Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1904-05-10
BIG BATTLE EXPECTED
TO 0C lJR AT LIAO.Y YANG

Cheng, thirty-twO miles from New
Chwang, and are evacuating the west
ern side of the Liao Tung peninsula.
On Thursday and Saturday of last
week the Japanese landed 10000 men
at Kin Choo bay, 10000 at Foo Choo
bay, and 1000 at Pitsewo. They oc-
cupied the towns of Wa Fung Tien and
Pu Ian Tien, and destroyed several
miles of the railroad.
Heavy firing has been heard in the
direction of Kai Choo, where Japanese
troops have been seen recently.
Port Arthur Isolated.
The isolation of Port Arthur is COM
plete. Sixteen Japanese warships pro-
tected the landing of troops at Kin
Choo bay, directing a sweeping fire
over the narrow isthmus before the
soldiers disembarked. Seventy-five
Russians, who were wounded in this
fighting, were brought on the last train
to arrive there.
Food is scarce at Mukden, where
the troops are eating bean cakes.
Left Hospital Stores Behind.
Toxic, May 9.-After sharp cavalry
skirmishes at Erhtaitsu, Santaisu, and
other places, a detachment of infantry
belonging to General Kuroki's army,
took Feng Huan Cheng on Friday.
The Russians before retiring explod-
ed the magazine, but left large quanti-
ties Of hospital stores, which are being
used in the Japanese hospitals.
Refugees from the woods and small
villages are constantly surrendering.
The Russians buried many of their
dead.
Russians Lost 5000.
! Natives in the vicinity of Feng Wang
Cheng say that last Monday the Rus
slams carried about 800 wounded
through that place, and that their cas-
ualties probably were 5000.
! Part of the army operating on the
Lao Tung peninsula dispersed small
bands of Russian troops on friday and
captured Pu Ian Tien, a railroad sta
tion. The Japanese destroyed the rail
way and telegraph, thus severing Rus
I sian communication with Port Arthur.
Two Russian Regiments Cut to Pieces.
Seoul, May 9.-(By Overland Couri-
1 er from Wiju, May 1.-THE Japanese
army crossed the Yalu river today.
1t drove the Russians from strongly
! fortified mountain posts, which should
have been held by small army
4 against a greatly superior force.
The Russian forces are estimated Of
! ficlally to have numbered. 10 900 men.
fhey removed the, batteries during
4 the night, leaving the infantry to COW
Ter their retreat
The Japanese dislodged the Russians
| by frontal attack delivered opposite
Wiju. This attack might have involv-
ed the Japanese in enormous losses,
because they were obliged to advance
across an almost shelterless sand plain
where their dark uniforms made the
best possible targets.
Japanese Make Captures.
The retreating Russians were flank
ed by two Japanese regiments, which
captured twenty-eight field guns, TWEEN
ty officers, and several hundred men.
Japanese mountain batteries pursued
the retreating Russians, but they were
outstripped by the infantry, who made
the captures among the hills, some
miles beyond the river.
Two Russian regiments coming from
Hioko to reinforce their comrades
were badly cut to pieces.
All the ammunition for the Russian
artillery and large quantities of sup.
plies were captured.
Losses on YaIu Believed Great.
! Washington, D. c., May 8. ~ The
ease with which Feng Huan Chens
was taken by the Japanese caused
great surprise among the army officers
who are closely following every ster
of the war. Their reports showed the
place to be strongly fortified, and the
Rev. George Douglass, missionary
who spent fourteen years in Manchuris
and stopped at the white house recent
lily on his way to Scotland, told the
President that Feng Chen was an al
most impregnable fortress and would
be captured only after bloody bat
i tie.