The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-20
The Russian Rally.

Since and including Sunday, Oct. le,
what is regarded at ST. Petersburg as
turn of the tide seems to have occurred
in the exceptionally protracted battle
of Yentai, or as Marshal OYAMA prefers
to call it, Sha-ho, from the name Of the
river along which much of the fighting
took place. No apprehension is as yet
expressed at Toxic, however, regarding
the final outcome Of the conflict, although
some local reverses and much additional
loss of life are acknowledged.
The first CLEAN of encouragement was
received by the retreating Russians on
Sunday, Oct. 10, when a column under
Brig. Gen. YAMADA, which had been
ordered by Gen. OKU, commanding the
left or western Japanese army, to cap
ture a position on the Russian right, was
cnveloped by almost an entire division
of the enemy The column eventually
succeeded in breaking through the ring
of fire and regaining the point from
which it had started; but escape was
secured at the cost of many lives and Of
fourteen guns said to have been the first
taken from the Japanese in the war.
On the same day an astonishing feat
was performed by the Russian centre in
capturing Lone Tree Hill, described as
a precipitous, rocky height, which the
Japanese had not only fortified, but were
defending with a whole division, num-
bering some 1900 men. Recognizing
tho Importance of the hill, considered as
q key to the position on the Russian
southwest front, desperate attempt
to retake it was made by nine Japanese
regiments during the night Of Monday
Oct II, but at dawn on Tuesday they
were driven back with terrible slaughter
On the same night, however, the Japa-
nese seized the village of Linchenpo on
the north bank of the Sakhe River, and
west OF the railway, and they now occupy
a raised temple quadrangle in the neigh
borhood, which is said to be the only
emnence for miles around and to afford
unmatched advantages for observation
and artillery fire against the Russian
right. No definite news has been re-
ceived yet from the Russian extreme
left, or concerning the fate OF the body
of troops which week ago was known
to have been isolated at a point southeast
of Bensihu.
The apparent development of what
evidently began as rear guard action
into renewed advance on the part of
Gen. KURoPATKIN seems to have been
rendered possible by the arrival on the
field of several divisions previously held
in reserve north of Mukden, to avert
possible attempt on the part of the enemy
to cut the railway running to Tie Pass,
upon which the Russians rely for supplies
and reenforcements. These reserves
were much nearer the field of battle than
any which the Japanese could draw from
Newchwang, or other seacoast depots.
With the Russian reserves must have
come large quantities of ammunition,
thus giving Gen. KURoPATKIN another
temporary advantage, for the Japanese
had probably intended to remain passive
for few days, until their own stores
could be replenished from their mag
azines at Newchwang. The latter also
needed time to push forward their heavy
siege guns from the stations occupied
last week
The people of st. Petersburg pass
quickly from dependency to elation,
and from the incidents above recountod
they seem to have drawn the deduction
that the battle Of Sha-ho is destined to
be second battle of Marengo, although,
Of course, far superior to the last named
fight in magnitude and duration. At
Marengo, it will be remembered, NAPo-