The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-09-21
A FULL REPORT
Ct the Battle Of Lao Yang Tells How
Plans Failed
AYD CAUSED RUSSIAN DEFEAT

AND CAUSED RUSSIAN DEFEAT
General Kuropatkin Tells OF His
Movements and Retreat TO
Mukden. Blanes General
Orloft for Defeat.
4 dispa' ca from St. Petersburg says
the long expected report Of Gen.
Kuropatkin on the battle OF Liao
Yang has been received. 1t is date
September II and is as follows:
1t is now possible, from details OF
the battles since August Is, in which
various army corps participat d, to
furnish your majesty the following re
port of operations:
"On August 26 the Manchu1lan
army cccupied d three groups OF posi-
tions, the first at Pettsu and Anping
on the left flank; the S. CDR at Liam
diansian, in the centre, ard the tbild
at Apsharshan on the right tank.
The same day the japanese ASSUME q
the offensive along the whole front.
At Liar dansian all their attacks
were r. pulsed, and on the left we re-
tanned our principal position at Amp
ing. After a desperate battle the
japanese, howeve succee dec in secur-
ing the position at PetJsu, thus
threatening the line of retreat OF the
c.ros along the Tan river. Simulta-
neously turning movement by con-
siderable forces Of japanese was oo'
served on the left flank Of our position
at Anshanshan.
Taking advantage Of our position
at Liar dians;an and AnpiDg in order
to gain time and irflict severe losses
on the enemy, I withdrew all the army
corps from advanced positions to Lao
Yang.
In consequence Of the mountain
Gus nature OF .of the country on our
front and the bad condition Of the
roads towards the south, the two
days march toward Lao Yang was OF
the most difficult kind, and only the
devotion of all the troops on the east
front enabled it to be carrie d out IN
good order. Only after incredible
difficulties was it found possible to
drag all the guns without exception
and all our baggage through the
passes. Some of the guns were car
rice through the mountains oy lDtan-
try. Difficult as was the retreat
through the passes under pressure
from the enemy, the march across the
open country was still more alducus
The left and center columns succee eoed
in getting all their artillery and bag
grge to Lao Yang.
MARcHING DIFFICULT.
1.-THE march OF the right column,
which was obliged to cross westward
to the railway, where the country had
suffered most severely from rains, was
especially difficult. Corsiderab be
forces of the enemy followed the rear
guard, which maintained q stubborn
resistance. The guns Of one OF the
retiring batteries began to sink in the
mud. Every effort was made to save
them. TWenty.four horses were
hitched to each piece, companies OF
infantry assisting with ropes. The
horses and men, however, sunk so
deep it was necessary for the comrades
of the latter to haul them out. Gen.
Rutkovsky remained so long, cover
ing the extrication, Of the guns that
his force lost heavily, and the general
himself and Col. Raben, commanding
the fourth regiment Of East Siberian
sharpshooters, were killed. Notwith.
standing all efforts, it was finally
necessary to abandon the guns.
con August 20 the army concen-
trated at Lao Yang. One c:rps took
a position on the right bank OF the
Taitse river, while another held the
left bank.
son August 30 and 81 the japanese
attacked our advarce positions with
great energy, but everywhere were re-
pulsed with enormous losses. There
was desperate fighting on our LETT
flank and centre, accompanied oy a
number Of counter attacks, resulting
in bayonet fighting and I was COM
PEELED to reinforce the fighting line
with special reserves and the general
reserves.
During August 81 it could clearly
be seen that a considerable force OF
Gen. Kuroki's army had crossed to the
right bank Of the Taitse river. Owing
to attacks on our left on August 80
and 81 was to be supposed that the
main body OF Kuroki's army had been
told to turn the left flank OF our posi-
tion and attack our line OF communi-
cations. In consequence I resolved
TO Withdraw the advar ce troops to
the main position and concentrate a
large froce against Kuroki and at
tempt to hurl his army back upon the
Taltse river. Only at certain points
was this carried out successfully.
EVACUATION COMMENCED.
cat nightfall, und:sturbed by the
Japanese, we commenced the eVacua
tion OF our advanced positions, which
already had rendered great service II
weakening the enemy by enormous
losses. Thanks to the sufficient mum
Der OF bridges and the manner II
which the roads leading to them hst
been laid out, all the troops destinet
to take the offensive were safely OF
the right bank of the river on tn
morning Of September l. The enem!
did not occupy our abandoned advance
positions until the evening Of Septem
ber ! when they opened an artlller,
6re upon Lao Yang. No trophies 0
war fell into the hardS Of the enemy
81 adopted the following plan Q
operations: Having crosaeo TO tn
r;ohr bank Of tie river the army ma
,,o nosition between the vi