The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-09-23
A FULL REPORT
Of the Battle of Lao Yang Tells How
Plans Failed
AND CAUSED RUSSIAN DEFEAT

General hurOpatktu TELLS OIL HI
Movements and Retreat to
Mukden. Blames General
Orlof for Defeat.
A dlspat ch from st. Petersburg say.
the long expected report OF Gen
Kuropatkin on the battle Of Lilac
Yang has been received. 1t is datet
September IL and is as follows:
1T is nov possible. from details OF
the battles since August 26, in which
various army corps participat d. to
furnish your majesty the following re
port OF operations:
On August 2G the Manchuran
army cccupit d three groups Of pcsi-
tions, the first at PettSu and Anping
on the left flank; the SCR d at Liam
diansian, In the centre, ard the thil
at Anshapshan on the right flank.
The same day the Japanese assum, 4
the offensive along the whole front.
At Liar diansian all their attacks
were repulsed, and on the left we re-
tained our principal position at Amp.
Ing. After a desperate Dlttle the
Japanese, however, succe' d, 4 in stcur-
ing the position at PettSu, thus
threatening the line OF retreat of the
corps along the Tan river. Simulta-
neously turning movement by con-
siderable forces Of Japanese was OBJ
served on the left flank Of our position
at Anshanshan.
Taking advantage Of our position
at Liandiansian and Anping in order
to gain time and intlict severe losses
on the enemy, l withdrew all the army
corps from advanced positions to Lao
Yang.
In consequence Of the mountain
Gus nature Of .of che country OH our
front and the bad condition of the
roads towards the south, the two
days march toward LiaO Yang was Of
the most difficult kind, ard only the
devotion of all the troops on the east
front enabled it to be carrie d out in
good order. Only after incredible
difficulties was it found possible TO
drag all the guns without exception
and ali our baggage through the
passes. Some of the guns were car.
ried through the mountains by infan-
try. Difficult as was the retreat
through the passes uLder pressure
from the enemy, the march across the
open country was still more al duouS
The left and center columns succet ded
in getting all their artillery and bag
grge to Liao Yang.
MARCHING DIFFICULT.
"The march Of the right column,
which was oblige d to cross westwai d
III 4, I, .<
gst, fferssi ,nnsti severely. from rains. was
especially difficult. Considerable
forces Of the enemy followed the real
guard, which maintained stubborn
resistance. The guns of one of the
retiring batteries began to sink in the
mud. Every effort was made to save
them. Twenty-four horses were
hitched to each piece, companies oil
infantry assisting with ropes. The
horses and men, however, sunk sc
deep 1T was necessary for the comrades
of the latter to haul them out Gen.
Rutkovsky remained so long, cover
ing the eXtrication OF the guns that
his force lost heavily, ard the general
himself and Col. Raben, commanding
the fourth regiment Of East Siberian
sharpshCoters, were killed. Notwith.
standing all efforts, it was finally
necessary to abandon the guns.
On August 20 the army concen-
trated at Liao Yang. one rps took
position OH the right bank Of the
Taitse river, while another held the
LETT bank.
: "On August 80 and 81 the Japanese
attacked our advar &c positions with
great energy, but everywhere were re-
pulsed with enormous losses There
was desperate fighting on our left
flank and centre, accompanied by u
number OF counter attacks, resulting
In bayonet fighting and | was COM
PEELED to reinforce the fighting line
with special reserves and the general
reserves.
During August 81 it could clearly
be seen that Il considerable force OF
Gen. Kuroki's army had crossed to the
right bank of the Taitse river. Owing
to attacks on our left on August 3G
and 81 was to be supposed that the
main body OF kuroki'S army had been
told to turn the left flank Of our posi-
tlOn and attack our line OF communi-
cations. In consequence | resolved
to withdraw the adyarce troops to
the main position and concentrate Il
large froce against iuroki and at
tempt to hurl his army back upon the
Taltse river. Only at certain points
was this carried out successfully.
EVACUATION COMMENCED.
AT nightfall, undisturbod by the
Japanese, we commenced the evacLa.
tiOn OF our advanc ID positions, which
already had rendered great service in
weakening the enemy by enormous
losses. Thanks to the sufficient mum
Der OF bridges and the manner in
which the 100 is leading to them Ia d
been laid out, al the troops destined
to take the offensive were safely Oh
the right bank Of the river on the
morning OF September l. The enemy
did not occupy cur abandoned advance
positions until the evening OF Septem-
,ber l when they opened an artillery
fire upon Lao Yang. No trophies OF
war fell into the har DIS of the enemy.
II adopted the following plan of
operations: Having crossed to the
right bank Of the river the army had
taken upa position between the viii
lage of the Sykwantun and heights
paar tho Nentai ninac ubipI, IT, Unv