The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1904-10-20
ISSUE OF BATTLE
STILL ','|L UNDECIDED
RUSSIAN WAR OFFICE HAS NOT
GIVEN UP HOPE.
ARMY IS AGAIN ADVANCING
On the Other Hand, Toxic Dispatch
Reports Repulse Of Russians
a -Bayonet Fight at Lone
q Tree Hill.


minimize the severe character Of the
reverse suffered by Gen. Kuropatkin last
week, but as yet there has been moth
/. Ing absolutely decisive. There certain
ly is no rout and no Sedan, and the war
Office has not yet given up all hope that
K1ropatkin may be able to again re-
sumo genuine offensive. 1t is asserted
here that the tone which the diplomats
and newspapers of Toxic assumed in re-
ferring to what they seem to look upon
as the closing act Of the tragedy Of Gen.
Kuropatkin's army is certainly prema-
ture. Both armies are greatly exhaust
ed and the final issue probably will de-
pend upon which can regather itself the
quicker. The Russian legions are terribly
battered and more or less demoralized,
but the splendid manner in which they
went forward against Lone Tree hill
Sunday is sufficient evidence that the
temper and courage of the troops are
not completely shaken.
Odds Against Kuropatkin.
While the war Office holds out hope
that Kuropatkin may resume the gen.
eral offensive, 1t is privately admitted
that the chances are against him unless
there is some fortunate development,
it being explained that his assumption
Of the aggressive at Shakhe and along
the railroad was vital, as the withdrawal
of his left must be made under the shell
ter of his right.
Kuropatkin Advancing.
The failure of the war Office to give
out dispatches is attributed to the holi-
day, the censors commission disbanding
early. 1t is learned, however, on good.
authority that the emperor has received
atelegram from Gen. Kuropatkin report
Ing that the Russians are moving for
ward. The reverse sustained by Gen.
Yamada's column has not yet been re-
ported by Gen. Kuropatkin or Gen.
Sakharoff, except in reference to an un-
successful Japanese attack near Shakhe.
Another dispatch from Mukden con-
firms the news of the Russian advance,
when telegraphing late Tuesday night,
the correspondent says: "It is rumored
that we are moving ahead"
Two Important Positions Taken.
The emperor Tuesday morning received
Kuropatkin's and Sakharoff's report
Of the Russian attack on and capture Of
the village of Shalandtzy, half way be-
tween Lone Tree hill and Shakhe, and
simultaneously the storming of the for
mer, thereby gaining two positions of
the highest Importance on the south
bank Of the Shakhe river.
Storning Of Lone Tree Hill.
The generals believe that the storm
ng Of the Lone Tree hill for valor and
slaughter will occupy a place by itself
In military annals. Kuropatkin, un-
der whose eye the assault was made, re-
:hristened it Poulitoff hill, in honor of
the man who led the attack at the head
Of the Second brigade of the East ST.
berial rifle division and who was subse-
: quently decorated on the field with the
st. Georges cross. The hill is a pre-
,ipitous rocky height, and although the
Japanese had occupied 1t only short
time they had thrown up very strong de-
lenses. The river running at its foot in
creased the difficulty of the task, but It
was scaled and carried successfully
against the unprecedented opposition OF
! Japanese division, $4,000 men, with
many 6uho. hC ISuooLdA lOO0Co W6ES
terrible. The fighting on the crest of the
hill was altogether with cold steel The
Russian officers, with swords aloft lead
ng the scaling column, were literally
lifted in the air by the Japanese bayo-
nets and the Japanese then bayoneted
thefirstofthe Russian soldiers who piled
In the trenches. All the dead in the
Tenches were bayoneted, their weapons
bearing the marks of the dreadful COM
bat.
Shalardtzy Captured.
The general staff has received the fol-
lowing dispatch from Gen. Sakharoff:
THE Russians repulsed japanese
attack on their right wing during the
night Of October 1T and seized the VII
lage OF Shalandtzy. on the bank Of the
Shakhe river and east of Shakhe. Tue
enemy strongly bombarded the captured
village, but did not advance to the at
tack on Lone Tree hill, now called
Rntiloff hill. The work of burying the
dead proceeded all night long. MritarY
honors were paid the Japanese dead.
A considerable concentration OF the
enemy's troops has been observed
against our center. There was no fght-s
ing Monday ON our left flank"
russians Repuised.
Toxic. Oct. 10. - The Russians Aerce-
~ assaulted Gen. 0iku and attacked
Sens. Nodzu and Kuroki on Monday
iight, but were everywhere repuised
with heavy losses.
A telegram from Field Marshal oya-
"a received Tuesday says: "0n the
oight Of October IT the enemy made two
Herce counter attacks against the right
Continued on Page s)