Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-07-23
RUSSIANS AGAIN DEFEATED
Lost Over 1000 Men In Attack On Japs
at Mo Tien Pass.

ST. Petersburg. July l9.-The Rus
sian and japanese forces which are
lined up expecting a clash grapp!ed
in serious fight Sunday morning ac-
cording to a report from General kuro-
patkin received here late last night.
The report indicated that the Japanese
misinterpreted the movement and that
instead of ii being an attempt to take
Mo Tien Pass it was a reconnaissance
on large scale.
An important fact developed by the
reconnaissance was the exact location
of powerful Japanese force secreted
in the region between Fen Shut and
Mo Tien Passes. Its strength is indi-
Gated by the fact that 81 battalions
were insufficient to permanently force
the Japanese positions. though some
of them were occupied temporarily.
General Kuropatkin's report in part
is as follows:
"On July II. in order to determine
the strength of the enemy. it was de-
cided to advance against his position in
the direction of Liam Shan Kwan.
Lieutenant General Count Keller had
been instructed not to start with the
object of capturing the pass. but to act
according to the strength of the force
he would find opposed to him.
''The left column of this expedition
airy force. consisting of three battal-
ions. was dispatched towards Sibey
Pass. The centre column. commanded
by Major General Kashtalinsky. con-
sisting of IA battalions. with II guns.
was destined to attack Siaokao Pass,
the heights surmounted by the temple.
and Wafankwan Pass. The right col
umn. one battalion strong. was occupy
ing points where the roads leading to
Sinkia and Lakho Passes cross. in or
der to cover the right flank of General
Kashtalinsky's column. The general
reserve was left at Ikhavuen. and
portion of the force occupied a position
at that place.
"At 10 p. m. July 16. the head of the
column advanced from lkhavuan. At
II o'clock a battalion of the second
regiment dislodged Japanese outpost
at the point of the bayonet at the cross
ing of the Lakho and the S;nkia roads.
The details of this engagement have
not yet been verified. but its general
course. according to telegraphic re-
ports sent in by General Keller was as
follows:
During the night the Japanese had
evacuated Siaokao Pass and the
heights surmOunted by the temple
leaving only outposts there. AT dawn
General Kashtalinsky's column occu-
pied these passes, driving back the
Japanese advance posts.
"At about s a. m. General Keller,
who was directing the fight around TX
havuen deemed it necessary To lend as
sistance to General Kashtalinsky's col
umn by bringing mp from the general
reserve three battalions to the heights
surmounted by the temple. In order to
maintain the positions we had already
occupied ii was necessary. owing to the
enemy's pressure. to reinforce imme-
diately with other reserves the troops
in the fighting line. but these positions.
owing to their situation. Were unten-
able
General Keller found the strength
of the enemy so great compared with
ours that he decided not to continue the
fight and not to bring up either the spe-
cial or the general reserves especially
owing to the fact that in case OF his ul-
timately taking the offensive II would
be necessary to attack without support
of the field artillery
I'm consequence of this General Kel-
Ter decided about 10 go to withdraw his
troops to the positions originally occu-
pied in the YanZe Pass Tha troops
retired slowly. step by step and in
perfect order. covered by the fire of
field battery which had been brought
into action
Our losses have not yet been ex-
actly ascertained. but General Keller
repOrtS that they exceed 1000"