New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-06
RUSSIANS BRAVE STAND.
Sakharof Praises TrOops-Ok~'s
Hen an Skirmisk.

ST. Petersburg. July 5.-Thirteen companies of
Russian troops, sent out TO ascertain the
strength OF the japanese columns advance
force moving on Liao-Yang. came into collision
with the japanese between Mao-Tien and Fen
Shut Passes yesterday. Sharp fighting ensued
and the Russians retired before overwhelming
numbers after ascertaining the exact strength
of the japanese forces The Russian losses are
officially stated to be alnsos NO hundred
The fact that Lieuterav eneral Sakharon
Chief OF Staff to GeEeIal Guropatkin. wit
messed the action IS believed TO indicate that
he is in command of the forces east Of Lao
Yang, which include the army corps under Lieu
tenant-General Count Keller. The desperate
character Of the fighting is shown by the re-
peated bayonet charges, the Russians oustlng
the Japanese from the trenches.
The fighting around Siung-Yo-Cheng SHOWS
that the Japanese are determined to hold the
ground TO the south well as Ia Pass until
a favorable opportunity presents itself for an
advance on New-Chwang.
General Sakharoff. in a message dated July T.
describes the action as follows:
The advance guard of the Russian force oper-
ating east Of LiaO-Yang occupied poslloh az
Lang-Tse Pass on July D. Toward evening tLo
same day our scouts ascertained that Getach-
rnent Of the enemy's advance guard, nfteen nun
dred strong had occupied the villages OF Ek-
havuan and Tcha- humen-Za, on our 'front.' me
At this moment we discovered the movement
of a Japanese detachment, consisting of a bat
talon OF infantry, 10 turn our IeIt nahk posi-
lions in the Lang-Tse Pass. in the direction OF
Lian-Dian-Sian. In order TO check thls move
rnent a force consisting of fve companies OF III
fantrv two attachments Of mounted hussars
and half a company of Cossacks was sent Tor
ward I'm The direction Of the threatened point.
In order to learn the strength OF the enemys
position in front Of Lang-Tse Pass the COM
,nander of the detachment ordered out was re-
nr10ni
NAMES was sent in the direction Of EkhaYuan
ander the command Of Colonel Letschitsky.
with the view Of making demonstration IN
.,rirr the return Of Letschitsky's detachment
three companies under Lieutenant CoIoneI gar
nitsky marched 20 Mahoumlzza, aDouI a ms
and a half south Of EkhaYuan, 10 the crossing
of the roads leading TO Sin-Khi and the Lok
River passes. . ,.,,
Firing began at 2:30 p m. July 4 Garnitskys
column reached the crossroads and dislodged a
company of the enemy's advance guard, which
was almost annihilaIed
the enemy's advance posts without firing shot
and approached the foot Of the heights, sur
mounted by a temple The temple IS less than
a mile east OF Ekhavuan, where, although eX-
posed TO a heavy frontal and flank ire, our
troops dashed forward and dls4odged the Jap
anese from their intrenehments and occupied the
as the enemy was preparing TO deliver a
frontal and flank attack our column then retired
as previously Instructed. Three companies OF
Garnitsky's force occupied the position which
they had been ordered TO hold.
When LIE sChitsky's force began to Withdraw
the enemy opened a heavy fire. from the heights
In spite of this the column retired in perfect
order. Brave Letschitsky remained contlhu-
o,,slv ON the fghting line and directed the col
umn with remarkable ability and cOoness he
was the last 10 retire, with his chief OF staT and
Garnitslky's column behaved with equal bril-
liancy and coolness carrying out their task with
no sign OF agitation.
wounded: Colonel POapelow, Lieutenant Colonel
Trakhemovsky, Captain Soloieff' Lleutenahts
-lyi,,. Ifl,l,r aS1a z-slz and
Second Captain Paly and several other officers
wounded and 300 soldiers killed or wounded.
I observed the fighting, with my staff, from
the Tcha tower, and can personally TESTIFY
TO the conduct Of the troops. j cannot pass in
silence the remarkable devotion Of the surgeons
and OF The chaplain who attended the wounded
under a heavy fire. and even helped carry
them of the field. All the wounded were re-
on the morning Of July 3 our reinforcements
occupied Lian-Dian-Sian. one soldier was
killed in the fighting.
A detachment OF the enemy consisting Of two
battalions and six squadrons, with six machine
guns, the afternoon OF July advanced and
attacked our outposls lying south OF me Va4tey
OF the River Kho. who retreated under the Wig
orous fire of the enemy.
The officer commanding our advance cavalry
advanced 2:30 p. m. with a detachment and
at the same time the enemy placed machine
guns on the height northwest Of Doun-Schk-
Hedja and their infantry occupied the outskirts
OF the forest the village.
our horse battery retreated on the position
at Daositchta. the railroad, being covered
by mounted dragons and frontier guards. In
der the fire O, artillery and rifles the enemy
quickly evacuated their position and retreated
toward Siung-Yo-Cheng. Our cavalry pursued
them until they reached an intrenched position
occupied by a strong force Of the enemy
The eneny's principal forces are at present
concentrated at Nandiapudze, IN the direction
OF Hai-Cheng. and at Schikouyo, about ten
miles west OF SiU-Yen, the road TO Kai-Ping.
Reconnaissance July ) discovered that the
enemy is fortifying III Ia Pass.
Toxic, July 4.-General Kuroki reports that
two battalions OF Russians attacked the Japan-
csc outposts at Hao-Tien Pass at dawn on
July 4, under cover OF e dense fog The Rus
sians were repulsed. but they returned and
charged three times before they were finally
driven of The Japanese pursued them for
three miles 10 the westward OF Hao-Ter Pass.
The Russians left thirty dead and fifty wounded
on the field. The japanese lost fifteen killed
and thirty wounded.