The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1904-03-31
JAPANESE TROOPS MADE A GAL,
LIANT FIGHT AGAINST RUS.
SLAMS AT CHONGJU.
C0SSACKS FORCED TO RETIRE
INFLICTED HEAVY LOSS ON JAPA.
NEsE, BUT COULD NOT DIS.
LODGE THE ENEMY.

st. Petersburg, March 30.-The en-
peror has received a dispatch from
General Kuropatlin giving a lengthy
report from General Mishtchenko dated
at 10 p. m, March %, which says that
an important engagement took place
near the town of Chongju, in which the
Russians were defeated, retiring in
perfect order.
The Japanese suffered heavily, but
the Russian losses are not stated to
have been large.
Cavalry and infantry on both sides
were engaged. The Russians occupied
a commanding position.
The Japanese fought gallantly, but
owing to their heavy losses were un-
able to occupy the position abandoned
by the Russians.
The report of General Mishtchenko,
as transmitted by General Kuropat-
kin, is as follows:
'For three consecutive days our
small outposts attempted to draw the
Japanese cavalry into action, but their
patrols, after contact was established,
miles northwest Of Pingyang.
Engaged the Japanese.
Having learned that four squad
rons of the enemy were posted five
versts beyond Chongju on March q,
six companies marched toward Kasan
and on March % reached Chongju at
lO:3O a. m. AS soon as our scouts ap-
preached the town the enemy opened
fire from behind the wall. Two
squadrons promptly dismounted and
occupied the heights 600 yards distant
An engagement ensued.
In the town a company of infantry
and squadron of cavalry were lying
in ambush. Our men were reinforced
by three companies and attacked the
Japanese with a crossfire. Notwith.
standing this, and our commanding
position, the Japanese gallantly held
their ground and it was only after a
fierce fight of half an hours duration
that the Japanese hoisted the Red
Cross flag at two points.
soon after three squadrons of the
enemy were seen advancing along the
Kasan road at full gallop toward the
town, which two squadrons succeeded
in entering, while the third fell back
In disorder under repeated volleys
from our troops. A number Of men
and horses were seen to fall.
For an hour afterward our COM
panies continued to fire on the Japa-
nese in the town, preventing them
from leaving the streets and houses.
Russians Forced to Retreat.
"An hour and half after the begin
IN Nf fhn an ont ,s~n
were seen on the Kasan road. hasten
mount. and the entire force, with a
feet order and formed in line behind
the hill. The wounded were placed in
front and the retirement was carried
out with the deliberation of a parade.
1.-THE Japanese squadron, which was
thrown into disorder, was evidently
unable to occupy the hill which we
had just evacuated, and their infantry
arrived too late.
'The detachment protecting our
rear guard arrived quietly at Kasan,
where we halted for two hours in order
to give attention to our wounded. At
9 p. m. our force reached Noosan.
1T is supposed that the Japanese
had heavy losses in men and horses.
On our side, unfortunately, three Off
GERS were seriously wounded-Stepen-
off and Androoko in the chest, and
Vaselevitch in the stomach. Schilni-
koff was less seriously wounded in the
arm. but did not leave the field Three
Cossacks were killed and twelve were
wounded, including five seriously"
This skirmish will have the effect
of encouraging the Russians to retard
as much as possible the advance Of
the Japanese army.
A Japanese account of the fight
gives their loss as one officer and one
sergeant killed and two officers and
ten privates wounded.