The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-09-11


in possession.
At O'Clock on the afternoon of septem-
Der g. two regiments who had been beaten
to the east of Yentai retreated toward
Yentai.
Ends With Shutdown.
The cannonading came to an end when
the sun went down. Throughout the night
of September 2 it broke out again fitfully,
but the periods were Of short duration.
The morning of September 8 showed that
General Kurod had not attained his OBJ
ject, but the victory of the Japanese over
the Russians appeared to be complete
Russian troops and refugees from Lao
Yang in rickshaws were pouring north
along the railroad and along the main
highway on their way to Mukden. The
night of September was marked
throughout by furious rifle firing outside
Of Lao Yang. The Russian troops were
in highly nervous and excited state.
They were convinced that the Japanese
were creeping forward irresistib1y all the
time.
Cannonading Resumed at Dawn.
September saw the resumption of can
nonading at dawn and the dense clouds
of smoke which rose slowly from the
ment at Lao Yang could be seen for a
distance of ten miles. AS the correspond
ent was attempting to get into Lao Yang
he heard Russian cheers In the direction
of Kowliang to the west of the railroad
and 1t was reported that General Mis-
tehenh had been successful in clearing
the enemy away from the Russian right
flank.
1 When the correspondent passed the fire.
1,oI %f H. ~ IL
| to Lao Yang on September 3, the Rus
slams had retired from the immediate
front to shelter behind the south wall of
the city. Upon getting into Lao Yang 1t
was seen that the Japanese rifle bullets
! were falling around the railroad station,
and that the stored lumber and wooden
buildings in that vicinity were in flames.
Using Walls for Protection.
| 1t was apparent that the Russians were
using the walls of the city for protec-
tion This the Japanese discovered and
consequently they continued to throw
shells into the city. Several hundred Chi
nese were wounded. Upon the assurance
/ OF the member of the staff of General
! Sassalitch that the evacuation of Lao
Yang would not occur before September
! the correspondent devoted his attention to
caring for Chinese wounded until night
fall, but during the night all the Russian
sentrles were withdrawn from Lao Yang.
| The pontoon bridges across the Taitse
river were hurriedly removed, the Japa-
nese entering and taking possession of the
city, and the correspondent was taken
prisoner before he was aware of what
| had occurred.
Determines Mastery of Manchuria.
The battle Of Lao Wang is taken as de-
termining who Is the master of Man
churia. In it the Russians were fully equal
in numbers to the Japanese, who had ap-
proximately 10000 men in the field.
The Russian artillery was superior In
range and rapidity of fire to that of the
/ Japanese.
The Russians forced the Japanese at
tacSers to take dangerous positions be-
fore intrepid assaults. In many instances
the Russians lost more men behind their
! lreastworkS than the attaching Japanese
| In the fighting on the plains where the
Russians believed they would nave the
upper hand because of their superiority
in cavalry and of the opportunities to
deliver bayonet charges, the Japanese re-
sisted successfully.
The Russian losses in the fighting
around Lao Yang are estimated at 10
per cent of the number of the troops en-
gagged.
The Japanese assert that their losses
were very heavy.
Astonished the Russians.
The fact that the Japanese artillery
maintained its fire for six days without
diminution astonisned the Russians who
could not account for the rapidity with
which the Japanese must have transport
ed their ammunition.
The Japanese are preparing to make
! Lao Yang the headquarters of their
| Manchurian armies.
The Russians have fallen back to DO
sitions along the Hun river south of
| Mukden.
The railroad has proven itself made
quate for the requirements of the Rus
sian army In retreat and the belief is
expressed here in certain quarters that
the active campaign is at an end for at
least a fortnight to come.