Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-08-30

tenable on account Of the japanese
threats at his west rear.
His retirement undoubtedly Will
cause keen disappointment as it was
generally believed that he. at least. had
sufficient reinforcementS to accept a
decisive engagement. ana by the mill
tary critics his retreat is interpreted to
mean i great prplomEitinn of the war.
The Toxic report that Gen. kuroki
had succeeded III emitting the railroad
south Of MukGrn is not confirmed by
the telegraph department. where it is
said that no reports have been received
Of interruption OF communications. Of
course it is realized here that if the
railroad north IF Liao Yang is cut thu
position of the Russian army Would
be rendered serious. if not desperate
rs it would probably compel Gen. KurO-
patkin to accept an engagement against
his will.
The rain which has again been fall
ing in ManchuriA will probably serve
the Russians much more than the
Japanese as their retirement as soon
as they reach the railroad will not be
ilnpeded, whereas it is likely to almost
completely stop the japanese forward
movement.
St Petersburg Aug. 29.-(3.45 =. NJ
All the news from Lao Yang. official or
otherwise. shows that Gen. kuropatkin
is gradually drawing in his advanced po-
stions to the inner ring of his defences
As three days of heavy fighting, the lat
ter part of which was impcded Ey rair.
the Russians were compelled to disable
six guns which It was Hnrossihla to moy2
from the high positions OVER the muddy
roads. but during the fighting on the
southern front they captured some Jap
ancse guns. 1t is reported also that they
destroyed some japanese mountain bat
tcrics.
Gen. Kuropatkin has not yet disclosed
whether he intends to make n decisive
fight at Lao Yang. General disappont-
ment is expressed by the newspaper cor
respondents at the withdra walls now in
progress. The statement that the reserves;
were not called up to hold some of the
positions which were abandoned seems
to show that there is n strong force at
Lao Yang which is not yet being utilized.
At the same time from private MESA geS
received from Lao Yang ii might be in
ferred that a heavy movement north
ward has been progressing for some days.
Gen. Kuropatkin seems satisfied with the
situation. One dispatch describes him as
being in high spirits and laughing and
joking at n meeting of the st. Georges
Society ut Lao Yang.
The Russian losses to date are stated
to be about 1900. The Russian batteries
inflicted heavy losses on the japanese.
Nothing has been heard here regarding
the reported cutting of the railway south
Of Mukden. but the fact that an unusual
mass of kilograms are arriving. some of
which were filed late Sunday night at
Lao Yang. seems to discredit the report.
Had the Japanese destroyed the railway
they doubtless would also have cut the
wires Several batteries which were
quickly collected by Grand Duke Serge
Michaelovitch, We're dispatched to the
Far East. Sunday.
Muk6en, Aug. 29.-In the fighting of
Aug. 26. the 10th Saraisk regiment
with a battery. executed particularly
successful thanking movement on the
Japanese extreme right. The Rus
slams intercepted in the rear the Jap
anese. whole columns of whom were
moved down before they were able to
extricate themselves.
Eyewitness agree in admitting the
fanatic2l bravery of the japanese
Many Of the wounded committed sui
eide rather than fall into the hands of
the Russians.
An additional deta chment of 600 Rus
sian wounded was sent northward
Sunday.
Che Foo. Aug. 29-The steamer Chin
Hua, which has arrived here from New
chwang, reports that there was heavy
firing ut Port Arthur, beginning last
night 1T 9 O'clock, and lasting until 9.
this morning
Lao Yang. Aug. 29.-The Russian
army from Amping this afternoon de-
bouched on the Lao Yang plain after
hghting a rear guard action for nearly
10 miles from Anping bringing its
wounded and burying its dead on the
way. Six guns are reported to have
been lost but number of Japanese
We're captured showing signs Of great
fatigue and hardships.
The enormous army, the last of which
passed ont on the Ian valley at 5
O'Clock this afternoon, seemed to fill the
entire plain from the foothills to the
ancient walls and ITS disposal in an or
derby manner throhghthe vast fields of
Chinese corn. the soldiers SINGING &C
they went INTO Camp. despite their I'M
brvoken sries of }everses while tina bor-
gage and TRANSPORT trains caught n
the muddy rivaulets. attr,ota5 49,
CHEEKY assistance bf evervhodv
Notnihs apparently affects the hearth
hess Vi the men IN {he ranks. The line