Evening journal., 1904-09-27

engagements and incidentally Find |
They Have Underestimsted the Great
Strength Of the Mikado's Army - A
Great Battle Approaching.
Mukden Sept. 27.-Developments Of
the past twenty-four hours give more
concern to army officers here than any
thing else that has happened since the
battle Of Liaoyang, for 1t is apparent
the strength of the japanese advance
was vastly underestimated a few days
ngo when General Kuropatkln was
less familiar with the enemy's position
than he is now.
Sharp skirmishes at more than a doz-
en- points east Of the peninsular rail
way and east as well as southeast of
this city and several severe outpost
tights west of the railroad show that
Rive great armies are massing against
the Russian position and that the at
tack on Mukden will be far more Wig
Orous than the most furious onslaughts
Of the Japs in any other stage of the
upper Manchurian campaign. Marshal
Oyama is pressing north and north
east against this place with the armies
IF Nodzu and Oku, constituting his
! center and left, and on his right is
Strengthening Kurolrs forces with
two fresh armies drawn from widely
distnnt points. Columns as strong as
that with which Kurold fought around
Liaoyang are in motion about Sien-
, chan, south Of his advance position in
Bentsiaputze and near Shinpingfu
northeast of his vanguard and a few
miles east of the extreme Russian left
Mt Kao pass.
A Sharp Skrmish.
The most important Of the fights Oc-
CURED two miles from Anpu, between
the railway and Bentsiaputze, and re-
suited in heavy losses on both sides.
, 1t was begun by strong detachment
[ Of Russian infantry brigaded with a
/ regiment of samsonoffs Cossacks. with
four pieces. The infantry while max
p inS a reconnaissance in force STUN
bled across an outpost Of Nodzu's right
wing II was impossible to estimate
the strength of the enemy's position
as a desultory rife fire played on the
i Russian ranks from the foothills, ant
$ japanese sharpshooters picked of
e many men in the forward company be
; fore direction was given to the Rus
c sian advance The horse batteries tool
S up position on a knoll to the left of tn
Il infantry and sent high angle shot
% over the crests Of the hills. No re
sponse further than the skirmish firl
e was made for twenty minutes, but a
J. he end Of that time the Russian gun
ners evidently found the range Of thu
enemy's main position. for a hot fir'
from mountain batteries was opened
on them.
;, One OF the Russian guns was put ou
= of action by a shell, and the thre'
other pieces soon proved inadequate L
: the japanese fire.
Stubborn resistance was made by tn
4, Russian infantry and Cossacks on tn
!. crests for almost an hour, but III
weight of the enemy told in the lonl
run. and Kuropatkin's troops with
drew. lighting, toward the base. Tn
Russian loss in this action was NOR
!, than 100 in killed and wounded. 1t
= believed the Japanese suffered at leas
a. as much.
3 Japanese Strength Revealed.
RS The fights are instructive as demon
IS strating the enormous strength of tn
mikado's armies. 1t is plain the fiel
marshal contemplates the capture q
p all the Outposts between his front an
IN Mukden. and also that he is plannin
to cut off General Kuropatkin from r.
tirement on Tie pass. Cossack scout
have discovered large forces Of III
enemy n great distance east Of tn
city. along the eastern road. Exchang
of fire between pickets about Fushu
showed that General Kuroki's ne
army on the right already was clos
enough to the center of activity to tai
part in the advance. Chinese spi'
report that the Sienchan' army SUI
porting Kurok on the left is In col
slant communication with Nodzu
right and that the japanese front is :
compact, although covering man
miles, as to make it next TO impossib
for even natives to get through Il
lines.
Japanese Force Strengthened.
St. Petersburg, Sept. 27.-Constal
arrival of fresh Japanese troops n