Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-09-01
ST. PETERSBURG HAPPY
Over Reported Chances of Success for
kuropatkin.

Over Reported finances OF success Tor
kuropatkin.
St Petersburg, Aug. 3l.-1 p. NJ
Success crowned the Russian army the
first day of the great battle of Lao
Yang and the utmost confidence pre-
walls here that the issue of the fight
will be Il complete victory for Gen.
kuropatkin. From dawn until dark,
Tuesday. the battle ragged, first i'll TIL"
center and left and then on the right
of the Russian line. The Japanese
charged gallantly and desperately in
an effort to break the center. ana then,
in the afternoon. came Il movement
against the opposite. This attack WIS
delivered from the west. but kuropHt-
kin had evidently anticipated just what
happened, for he not only met and re
pulsed it. but actually Wa, able ~
superior force to overlap and cnvrlop
the Japanese. Both armies bivoulccd
in their positions.
No attempt was made by Lieut.
Gen. Sakharom in his report to esti-
mate the JapdntS, losses, except to
say that both armies losses We're APP
| proXimatrd at 5000. No Russian GIL
| eral officers fell. Gen. kuropatl5ins
| forces occupied positions tptnir:s i,
semi circle about Lao Yang, the nanks
resting on the Taitse river east and
west of the city.
The battle divided itself into two
periods. After preliminary bonn
| bsrdment of the Russian lines on the
| right and center the japanese infantry
| advanced to the attack. charging the
| Russian center. Although repeatedly
| checked they came on With build e
| tenacity, hurting themselves against
! the Russian positions with the bayOnet.
There were many bloody hand-tO-hand
encounters. BY noon the japanese
actually succeeded in occupying a por-
ton Of the Russian trenches. Then
Gen. Kuropatkin sent forward some re-
| serves delivering Il series of counter
| attacks. recaptured the lost positions
and drove back the japanese all along
the line.
The attack on the center having
failed. the second half Of the fight be
gan at 4 O'Clock in the afternoon. when
the Japanese tried to turn and roll up
| the Russian right. Here also they
failed. but only after a desperate strug-
gle which was continued until Q o'clock
| ut night. Reserves despatched in time
by Gen. EUROPA tIxin at least succeeded
not only in checking the Japanese but
in enveloping and driving them back in
confusion.
During the progress of the battle
| Gen. Kuropatkin oncOUra gcd his men
| on the fighting line by sending out the
news Of the repulSe of the attack upon
Port Arthur. Aug. &c.
| The Japanese flank movement from
the west began. Monday. from Chan
diapudzi. three miles southeast of
| Shakoe. which is II miles northwest of
| Lao Lang. One Of tho striking fea-
lures of the battle was the splendid
| work % the Russian artillery. in which
arm. the japanese heretofore. have
excelled. IT. Il despatch filed, late
Tuesday night, by one Of The Assoc
ciated Press Russian correspondents.
he saws that Il report was current at
Lao Yang that &c Japanese guns were
aptured during The day.
There is great rejoicing in st Peters
burg over the news on the bulletin
boards. The dispatches posted there
are surrounded by eager crowds. The
officials Of the war office although they
have not Vet received advices in re-
gard to Wednesdays events are in
high spirits. The Japanese. who have
been continuously advancing for a
week, are now said to be utterly ex-
haustei after Tuesdays hard ana un-
successful fighting ana no doubt *
lists here that if the opportunity offers
Gen. kuroratkin will not fail to follow
UP the advantage he has achieved.
st. Petersburg. Aug. 31.-Lieut Cen.
S;.kharoff telegraphing to the general
staff. on the conclusion of Tuesdays 15
hours of fighting around Lao Yang. cs-
Inmates that the Russian casualties.
throughout the day We're 5000.
The battle ended at 8 o'clock at night
when many positions occupied by the
Japanese We're retaken and again held
by the Russians
The report from Lieut.. Gen Sakharoff
is as follows:
From o'clock. Tuesday morning.
until ut night, the japanese forces at
tackled our frontal positions before Lao
Yang, and on the left bank Of the
Taitse river. Both their artillery and
rifle fire were intense Their main eff
forts were directed against our center
positions and left flank, but numerous
attacks were repulsed along the whole
line. Our troops made several counter
attacks. eliminating in bayonet fight
ing.
Many positions which had been oc-
cupied by the japanese We're retaken at
O'Clock in the afternoon. During the
artillery attack our batteries did very
effective work. About o'clock in the
afternoon the enemy was observed at
tempting to turn our right flank with
considerable forces but several bat
talions of reserves advanced and after
a fierce engagement, checked the Jap