New-York tribune., 1904-09-15
BATTLE LOST BY ORL0FF.
Continued from first page.

Threatened the development OF huropaIkll on
the north. crippled the whole Russian scheme
and forced the retreat to Moukden.
The report as given ont does not state tho
casualties. but The Associated Press IS authori-
tstiveiy Informed that they were under 1900,
and that $500 Of these were killed.
General Kuropatk!n's dispatch is dated Sep
tember u. II follows:
II is now possible from details Of the battles
since August Is, in which various army corps
participated to furnish 10 your majesty the toi-
lowing report Of operations:
on August 26 the AIanchurian army occupied
three groups of positions. the first at Pettsu ana
An-Ping. on the left flank: the second at Liam
Dian-Sian. in the centre, and the third at An
Shsn-Chan. on the right flank Inc same Gay
the Japanese ASSUMED the offensive along the
whole front At Liam Dian-Sian all their al,
tacxs were repuised. and on the left we retained
principal position ar An-Plng- AFTER d o4S-
perste battle the Japanese, however. succeeded
I'm securing the position at Pettsu. thus threat
erjDg tha line Of retreat of the corps along the
Tan River. Simultaneously turning move
inent by considera bic forces of japanese was OBJ
served on the left flank Of our position at An
Shan-Chan.
.TzkinC advantage OF our positions AZ Liam
Dian-Sfau and An-PinE. in order 10 gain time
and iufiict severe losses on the enemy. l with
drew all the army corps from advanced posi-
rious Lao Yang.
IN cosrequence of The mountainous nature OF
the country Oh our front and the bad condition
Of the roads toward the south. the two days
march toward Iiao-T ang of the most diff
cult kind, and only the devotion Of all troops
on the east front enabled il tn be carried out
In good order. Only after incredible difficulties
was II found possible 10 drag all tho guns with
out exception, and al our baggage through the
passes Some Of the guns were carried through
the mountains by infantry. Difficult was
the retreat through the passes. under pressure
from the enemy. the march across the open
country was still more arduous. The left and
centre columns succeeded in getting all their
artillery and baggage TO Liao- Yang.
ri
obliged TO cross westward TO the railway. " here
the country had suffered most severely from
rains v-as especially difficult COnsidera bic
forces OF the enemy followed the reargusrd
which maintained a stubborn resistance. The
guns OF one Of the retiring batteries began -
sink N the mud Every effort was made 10
save them Tventy-four horses we're hitched 70
each piece companies of infantry assisting with
ropes The horses and men, however, sunk SO
deep that II necessary for the comrades
OF The Latter 10 haul them ont. General Rut-
hovsky remained 50 long covering the extrica-
ton Of the guns thar his force lost heavily, and
the general himself and Colonel Raben COM
nanding the 18th Regiment Of East Siberian
Gharpshooters. were killed. notwithstanding
81 efforts. II was finally necessary TO abandon
the guns
On August - the army concentrated AT Lao
Yang One corps took a position the right
bank Of The Tai-Tse River. while another held
the left bank
On August 50 and 81 the Iapanese attacked
our advance position with great energy. but
everywhere were repulsed with enormous losses
There was desperate fighting on left flank
q
attacks, resulting in bayonet fighting, and 1 was
compelled TO reinforce the fighting line with the
special reserves and the general reserves.
During August 81 il could clearly De seen that
a considerable force Of General KUroki's army
had crossed 10 the right bank Of the Tai-Tse
River. Owing attacks on our left on August
30 and 81 il was TO be supposed that the main
body Of Kuroki's army had been told off 10 turn
the left flank OF our position and attack our line
OF communication. In consequence resolved to
withdraw the advance troops TO the main posi-
ton and concentrate large force against
Kurok and attempt to hurl his army back upon
the Tai-Tse River. Only al certain points was
this carried out successfully.
AT nighfau undisturbed by the japanese.
we began the evacuation Of our advanced po-
siuons, which already had rendered great ser
vice IN weakening the enemy by enormous
losses Thanks TO the sufficient number o Z
bridges and the manner I'm which the roads
leading to them had been laid out, all the
troops destined to take the offensive were safe
ly on the right bank Of the river the morn
ing Of September l. The enemy did not occupy
our abandoned advanced positions until the
evening Of September !, when they opened an
erclery hre upon Liao-Yang. No trophies Of
wer fell into the hands Of the enemy.
l adopted the following plan Of operations
Having crossed 70 the right bank of the river.
the army had taken up d position between the
village Of SiS-Wan-Tun and heights near the
fentai mines, which il was intended 10 occupy
with all our detachments composed of thirteen
nattahons Taking the position near Sik-Wan-
Iun as pivot il was intended that the army
erect movement to flank the Japanese posi-
tons, which extended from the Tai-Tse River
near the village of Kwang-Tung. toward the
began
Nnen al the troops had taken up their allotted
positions.
The night Of September l the commander OF
me corps Oh the right flank sent q dispatch
staung tbat the japanese having taken the Of
rsnsIVe ana occupied the district northwestward
or our Sik-Wan-Tun position which was of great
importance 10 US, the Russian regiment holding
1ne district was forced retire and I was
opuged 10 change my plans in order TO retake
the lost ground the following dav
II Was not until the evening of Senten7ber .
that the entire mountain village of six Wan
Iun was IN our hands At first our attacks did
not succeed, but the fighting WAS continued with
pnapated Vigor, even after darkness had set
in We repeatedly gained possession of the
heights, bit were finally compelled TO withdraw
fernporsrlly- Many OF our detachneuts became
mixed up and IN the disorder unity of comma nd
was rendered very difficult. Leaders Of ndi-
Naual derachElents, however continued the at
tscks time after time. and 9t last succeeded in
occupying the desired position thereby attaining
the object Of The opera lions of our right flank
As soon as the left flank IN the vicinity OF the
le1t&l mines tOrloh's detachment on Septeun-
be- occupied the heights 10 the north Of the
II opened ire With two batteries. and engaged
the army IN an artiiler' duel Orloff's right
nSnE was then four miles from the left flank
ana me remainder Of the army.
In order 10 aid cur tToops holding positions
near Six War-Tuu. orloff sent part Of his force
from the hills and attacked the enemy in the
direction Of ths village Of Sakhurnoon This
movement was carried out in cornfelds Our
men met vita frontal and a flank fire, and
losins their bearings fu the cornfTalds began TO
retire. The troopr remaining in the hiis elso
retired westward
BY that time orloffIs detachment was within
nile and third Of our ether forcee. Orloff
himself --as wounded as also vas General
Fonnin, who subsequently died
after the evacuation OF the position which
had Been INTENDED TO serve base for o,1r.