Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-31
NO NEWS FROM FIELD
Believed That Commun!ca-
tions Have Been Cut.
ABSENCE OF REPORTS
DETAILED ACCOUNTS OF YEsTER-
DAYS FIGHTING.
Japanese Attacks Repulsed at Different
Points-Gen. Sakarhoff's
Statement
ABSENCE OF REPORTS


news from the battlefield of Liaoyang to-
day is not explained by any advices from
either St. Petersburg or Tokyo. 1t Is now
midnight in Manchuria. but no word has
been received by the Associated Press OF
events since o o'clock last night. when 1t
was announced that the fierce battle that
had ragged all yesterday ceased at . o'clock.
aud both armies had bivouacked on the
field. The only surmse to be drawn from
this absence of both press dispatches and
official reports is that the telegraph line
has been cut north of Liaoyang General
Sakharof yesterday reported that large
Japanese force was advancing northward
along the Taitsu river. west of the rail-
road. Such a movement, If accomplished,
wou6 interpose this force between Lao
yang the Russian base. and Mukden. and
would cut Kuropatkin's communication
north.
Added probability is given this surmise
by the fact that yesterday the Associated
Press received almost hourly dispatches
from Liaoyang. one timed at 6:i9 IN. de-
failing the battle up to that hour being re-
ceived in New York at 1:15 pm, while today
no advices have thus far been received. The
announcement that activities were resumed
at daybreak this morning is therefore re-
garded an invention.
ST PETERSBURG. August 31-S:5O pm
The telegraph department declares that
communication with Laoyang is not in
terrupted.
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
NEW YORK August 3l.-The following
cable dispatches, dated today. have been
received this morning from the seat of
war:
ST. PETERSBURG.-Gen. Kuropatkin re-
ports that the losses on each side yester-
day amounted to 10000 men.
TOKYO.-Three japanese armies are ad-
vancing with all speed on Liaoyang. Rus
sian cavalry have been defeated losing 800
men.
ST. PETERSBURG.-Accord to a re-
port from Liaoyang the Japanese resumed
their attack on Kuropatkin's position this
morning. There is a report from the front
today that the Japanese have 100 guns in
acEon near Liaoyang.
PARIS.-A dispatch to Echo-DeParis
says, on authority of the general staff, that
Europatkin's communications are still
free. The telegraph line from Liaoyang
via Irkutsk to St. Petersburg is working
regularly.
TOKYO.-It is reported here that the jap
anese forces have obtained a footing with
in the outskirts of Liaoyang, and the Jap
anese are receiving reinforcements con-
tnually.
PARASITIC ST Petersburg correspond
NJ paf IDar S{a frnr
officer of the general staff that Gen. Kuro-
ratkn will not abandon Liaoyang. The
position OF the town renders it nearly i'm
pregnable and Kuropatkin has at his dis
posal troops equal in numbers and morale
To the japanese. They number 100000. The
force is made up of six Siberian and two
European army corps with 144 squadrons
of cavalry and 300 guns. The staff officer
said that Gen. Kuropatkin had erected
around Liaoyang seventeen forts heavily
armed with artillery. The superiority of
kuropatkins cavalry compensates to a GER
tain extent for the inferiority of his artil-
lery. At the headquarters of the Russian
general staff perfect confidence is felt. 1t
Is denied that Kuropatkin' retreat has been
cut off. The public is less optimistic.
japanese Checked Yesterday. =
ST. PETERSBURG, August 81, l pm
first day of the great battle of Liaoyang
and the utmost confidence prevails here
that the issue of the fight will be a COM
plete victory for General Kuropatkin. From
dawn until dark yesterday the battle
ragged, first in the center and left and then
on the right of the Russian line. The
japanese charged gallantly and desperately
in an effort TO break the center, and then
in the afternoon came a movement against
OunOSite flank doll
cred from the west, but General Kuropat
kin had evidently anticipated Just what
happened. for he not only met and repulsed
II, but actually was able by such force to
overlap and envelope the Japanese. Last
night both armies bivouacked in their posi-
tons
eral SakharoT in his dispatch to estimate
the Japanese losses, except to say that
they were extremely heavy. and the Rus
sian losses were only approximated at 5000
No Russian general officers fell
General Kuropatkins force occupied po-
sitions forming a semi-circle about Lao
yang the anks resting on the Taitse river
easc and west of the city.
The Battle in Two Periods.
The battle divided itself into two periods.
After a preliminary bombardment of
the Russian lines on the right and CEN
ter the japanese infantry advanced to the
attack, charging the Russian center. AL
though repeatedly checked they came on
with bulldog tenaclty. hurling themselves
against the Russian positions with the bay
onet. There were many bloody hand-to-
hand encounters. BY noon the Japanese ac-
tually succeeded in occupying a portion of
the Russian trenches Then Gen. Kuropat-
Kin sent forward some reserves, delivering
series OF counter-attacks, recaptured the
lost positions and drove back the Japanese
ell along the line.
The attack on the center having failed
tie second half of the fight began at 4
o'clock in the afternoon, when the Japanese
tried TO turn and roll up the Russian right
Here also they failed, but only after des-
perate struggle, which was continued until
0 o'clock at night Reserves despatched In
time by Gen. Kuropatkin at last succeeded
cot only in checking ,he Japanese but in
enveloping them and in driving them back
in confusion.
During the progress of the battle Gen.