The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-10-19

lieved that it will be impossible for him
either to move aggreSSively against the
japanese "a or to hold his position on the
Shakhe river. Figures showing the Jap
aneSe losses since October 10, are still
incomplete as is the count of the guns
ana other Russian property captured by
the Japanese. Figures showing the
losses to the Russians are likewise in
complete. There is a popular impress
sion here that affairs at Port Arthur
are reaching crisis, and it is believed
that the end is only question OF days.
Fought in the Rain.
With the Russian Center Army, Oct.
1S, by Courier to Mukden, via Pekin,
Oct. 19.-The fighting, which lulled for
time on October Is, was renewed on
October 16, when the Russians holding
positions on the north bank of the
Shakhe river continually exchanged
an artillery fire with the Japanese.
The hardest fighting was in the CEN
ter where two regiments of Russian
the night of October 16, capturing two
Japanese batteries of eight guns each.
1t was expensive undertaking,
however, as the Russians lost a great
many men. The colonel commanding
was dangerously wounded. The Japa-
nese were compelled to destroy their
ammunition.
The fight all that night was most Sc
we're, both sides suffering heavily.
fight the artillery kept up a lombard
ment.
On the morning of October II the
Russian center held positions II miles
south of Mukden on the main wagon
road, while the left had fallen farther
back to the northeast. Just before noon
the Japanese guns found the main road
and a village. sheIling them with
shrapneI and shimose powder contact
shells, but without doing any great
damage.
Toward evening the battle lulled, but
during the night the opposition center
made two combined infantry and artil-
lery attacks, which resulted in the Sc
curing of new positions about half a
mile in advance.
These attacks Were made during a
downpour of rain and were successful
in giving the Russians possession of a
small stretch of the ground over which
they retired last week
Today a long line of wounded is be-
ing taken to the hos aitals at Mukden
through a cold and drizzling ra0 and
over road which is covered with mud
knee deep.
The Japanese today confined them
selves to throwing occasional volleys OF
shrapne1 at the Russian batteries,
which kept up a continual lombard
ment.
While the battle st1n continues. it is
a small affair compared with that of
last week. The fighting now is entirely
on the plain.
The Japanese apparently are salts
fed with having stopped the Russian
advance and with having brought their
own line to the Shakhe river.
Unsuccessful Assaults.
London, Oct. 1850 D. ma
to the Japanese legation from
Toxic today says:
= Field Marshal Oyama reports that
on Tuesday the enemy seemed gradu-
ally decreasing his force in the direc-
ton of the right army, only small de-
tachments continuing activity. The
enemy beaten at Bensihu is retreating.
northeastward.
I'm the direction of the central
army, the enemy last night made as
saults but they were repulsed and to-
day there have been only occasional
of cannonades.
"In front of the left army the enc
my is occasio sionally firing"
Within Ten Miles of Mukden.
With General Oku's Army at the
Front, Oct. II. 8 p. M, via Fusan,
Oct. 19.-The Japanese advance is 10
miles south of Mukden. The Rus
slams have built heavy defenses two
miles south of the Hun river, where
they are expected to make a stand.
There are no natural defenses at that
point.
The Japanese report that the battle
has been the most severe yet fought on
the plains, where the Russian forces
consisted of the First army corps and
the Fifth and Sixth Siberian corps.
The only defenses were infantry
trenches which were hastily made.