Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-09-08

Entered as second class matter Oc-
tober IL. 1903. at the postoffice. Ottum-
wa, Iowa. under the Act of Congress OF
March 8. 1879. "
THE BATTLE OF LAO YANG.
With everything except numbers on
their side the Russians have suffered
decisive defeat at Lao Yang and to.
days dispatches bring the news that
Mukden, which a month ago seemed
almost as safe from Japanese attack
as st. Petersburg itself, is being evac-
uated by the Russians. Kuropatkin's
retreating army is being followed by
declares that the entire Russian rear
guard has been wiped out.
The battle of Lao Yang will go
events of modern wars. More than
100000 men participated in the long
struggle lasting eight days, and the
casualties amounted to nearly $4,000.
The little Japs and their Slav enc
mics have been making history dur
ing the week just past Historians will
note the fact that the battle of Lao
Yang marks new epoch in warfare
the enormous increase in the number
of men engaged in one single battle.
At Gettysburg, the decisive battle of
the civil war, the federal forces num-
bered $4,000 and the confederates
about $4,000. AT Richmond the be-
sieging army comprised 100000 men
as against Lees $4,000. The battle of
Soudan in the Franco-Prussian war
was fought with 250,000 Germans and
100000 French, about $4,000 less men
than the total engaged in the great
battle at Lao Yang. At Leipsic there
were about 100000 men in battle. 300.-
900 of the Allies against 100000
French. At that fight there we're 80
600 killed, about $4,000 being French.
With this exception. however, there is
probably no battle in modern warfare
in which the number of men equalled
those in the struggle at Lao Yang.
The victory of the Japanese at Lao
Yang will certainly have great effect
upon the final outcome of the war in
the orient The Russians were forti,
fed in Lao Yang. They knew the
enemy's army was coming and were
prepared for It, Kuropatkin, their
Grant, was in command of the mon
ster army of at least 100000 men.
Death traps of every kind the Rus
sian mind can conceive, including pits
lined with sharp stakes, barbed wire
entanglements, mines and natural OBJ.
structions, barred the way of the on
coming army. The Russians, in
trenched in Liao Yang and command.
ing the ten bridges across the Taitse
river, we're apparently in a fair way
to withstand long siege. But they
fell in a comparatively short time
The Japanese, with greater numbers
and without any other advantage ex-
eept their indomitable determination
to win. looked death in the face and
without flinching in the least marched
ahead. All could not be killed and
this idea seemed to compel the Japan.
csc onward. Though many fell, more
survived the awful rain of fire from
the Russian forts. Finally, when the
Japanese artillery unlimbered, the
Slavs fell back.
The turn in the tide of battle really
came, however, when the Japanese ar.
my crossed the Taitse river and at
tackled the Russians on the flank
Then Kuropatl1in wavered and when
he wavered he fell. He ordered re-
treat, crossed the Taitse river, moved
his headquarters out of Lao Yang
and attempted to make stand on the
opposite side of the river. But his
army had lost the battle and final de.
feat was inevitable. Though his re-
treat was an orderly one it was never,
theless a retreat and the Japanese are
even yet enjoying the advantage it has
given them.
With the Russians ahead of them
the victorious troops of the Mikado
are rushing onward toward Mukden
Already that city is being deserted
and should Kuropatkin even attempt
to make stand there he will no doubt
be again defeated. The battle OF
Iiao Yang was the decisive struggle
for which armies, correspondents
world-waited many weeks, but which
finally came and brought with it vic.
tory for the little Japs
Thus far, after six months fighting
the Japanese have demonstrated their
superiority as soldiers in every in.
stance. Their victories have been
decisive, though they have been
bought at the expense of many lives
But apparently there is an inexhausti
Bile supply of fighters in the land of
oiieA'! piossoLi anu so loHs DIS
the forces of the Japanese are greater
than or even equal to those Of the Rus.
slams victory may be expected by the
mikado's men
Port Arthur must, sooner or later
fall into the hands of the Japanese
Few commanders would have held out
as long as has Stoessel Only the
traditions of his beloved Russia keep
him from surrendering to the besieg-
ers There is no possible hope for
escape and the only prospect is an
unconditional surrender.
A SENSIBLE VIEW.