The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-09-28

Toxic, Japan.-The Russians were
driven from the heights south of Lao
Yang at dawn by the forces of Cen
eral Oku and General N0dzu, which
occupy the left and the centre, respec-
lively, of the Japanese line.
The Russians were in full retreat,
with the Japanese pursuing.
General Kuroki's army. on the Jap
anese right, crossed the Tai-Tse River
to attack General kuropatkin's forces
in the rear.
The Jill that the assault
on L%iao-Yang began simultaneously
Oh all sides. The town was occupied
after continuous and severe fighting
since the previous morning. The whole
Japanese army began pursuing the
Russians.
There is q universal belief that Gen.
eral Kuropatkin suffered an over
whelming defeat in giving the Japan
csc possession Of Liao-Yang. The
Government will not confirm this.
1t has issued nothing later than the
report of the successful rush at dawn
whereby the Japanese left pierced the
Russian line on the heights four miles
south of Liao-Yang and west Of Shou-
shan, compelling the enemy to with
draw from the right and centre posi-
tons with the victors in pursuit.
1t is known that the success to
which several days fighting led has
been gained at an enormous sacrifice
of life, but the various guesses as to
the number of casualties are worth
less.
Field Marshal Oyama. the japanese
commandments, telegraphs that
he lost heavily in assaulting Lao
Yang. but gives no figures. General
Kuroki admits that his losses were
Dbl between August "a and August
%. The other commanders have made
no report of their losses. An estimate
of $4,000 casualties or both sides is
not regarded as excessive.
ST. PETERSBURG ANXIOUS.
st. Petersburg. Russia.-General SAX
haroff, in a dispatch to the Gar, re-
ports that a portion of Kurokfs army.
which has occupied the extreme right
Of the Japanese line OH the south bank
Of the Tai-Tse River. crossed the riv-
er at Sakan Kankwantum. where there
is 4 loop.
4 division of infantry, with cavalry
and artillery, crossed first and covered
the advance Of the rest OF kurokfs
troops.
After fording the river, the Japan
csc advanced OH Iiao-Yang in two bod
les, the first marching west and the
other proceeding by way of the Yon-
tai mines.
Hopefulness has given place to anX-
iety. The General Staff announces
that General Kuropatkin has aban-
dOned Liao-Yang and withdrawn his
forces to the north bank Of the Tai-Tse
River, but it encourages confidence
in his ability to hold the railway. for
the defence Of which elaborate forti-
tications of great strength were con-
Structed. Nevertheless, these non-of-
ticials who have all intelligent interest
in the war, are gravely apprehensive
that the Japanese are across the rail
way line and that Liao-Iang is sur
IOullueu.
The briefness Of General Sakharoff's
mention of the crossing of the Tai-Tse
River is regarded as of unpleasant sig
n~ificance in view of the obvious I'M
portance of such a movement.
The report that the Russians cap
turcd ~forty-siX guns from the japanese
in the previous fighting has not been
confirmed officially. The Russian
losses in the fighting during the day of
retreat are now stated to have been
5000.
1t is reported that General LIME
witch, the commander Of the Vladivo-
Stok district, is now within two days
march Of Mukden with 10000 men.
In the last four hours Of the day the
Japanese fired an immense number Of
projectiles, and the Russian positions
were searched by the Japanese shrap-
mel. The Russians maintained a stub
born defence the whole day. They
were exposed to a hail Of %shrapnel, but
defended the positions intrusted to
them with desperate bravery.
After preparing for the assault with
artillery the Japanese repeatedly at
tackled the Russian positions. Some
of. the advanced Notifications passed
into the japanese hands after q stub