March 9.—General Kuroki drives the Russians from Fushun and terrific fighting continues all about Mukden. Marshal Oyama reports the cutting of the railroad between Mukden and Tieling. The Japanese, after several fierce onslaughts, succeed in taking a hill considered the key to the Manchurian capital, and Oyama predicts that Mukden will fall tomorrow.
March 10.—At ten o’clock in the morning the Japanese capture Mukden, and General Kuropatkin begins a demoralized retreat to the Northwest, battling to save a remnant of his once great army. This is made the more difficult by the almost complete circle that the forces of Marshal Oyama have made about the Russians. Great numbers of prisoners, and immense quantities of guns, ammunition, food and other supplies, fall into the hands of the victors.
Count Tolstoi writes to the London Times denouncing this as a “reckless, disgraceful, cruel war instigated by a score of immoral individuals.”
March 11.—General Kuropatkin reports that the remnants of his armies are retreating on Tieling. They are still harassed by Japanese attacks. The Russians have lost considerably more than 100,000 men. The battle of Mukden, which has ended in such a disastrous Russian defeat, is the greatest in history, having lasted twelve days and having involved nearly 1,000,000 men. It marks Field Marshal Oyama as one of the world’s great commanders.
March 12.—The Russian losses in the battle of Mukden are now placed at about 150,000; Japanese losses at about 40,000.
It is reported that the Czar will send another army to the Far East and will order the Baltic squadron to go forward and give battle to Admiral Togo.
March 13.—The main body of the Russian troops reach Tie Pass, hard pressed by their foes. General Kuropatkin reports 50,000 wounded in the past few days. Marshal Oyama reports the country swept clear of Russians for a distance of twenty-five miles north of Mukden.
March 14.—The Russian War Council in session with the Czar votes to continue the war.
Despite a repulse south of Tie Pass, the Japanese continue a rearguard attack on the retreating Russians.
March 15.—A Japanese fleet of twenty-two warships going westward is sighted off Singapore, India.