Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-01
; O'Clock and midnight, after which the fire


Gen. Kondratenkos detachment specially
distinguishing itself. During the last four
hours of the day the japanese fired an
immense number of projectileS and the
Russian positions were searched by the
Japanese shrapnel. The Russians main
tanned stubborn defense the whole day.
Our troops all day long were exposed to a
hail of shrapnel, but defended the posi-
tions intrusted to them with desperate
bravery. After preparing for the assault
with artillery the Japanese repeatedly
attacked our positions. Some of our ad-
vanced fortifications passed into their
hands after a stubborn defense.
They were, however, each time recap
tured by us at the point of the bayonet
The Japanese left number OF dead Alter
each bayonet engagement our troops found
time to dig pits in the fields of Chinese
corn in front of some OF our posltlons
These in some cases were completely hllcd
with Japanese corpses. The enemy, s losses
must have been enormous. Ours have not
yet been even approximately computed, but
they are also large. A considerable number
of Japanese arms fell into our hands.
The night passed quietly. Up to
o'clock this morning there has been no
movement either side.
Gen. kurOki is constructing pontoon
bridge at ford crossing the Taitse river"
Retreat Ordered.
The battle yesterday was of the most des-
perate character. 1t ragged continuously
from dawn until midnight, and the slaugh-
ter must have been immense. At in the
evening, after holding his outer positions
all day In the face of most desperate
charges Gen. Kuropatkin gave orders to
retire upon the main works about the city.
The Japanese assaults during the day had
been directed principally against the Rus
sian center, little east of Mafetung hill,
near the railroads. and three miles south
west of Liaoyang. Nothing approaching
the severity of the infantry and artillery
fire here had been heretofore experienced in
this war. Gen. kondratsvitchs division
bore the brunt and suffered the most. Bayo-
net charges succeeded each other In rapid
succession while the artillery duel never
ceased for moment.
No attempt was made in the official ad-
vices to estimate the number of guns the
Japanese used, except that they had many
hundreds. Each gun carries 100 charges,
and these must have been expended many
times as several hundred thousand shots
were fired between sunrise and sunset.
Japanese Cross the Taitse River.
Gen Kuropatkin's order to fall back on
the Notifications was probably due to the
receipt of information that the japanese
had succeeded in crossing the Taitse river,
northeast of Liaoyang, although Gems. Rem
nenkampff's and Mandarileff's divisions had
been especially placed in position in this
direction to checkmate such a move. The
japanese crossed at point called Sakan-
kanwantun, twenty miles east and some
what above Liaoyang, and marched in force
directly westward, with the evident object
nf tirty ha pncci kv,a
ton with Mukden. Their exact strength
was not established, but a division was
made out.
AS soon as the japanese found that the
Russians were retiring from their outer
positions southwark they resumed the at
tack although it was then quite dark.
Thus pressed the Russians arrested their
movement to the rear and again faced the
japanese.
With the view q eventual retirement
from their outer positions, the Russians
had dug large number of pits. with stakes
concealed in their bottoms. The pits were
artfully concealed among the high Chinese
corn. When the japanese charged after
the Russians they fell into the pits in hun
dreds, and were er -"lfeed and impaled on
the stakes, and their lines We're thrown
into confusion. When the Russians faced
about and returned to their old positions
they found these death traps filled with
dead and dying.
Fighting Until Midnight.
The rattle of musketry and boom of can
non continued until midnight when at last
silence brooded over the bloody battlefield
and the soldiers lay down where they had
fought while the worn-out surgeons and
angels of mercy ministered to the wounded
all night and the Chinese coolies worked at
carrying them into Liaoyang
Gen. Sakharoff in reporting the battle
says the Japanese suffer- d enormous losses
much larger than those of the Russians,
who also lost heavily. No statement is
made in regard to the losses.
Officers Wounded.
Gen. Stakelberg. who is samong the
wounded, still retains command of his
army corps, although he is no longer in
chief command of the southern army, which
has since been consolidated under Gen.
Zeroubaien. Stakelberg's injury is slight,
and he did not leave the field.
Gen. MoSovSki commander of the 9th Di-
vision. was among the officers seriously
wounded yesterday
Gen. MarozoVsky, who was also wound
ed, commanded the artillery brigade. He
distinguished himself during the suppression
of the Boxer troubles in China. His wound
is, severe.
Communication With Liaoyang.
There has been no interruption of teIe-
graphic communication with Liaoyang up
siders to be conclusive evidence that IL the
Japanese thanking movement was pressed
north of Liaoyang today 1t was unsuccess-
full. The receipt of press and private dis
patches has been delayed. the chief tele-
graph office at Liaoyang having been moved
north, which Is invariable done, when fight
ing proceeds at such close quarters. The
main Office of the field telegraph is work.
ing at all points in the field occupied by
the army corps staff.
Total Loss Put at $4,000.
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
NEW YORK, September IA cable dis
patch from Rome says: A dispatch from
Liaoyang says the Russian losses at Lao
yang so far are 1900 killed, wounded and
taken prisoners. Thirty-five guns were de-
stroyed and sixteen guns, 10000 rifles and
30 wagons were captured. The Japanese
losses are estimated at 1900 killed and
wounded.
Suspense Intense at st. Petersburg.
ST PETERSBURG, September AL
though General Kuropatkin has had the
best of the first two days battle at Lao
yang, the suspense here is intense over the
final issue of the Titanic struggle. In view
of the number of men and guns engaged,
the carnage doubtless will be great on both
sides. The best figures now are that half