Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-01

of Cen Kuropatkin's position and surround
the Russian army at Liaoyang, as Marshal
Bazaine was shut up in Metz after the
battle of Gravelotte, August 1S, 1870, but
up to last night according to unofficial ad-
vices, their plan had failed and they seemed
worsted at all points. Should the japanese
ammunition give out suddenly their posi-
ton might become desperate
The press, realizing from experience, the
desperate character of the Japanese fight
ing qualities, and the fact that the battle
is not yet decided while expressing much
qualification at the result of Tuesdays
fight, indulges in no premature jubilat1on.
Most of the newspapers express the opln-
ion that Field Marshal Oyama, whom they
believe to be in supreme command. was
driven to attack Gen. KurOpatkin by dis
appointment over the failure of the opera
tions against Port Arthur. All the papers
point out that the decisive moment, to
which all of Kuropatkin's well-thought-out
plans converged has arrived saying that
he has at last drawn down the japanese
into the plain before Liaoyang, where posi-
tions have been preparing for months under
the direction oH the Russian engineer, Gen.
Velitchko.
The works around the city. the Russ says,
are marvels of engineering skill. with gal.
leries for the protection Of the gunners,
connected by telephone and defended by
wire entanglements and mines. Into these
works, however, Gen. Kuropatkjn will not
tecting himself in his outlying positions.
AOChCu III ACoIA StA u6SAO.
With the knowledge that the Russian and
Japanese armies about Liaoyang are
locked in a death struggle, it IL believed
here that the fight cannot stop short of
the crushing defeat of one side or the other
The highest military authorities here con-
slider that the most critical stage of the
battle has not yet been reached. and they
believe that the fight may continue for
some time before either side acknowledges
defeat. This is an important consideration
by the light of which to interpre5. any i'm
mediate news.
1t is thought here that in view of the
numbers engaged, the desperatenfss of the
assaults and the length Of the Gne about
seven miles, the losses in the ewo days
fighting cannot fall short of 10,OGD on each
side. Both sides are straining every nerve,
realizing that the fortunes of var for
whole year are in the scale, and neither
side is in the mood the position to spare
men In the effort to achieve final victory
The Opposing Forces.
The battle cf Liaoyang will probably
rank as one of the great sanguinary battles
of history. 1t SIS estimated by the general
staff that the: japanese armies engaged
number seventeen divisions of 1900 men
each, or, allowing for inefficieEts, about
100000 men. Each division has thirty six
guns, and there are two Independent artil-
lery brigades ef 100 guns each, making a
total of about $40 guns Gen. KUropatkin's
effective forces are variously estimated at
from 170O 600 to 100000 men, The estimates
Of Russian correspondents range at from
600 to 1000 guns per side.
In the preliminary fighting Monday the
Russians captured POO prisoners who have
already arrived at Harbin, and report per-
sists that they captured over fcrty Japa-
nese guns vest erday
The Japanese Wednesday morning at
tackled three sides of the Russian position.
One Of the Associated Press correspond
ents also mentions Japanese movement
tn hn fIa,c ,f fpA, ~l,r xI~A
the japanese we're undoubtedly trying to
work around Ksuropatkins rear.
Surprising Endurance.
One of the surprising phases OK the situ-
alton is the endurance of the men. They
have been engaged desperately for two
days after more or less severe fighting
under unfavorable conditions every day
since August "a 1t would seem that hui
man endurance could not persist much
longer without respite of some sort.
The japanese: are using balloons to locate
the Russian guns and trenches. One of the
Russian correspondents of the Associated
Press points out that the Japanese sent up
balloon shortly after daylight to the
southeast of Liaoyang.
The Japanese are reported to be using
mortars to drop shells in the Russian posi-
tions. These are probably the high-angle
fire howitzers which were reported in action
earlier in the week.
are no longer enjoying the superiority in
artillery which stood than in such good
stead in the earlier months of the war 1t
was then hill fighting, and the Japanese
mountain batteries, in which arms the Rus
slams were deficient. told with deadly eff
feet. Now the contest is in a compare
lively open country, where both Russian
field guns and the Russian cavalry can
come into more effective use.
Going Home to Recuperate.
GERS and crews of the cruisers Rossia and
Gromoboi today bade farewell to Command
er Dabich and Lieutenant Diatchkoff, both
of the Gromoboi, both OF whom were
wounded in the recent battle near Tsu
Island The officers will start for Russia
tomorrow to recuperate They will visit
Moscow first and afterward go to st.
Petersburg. The parting between the ofIi-
GERS and their men was an affecting scene.