The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1904-10-21
RUSSIAN REPORT
SOLDIERS OF THE MlKADO AS
SUME TIE OFFENSIVE.
BATTLE RACES DAY AFTER DAY
Fighting of October II Furious and
Continuous Along an Extended Front
Russians Forced to Retire From
Some Positions.

IfUKDEN--h Russian correspond
ent of the Associated Press gives the
! following account of the battle:
up to the present time the battle
along the whole line has been one of
varying success. We are now resting,
| cold, drenched and weary from heavy
thunder storm which began last even
! ing and continued this morning. We
| hold positions captured and are wait
ing developments on the extreme east.
"The fighting on October II was fu-
! rious and continuous along front so
| extensive that it would be impossible
| to give details from any one point.
Judging from the sound, the fiercest
action took place north of Yentai,
where the Japanese themselves as
sumed the offensive. Nearer the cen
ter it was quieter. We moved for
ward, occupying some of the small
passes.
1T should be pointed OFT that with
such an extensive front it is difficult
to say what position constitutes the
real center. 1t would be more correct
to distinguish the center and tianks
separately of each division.
Our losses on October II were COM
partively small. In the small division
where | was stationed the firing slack
ened toward evening, but recommenc-
ed after dark and continued with lit
tie intermission all night.
"On October II every one looked for
a crucial engagement, but though
heavy firing developed, the result re-
manned undecisive. The Japanese ad-
vanced boldly and fought hotly on the
ertreme right at Yentai and further
were repulsed with great loss. We
also suffered heavily. The convey
ance of the wounded to the hospital
was extremely difficult owing to the
distance to the railway.
The division to which l am attach
ed deployed on. October Is opposite
two passes called Touminlinsky, eight
miles north of Bensihu. and Hua pass,
five miles west, each bounded by high
and almost perpendicular hills, which
held Japanese. Our troops had tried
on the night of October II to take the
passes during a storm. Several COM
panies went forward. but they did not
succeed in reaching the heights. Lieu
tenant GroZdieff, who had already
been decorated with the cross of st.
George for bravery, led another as
sault and reached the Japanese
trenches at the top of the hill. The
Japanese ran out Of ammunition and
met our men with stones and dubbed
rifles in a bitter hand to hand strug-
gle. In the meantime japanese rein
forcements and ammunition arrived.
Lieutenant Grozdieff was shot point
blank in the chest.
I'VE were forced to retire. Anoth-
er piece of hard luck was that one of
our batteries, having spent most of
the night in dragging its guns by hand
up an almost perpendicular mountain
and ousting the Japanese from the
crest after a hard fight, was forced to
retire when a japanese mortar bat |
terry got the range Of its position.
I'VE resumed the attack on Toum-
inlinsky pass under a hail of fire, suf- |
fering especially from two we'll con-
cealed mortar batteries which we |
were unable to locate.
Captain Michels finally got the |
range of the japanese batteries and |
two Of our shells put them out of ac-
ton. The japanese then seemed to
lose their heads, swarmed out of the
trenches and fed. Our infantry occu-
pied the position, but it was q harder
fight than at Lao Yang"