ' artil lery, when the big battle started, must have numbered nearly 2000 pieces. It is likely that Kuropatkin has sacri ficed some of these, and is bending all his energies to extricating his army. That his task is difficult all the dis patches indicate, but Russian sympa ' thizera point to his retreat from Xiao Tang, where conditions were opposed to him. The retreat from Llao Tang was accomplished during a terrific rain storm, over roads hub-deep in 'mud, while at the present time the Man churlan roads are frozen hard as stone and havo been worn as smooth as as phalt by the continual passage of the big commissariat wagons Kawamura May Complete Circle. The result'of Oyama's great turning movement depends almost entirely upon Kawamura's army, which has not yet been" located definitely, although supposed to bo moving from the cast toward Kuropatkii's line of retreat. Should he reach the military road, which runs almost In a direct line from Fushun to Tie Pass, before the passage of tho Russian army, the cir clo will be complete, as Nogl's guns already command tho Tailway, and should soon control the Mardarin road. Which is but a short distance cast of the railroad. The army of General Kaulbars. which, has been pressing back across the western plain, fight ing every Inch of ground, is moving northward to protect tho line of re treat from the attacks from the west ward, while General Bilderling is pro tecting the rear against Generals Oku and Nodzu. and Llnevitch is doing his best to hold the military road against Kuroki. They have numbers against them, but have succeeded against odds in similar retreats before. The ap pearance of General Kawamura would render futile all their efforts. General RennenkampfTs force 'of some .what less than 10.000 men. which has been the extreme left, is in a precarious posi tion, but the force is mobile and the offi cers know the mountains well. With the exception of this latter force, all the Rus pian troops are now concentrated on the roads leading northward, and it may take another 24 hours before their fate is decided. turned over to General Kaulbars when he left Manchuria, and a portion of which General Bilderling commanded, consisted of GregofTs cavalry. Mlstchenko's divis ion and the Fifth. Sixth. Eighth, Tenth and Seventeenth Army Corps, extending from the Llao River to the Mandarin road. General Llnevltch's army, which held the important positions at the bend of the Shakhe River, comprised the First European and the First, Second, -Third and Fourth Siberian Corps, Rennen kampffs division and Samsonoffs cav alry. The troops which arrived In Jan uary and February, probably two corps, are not Included in this list. Even should Kuropatkin extricate him self. It is believed in European capitals that peace soon will follow this latest Japanese victory. The calling to St. Pe tersburg of M. Iswolsky, Russian Minister to Benmark,' who formerly was at Toklo, Is most significant. No time will be lost in starting the negotiations, as soon as Russia intimates her wish to close the war. Shortly .after the fall of Port Ar thur a high official of the Japanese For eign Office arrived in London with author ity to take up the negotiations as socn as Russia declared herdes!ro for peace. Tho losses in the operations preceding the 'battle and those in the battle proper must have reached enormous proportions, but up to the present neither side has at tempted an estimate. They will exceed those at the battle of the Shakhe, in which the Russians alone lost in killed, wounded and missing, 57.000 men. Field Marshal Oyaroa arranged bis at tack so that the Chinese city of Mukden should not come within the range of bat tle, rather an easy task, as the Russians had no positions immediately around the city, as was the case at Llao Tang, and the Russian town Is two miles from the outer walls of the old city. The "Western Imperial Tombs were under shell fire, but no account has been given of the damage, if any, suffered by them. The Eastern Tombs, around which the Russians had erected positions, apparently did not come within the range of the Japanese shells. CAUGHT BETWEEN TWO FIRES Russians Retire Northward in Con fusion, Shelled by Japanese. TOKIO, March 11 (Noon). The Japanese wedge driven through the Russian center on the Hun River continues to advance north. It has already arrived at Hampu, some distance northeast of Mukden. It is reported that the Russians are retiring north along the railway, evidently very badly confused, being caught be tween the wedge and the extreme Jap anese left, northwest of Mukden. They have been heavily punished during their retreat along the described route, the Japanese shelling the disordered masses of the Russians. Minister of War Teraoutchi has tele graphed his congratulations to Field Marshal Oyama, the officers and men of his army on their victory. Field Marshal Oyama in rerly ascribes Wa success to tho Emperor and the gallantry and brav ery of his -officers and men, PRISONERS BY THE THOUSAND Japanese Drive Wedge Into Russian Line, Which Tries to Break Loose. TOKIO, March 3I-8 A. M.) The full extent of the Russian disaster is still un known here. It Is known, however, that the casualties and losses in guns and munitions of war are enormous. . Even approximate figures are unobtainable as yet. It is expected that the prisoners will number many thousands. Local esti mates' of the number vary from 20,000 to 60,000. It Is not clear yet whether Genoral Ku ropatkin planned to stand and hold his line north of the Hun River or retire un til he found it was too late to accomplish his plan with the forces at his command, owing to his confidence In the ability of the Russian army to withstand assault. His action in heavily reinforcing his right in the neighborhood of Mukden Inclines many to the belief that he planned to hold the line of the Hun River and at tempt to check flank attacks. By a desperate onslaught the Japanese drove a wedge through the line of the Hun .River, and then, pressing north ward, practically created a giant cordon about Mukden, bagging a tremendous force of the Russians. Desperate fighting continued during yesterday, the Russians striving to -break the encircling barrier. It is evident that the losses on both sides yesterday swelled the already tre mendous total involved in the capture of (Concluded on Fourth Page.) V ? I M ' T I ; a j aJiM t r-si , i, j x WHEEK KUROPATKIN IS AT BAY. Mukden as occupied by the Japanese yesterday, after tea cays of desperate fighting. The railroad north of Mukden U reported to have been cut by Nod's army, -which Is to the vest and north of the city. Kuroki, on the Japanese tight. Is pressing after tbc retreating Russians in the very mountainous country north -eaaterly from Fushun. Alt reports Indicate that the railway and highroad from Mukden to Tie Pass are commanded by the Japanese, so thati the Fushun-Tiellng road must be used by the Russians it the pass Is made their objective -point. The rumor that the Russians may attempt to reach Kirin, 5 mites from Mukden. Is not likely to be founded pa fact. In vtetv ef the nature of the eeunlry Ihrouxh which the unprovisteaed army tvoutd have to march. CASE. IS CLEM Strong EvidenceAgainst Hermann FOR BURNING LETTERS Shorthand Notes and Originals Are Obtained. NO LENIENCY WILL BE SHOWN Hermann's Attempts to Head Off In vestigation of the Benson-Hyde Frauds Caused His Resigna v tion and Exposure. OREGONIAX NEWS BUREAU. Wash ington, March 10. After renewing the evi dence on which Binser Hermann was re cently Indicted in this city for destrgQ-ing public records, officials of the Depart ment of Justice have come to the conclu sion that the Government has a "perfect case" against the Oregon Congressman. That Is the opinion expressed today by one of the men who aided in working up the case. It can furthermore be stated on au thority that at the proper time the Gov ernment will press this case very vigor ously, and, if necessary, will produce an overwhelming lot of evidence to show that the records which Hermann de stroyed were of a public nature. Not only has the Government got hold of the shorthand notes of Hermann's secretaries who wrote the letters which were copied in his "private" letterbooks, but It has obtained many of the original letters, and It is eeid that these letters and. notes clearly establish the fact that the letters destroyed did pertain to public business. To back up this documentary evidence the Government Intends to place on the stand two stenographers who wrote most of these letters for Hermann, and It Is learned that these men will also testify that many letters which were copied In the "private" letterbooks constituted offi cial business. An official of the department was asked if the Government would be satisfied wlth 'obtainihg Hermann' -indiotmenCiwr. de etroylng these letterbooks and would not press the case to trial. Will Prosecute Vigorously. "On the contrary." was the reply, "there will be the most vigorous prosecution. There Is not the slightest Intention of let ting Hermann off. Throughout his six years in the Land Office he wrote letters of an official character, copied them In his private letterbooks, and at the end of hla term destroyed those recordB. It is a very plain case of flagrant violation of the law. The case is clear, and the Govern ment's contention will be thoroughly proven. It Is one of very great Import ance; in fact, some officials believe it is a stronger case than any that has eo'far developed against Hermann in Oregon." It is quite possible, when Hermann is placed on trial here, that he will also be charged with Improperly using the official Government frank. It has been shown by testimony collected by the Government that many letters copied in Hermann's "private" letterbooks were of a personal nature, but these purely personal letters, like those of an official character, were sent through the mails under the Gov ernment frank, and without the payment of postage. If the trial Judge Is severe and the Jury holds Hermann guilty, he will probably be subjected to a very heavy fine, and It is not improbable that he may receive sen tence of imprisonment as well. The pen alty for destroying public records isa fine of $30W or more and imprisonment at hard labor for three years. The penalty for each instance of improper use of -the Government mailing frank is a fine of $300 and Imprisonment for not more than three months. The Oregonlan correspondent Is .advised that there will be no further lndicements of Hcrmnnn in this city. It Is not yet known when he will be placed on trial. The Government has detailed Assistant Attorney-General Easby Smith to prepare its ovldenee and Hermann has engaged his son-ln-law. 1L Prescott Gatley, to de fend him, but as yet Hermann says he has not set to work upon his defense. May Be Tried Before June. Attorney-General Moody is to arrange the time for Hermann's trial here so that it will not conflict with the trials In Ore gon. It is possible he may be tried in Washington before June 1, about which time the trials In Oregon will begin. The length of time to be consumed will depend altogether upon the amount of evidence the Government determines to produce. If the Government proves the official char acter of only half a dozen of the thou sands of letters destroyed, the trial will be brief, but it may be- deemed expedient to show that hundreds of these letters were official In character. If so, the trial will be protracted. The Government Is preparing to meet any emergency and to take any steps deemed advisable to strengthen its case. In this connection, an authorized state ment was made by an official of the Inter ior Department which throws light on u charge that has been repeatedly made against Hermann by Secretary Hitchcock. This statement, as published here today, shows how the Government got Its first Inkling of the operations of the Benson Hyde land ring, and is as follows: ,,How Hermann Was Found Out. "The right hand man of Hyde and Ben son was J. H. Schneider. When the busi ness grew so extensive and Schneider saw what money his employers were making, he grew avaricious himself and made a demand on Hyde and Benson for a large sum of money, threatening to expose them if he did not get it They declined to give up all he asked, arguing that he was well paid for his part in the transaction, but. after discussion, did give him $5,000. Schneider went to Arizona. He still thought he had been used shabbily by Hyde and Benson, and from Tucson wrote to them renewing bis demands for money. They refused and Schneider then turned his attention to the Land Office. He wrote to Commissioner Binger Hermann informing him that, if a special agent was sent to him, he could give informa tion regarding land frauds that would open the eyes of officials and gave the Commissioner an inkling of what was go ing on In California. Hermann's Effort to Shield Ring. "This letter from Schneider, with sev eral others from him of the same kind. (Concluded ca Third Page.) CONTENTS OF TODAY'S PAPER The Weather. YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature, HI . degrees: tnlnlrou-S. 45. The War In the ast. Kuropatkin admits that he Is surrounded. Page 1. Oyama captures Mukden, with man) prison era and vast booty. Page 1. ' Japanese close in on Russian arcay and Instate two army corps. Pace 1. Russian losses total 200.000 men.' Page 1. Peace overtures made through France and Britain. Page 1. Russian Liberals receive news with Joy. Page 1. Foreign. Tolstoi writes condemning all government aa rfavery. Page 2. Russian terrorists blown up by their own bomb. Page . Troops Jont to suppress peasants revolt. Page i National. Administration announces policy regarding ap pointments. Page S. Government hui a clear case against Her mann for destroying letters. Page 1. Senate will begin debate on Dominican treaty Monday. Page 6. Abutea of naturalisation system to be exposed. Page 5. roll ties. Nevada throws down all restrictions on gam. bllng. Page 3. Questions in Colorado contest submitted to court. Page 3. How the Standard Oil Company killed compe tition In Kansan. Page 2. Domestic. Caleb Powers completes Ave years in Ken tucky Jalla. Page 3. Mrs. Chadwick's caze goes to the Jury today. Page 4. Strikers on New Tork railways' beaten and charter of the Engineers' Brotherhood re voked. Page 5. Pacific Coast. Normal schools appear to have the suae stand ins as reform, mute and blind, schools. Page 6. Firemen's relief bill is killed at the last see . ion of the Washington Legislature. Page tf. John Fletcher, shot by partner at Cottage Grove, Or., is In precarious condition. 'Page 6. Walter R. Miles, of Pacific College. Newberg, Or., wlna intercollegiate debate. Page 6. O. R. & N. surveying crew at Lewlston, Idaho, starts railroad rumors. Page 6. Commercial and Marias. , Little activity in wool trading. Page 15. Stock market strong and broad. Page IS. Favorable crop news weakens wheat at Chica go. Page 15. Trade reviews show general confidence. - Page 15. Ean Francisco potato market casleo Page IS. Steamer St, Paul arrives on first trip from San Francisco. Page 14. British steamer Ras Elba loading forage for Russian forces. Page 14. Lumber transportation bids opened. Page 14. Portland and Vicinity. Colonel Wood tella Prohibitionists that sumptuary-laws cannot win. Page 1L Strikers hope to call out Federated Trades. Page 1L Fair officials take steps to keep out crooks. Page 10. Dalles-CellSo portage railway will be ready by May 15; Government engineers make rapid progress on Three-Mile Rapids. Page 1Z. All the' states will : exhibit at 'the Lewis and Clark Centennial. Page 10. Old gambling club converted Into a. rooming house. Page 10. CervalUs defeats Albany at baSset-ball; score & to 4. Page 14. First conviction in Multnomah County under prohibition precinct law. Page 10.- After the second warning, those who obstruct streets will be arrested. Page 11. Franchise asked for road to HllUbcro. Page 14. Poker game in engine-bouse causes trouble. Page 14. f Murder la charged against a woman. Page 10. Teter Teller is killed- by trolley-car on' Hut Ankeny and Montavilla line. 'Page V, Fifteen Republicans start an anti-machine or- Russia Admits She Has Had Enough. FRANCE AS MEDIATOR Request That She Sound Brit ain on Subject. ' JAPANESE ENVOY IN LONDON Difficulty in Raising Money Given as the Cause Britain, Rejoices Over the Victory of Her Ally. SPECIAL CABLE. LONDON. March 11. (420 A. M.) The Dally Graphic prints a story to the effect that Russia has already intimated to France her readiness to enter peace nego tiations, and that France has sounded Great Britain relative to the latters ap proaching Japan In the same interest. Not so much Kuropatkln's extremity as Russia's hardships in borrowing money Is assigned as the reason. It Is also stated that a high official of the Japanese Foreign Office arrived in London simul taneously with the fall of Port Arthur with Instructions to represent Japan whenever -Russia should get ready for peace. LONDON DOUBTS PEACE TALK Best Opinion Is That Disaster Will Stiffen Russia's Spine. LONDON, March 1L The announcement of the fall of Mukden was discounted in London by the dispatches chronicling- the progress of the great battle, but the ac tual occupation of the capital of Man churia by the Japanese is the subject of comment everywhere, especially in diplo matic circles. The Foreign Office declined to comment on the event, but there, as elsewhere, there was Intense interest in the Japanese encircling movement and Its possible effect upon the future .prog ress of the war. Few who are well Informed are inclined to thy. belief that. Oyama's magnificent victory and successful strategy will bring peace within measurable distance, -the opinion being that, white the Russian fighting force is disabled and probably will be obliged to retire further than Tie Pass or even Harbin, the fighting spirit or the Russian nation would bo Increased rather than reduced by defeat, and that only compulsion will bring the nation to its knees. Baron Suyematsu, formerly Japanese -Minister of the Interior, in the course of an Interview said that whether the vic tory indicated an early termination of the war was a question that Russia alone could answer. The Japanese Legation has been Inun dated with congratulations, and every where the prime note was praise of Oyama, even by the most pro-Russian ob servers. The Spectator, In a striking ar ticle, says: "Russia, hitherto an unknown quan tity to all but a few diplomats, Is now revealing hcreelf to all mankind, and the revelation of a great country In its hour of agony has as much bewildering effect as a great catastrophe, all qualities, good and bad, being exhibited under the Intol erable light of her vast resources and as tounding capacity for endurance, her toll ing people, the Inferiority of her govern ing class, all giving hints almost amount ing to prophecies of the future career of the great Slav race." . Discussing the possibillites of peace and Russia being cowed by the great defeat, tho Spectator thinks that, despite historic precedents, it does not follow that the Emperor will make peace. This difficulty of predicting what line Emperor Nicholas will take Is admitted on all sides, but there Is still In some quarters an opinion that peace will ensue. According to the Dally Graphic, overtures havo already practically commenced, the Emperor's rcadlnee3 to negotiate having THE SCENE OF THE RUSSIAN DISASTER Mukden, captured by the Japanese yesterday Is the capital of Manchuria and of the Province of Shlngking. It la situated In a fertile plain near the Hun River. 110 miles northeast of Nluchwang. on the railroad connecting Harbin with Port Ar thur, and 275 miles northeast of the latter city. Some doubt exists as to the number of inhabitants, the Chinese not being In the habit of making exact enumerations, but an estimate made before the war placed it at 20.000. Since the Russians made it their headquarters after the battle of Llao Tang, in August and September of last year, many of the natives have- de tcrted It. and the population Is now probably' much less. The city suffered severely In the Boxer uprising in 1D00. The Russians first oc cupied the city In October, 1003. and this contributed to the belief that Russia meant to hold Manchuria permanently. A huge brick wall, pierced by eight gates, surrounds the city, which is solidly and regularly built, though the buildings are without architectural pretensions. It contains a number of Jarge stores, run by thrifty Chinamen, who have reaped a harvest since .the Russian occupation. The city baa a drum tower and a huge bell. The country about Mukden Is not excelled In fertility by the famous Red River Val ley, which it somewhat resembles. Near the city, outside the walls, are the tombs of the .first Emperors of the pres ent reigning family In China, to which the Emperor is bound by custom to make a yearly pilgrimage. These tombs and the ancient temples near them are looked upon as especially aacred. They have been respected by the Russians, and the Jap anese, under the orders of Oyama, will see that they are not molested. Tlellng, or Tie Pass, towara which the remnants of Kuropatkln's defeated army are hurrying; Is approximately 35 miles north, of Mukden. It Is a station on the Har-bln-Port Arthur branch of the Trans- Siberian Railroad, which runs. Just west of the old highway traversing Manchuria from north to south. Between Tlellng and Muk den are several small stations and villages, the most Important of which Is Tllu. To the east of the highway and railroad are hills and mountains of consider able size, while toward the west Is a continuation of the Mukden Plain. The Llao River, the largest stream In Manchuria, comes cuite close tos Tlellng on the west, and receives a number of branches flowing down from the eastern hills. One of them Is named on the maps the Sha River, and Is not to tx confounded with the river of the same name flowing into the Hun River below Mukden. The second Sha River flows into the Llao at or Just below Tlellng. Some military anthorltles declare that Tlellng Is a stronger position and more easily defended than Mukden or Llao Vang, but others point out that the general topographical features art the came, except that the hills come closer to -the town and are more rugged and difficult t.o traverse. , been Intimated to the French government and communications have passed between the British and French governments with a view to Great Britain's opening com munications with- Japan. It is Impossible at present to confirm or verify the state ment of the Dally Graphic, which declares that the decision is due not only to the defeat of Kuropatkin, but also to the almost Insurmountable difficulties Russia met in tho last attempt to negotiate a loan In Paris. There 13 Intense anxiety here to learn the fate "of Kuropatkln's forces, and whether the chain Oyama has drawn around them will be strong enough to hold them. The Russian forces must be in a terrible plight, and a repetition of all the horrors of Napoleon's retreat from Moscow Is regarded as among the possibilities. On the other hand, the con dition of the Japanese armies, which must be suffering from exhaustion, might possibly enable Kuropatkin to gather his forces and break through. He is said to have been a spectator at Sedan, and It is believed the memories of those days will suffice to convince him of the hopelessness of the struggle. No further news of any kind has reached London. According to one re port, Kuropatkln's last dispatch was sent from Tie Pass, and stated that he will almost immediately transfer his quarters to Harbin. The Daily Telegraph's Toklo corre spondent asserts that the Russians were completely ignorant of the movements of the Japanese, and the appearance of the latter in the Sinmlntin district was a com plete surprise. Kuropatkln's disaster, the correspondent adds, was largely due to an Inefficient intelligence. CELEBRATION IN WASHINGTON Japanese Minister's Reception to Of ficials Assumes That Character. "WASHINGTON, March 10.-(Speclal.) A reception given by Kogaro Takahlra, the Japanese Minister, tho invitations for which were sent out a week ago and which was intended to be a formal func tion without any connection with the war in the East, resolved Itself into a gen eral celebration of the Japanese victory at Mukden. Congratulations were show ered on Mr. Takahlra in the heartiest manner and the expressions of sympathy with Japan were open and emphatic. The gathering, which was entirely made up of men, was a distinguished one. Prom inent among the guests were Vice-President Fairbanks, Secretary Shaw, Rear Admlrals Schley and Evans, Second As sistant Secretary Aide, of the State De partment, and Civil Service Commissioner Cooley. Among the 300 others present were prominent Senators and Represen tatives, Armyand Navy officers and of ficials from all of the Government de partments. There were no diplomats present other than of the Japanese Legation. ARE ROURING OUT OF MUKDEN Russians Hurry Artillery by Train Through Great Dust Storm. ST. PETERSBURG. March 10. Up till this fltao no further dispatches of yes terday's date have reached St. Peters burg, but the censors released a belated dispatch dated "Wednesday afternoon giv ing details of the retirement to the Hun River, and describing the dust storm under cover of which General Kuropatkin arranged the disposition of his retreat. "We gasp for air," the . dispatch says, "but breathe not air, but a continuous fine powder which is filling space Irritat ing particles of fine, yellow dust. Every gust of wind raises and swirls this dust, the fog driven In denser columns before It, in which at five or six paces it is im possible to distinguish objects." During the retirement on March 8, the Japanese did not press the Russian rear guard and the columns reached the Hun River positions practically unmolested. Ax dawn a cannonade was opened against several southern positions, and fighting began at several points northwest of Mukden, of the progress of which but little could be ascertained because of the raging dust storm. Mukden was the scene of nervous un easiness, shops being closed, hotels and restaurants ceasing to feed customers. It was almost Impossible to get anything to eat. At the station heavy artillery and wounded soldiers were being loaded on long trains, the overtaxed railroad opera tives, who had been working uninter ruptedly for ten days, dispatching as best they could, an average of 40 trains north dally. From March 5 over 1200 cars loaded with artillery and supplies were .dispatched to all points of the compass. Big Blaze in Quaker City's Garret. PHILADELPHIA, March 10. The three upper floors of the seven-story building at 1302-04 Filbert street were destroyed by fire tonight. Loss, $100,-000. PILL IS ITTE Russia Now Admits Her Disaster. ' ' GUESSES AT RESULTS Surrender and Peace Are Main Topics, ' - EVEN OFFICIALS GIVE UP Only Known That Retreat Has Been Begun. , REFORM MOVEMENT GROWING Liberals Secretly Rejoice at Disaster as Aiding Their Plans, but Mourning for Dead Per- vades the Capital. ST. PETERSBURG, March 30. Gen eral Kuropatkin hns scat the followtaa dispatch to Emperor Nicholas under to day' datet 'Last night began the retreat of -all oar armies. Darlns; the nlsht there vrns no flghttugy. but a heavy cannon ade." ST. PETERSBURG, March 11 (2:30 A. M.). "Last night all our armle3 com menced to retreat." The greatestdefeat In the history of the Russian-Japanese war was made known In St. Petersburg last night, but only la the paltry eight words from General Ku ropatkin to Emperor Nicholas which were flung -about the streets in newspaper ex tras and passed from ib'outhr "t& ' mouth. Two thoughts formed instantly in the minds of every one, and two words were on every lip "surrender," "peace" the former dreaded, the latter hoped for. General Kuropatkin Is no maker of phrases. His words never are quoted like the famous "All Is lost save honor," but his laconic ' messages hide more, probably, than any other two sentences in the literature of war. St. Petersburg knows nothing of the extent of the disaster, not even the lines of Kuropatkln's retreat; whether the route to Tie Pass Is still open; whether he Is endeavoring to cut his way through to safety, or whether, as many of the pessimists believe, he has taken, to the mountains. If It be the latter, he will In evitably be hemmed in and starved Into surrender, as Marshal Bazaine was at Metz. The dispatch has been studied as closely as was ever the most abstruse text of Scripture over which dogmatlcians have wrestled, and from the words "all our armies," the optimistic draw the deduction that the bulk of the Russian forces got away clear, the commander-in-chief sac rificing, however, the devoted rear-guard, who flung themselves as prey to the Jap anese wolves who were closing in. on their trail and sacrificed also, it Is conceded on either hand, the greater part of his heavy artillery, especially the siege guns and enormous quantities of supplies and munitions. Russia Almost in the Dark.. Of tho present situation of the army whether It is utterly routed or merely beaten, of the proportion of Russians left in Japanese hands, or of the prospect of the escape of the remainder St. Peters burg at this moment knows less than the smallest hamlet in America. Since the Associated Press Mukden dispatch was filed at 5 o'clock Friday morning, no dis patch save the brief official announcement of the retreat has come from the Russian army, General Kuropatkln's preceding dis patch giving the last details aa to the position of the army having been writ ten at 9 o'clock Thursday evening. . The members of the general staff, when asked for information, said: "We know nothing. We hope he will bring the- army off safely, but we do not know how he will do It. We only know he has commenced the retreat; that Is all." All Now Talk of Peace. Every one now is discussing peace, which many of the stanchest advocates of the war, bureaucrats and officers, de clare to be inevitable. It is openly bruited that Rojestvensky's fleet has been, re called and Is now on the way homeward. The Admiralty, when asked If the report were true, said: , "We don't know; call again tomorrow," and declined to comment an the signifi cance of the cancellation of the purchase of colliers or the direction of Rojest vensky's voyage from Madagascar waters. "It can be stated, however, that no over tures for peace have yet been made, and none Is likely to be made for a few days, before the extent of the disaster has de veloped. Impetus to Reform Movement. Aside from peace, defeat may bring other consequences In Its train. That an enormous Impetus has been given to the reform movement Is plain even to the most reactionary conservative, but the nrvyliiftfd oa fourth Page.) r t