Mexico Missouri message., 1904-04-07
JAPAN WINS FIRST
INFANTRY BATTLE
Russians Admit Defeat in Engage
mont At chongiu.

ST. Petersburg: The emperor re-
ceived Tuesday a dispatch from Gen.
Kuropatlxin. giving a lengthy report
from Gen. MishtchenlSo dated at 10
p. m. March rs. which says that an
Important engagement took place near
the town OF Chougiu. in which the
Russians we're defeated, retiring in
perfect order.
The Japanese loss is not reported.
The Russians lost three Cossacks
killed and twelve men wounded, ex-
elusive of four officers. Cavalry and
infantry on both sides were engaged
The Russians occupied commanding
position.
The Japanese fought CALAMITY, but
owing to their heavy losses were UNI
able to occupy the position abandoned
by the Russians.
Gen. Kuropatkin's report is as fol-
lows
Il have the honor to respectfully
communicate to your majesty the re
port of Gen. Mishtencho, dated March
%. at 10 p. m. which says:
For three consecutive days our
small outposts attempted to draw the
Japanese cavalry into action, but their
patrols. after contact was established
retired beyond Chongju (about fifty
miles northwest of Ping Yang. between
ANU and Wiju)
Having learned that four squad.
rons of the enemy were posted FIVE
versts (about twelve miles) beyond
Chongiu, on March %, six companies
marched toward Kasan and on March
rs reached Chongju at 1920 a. m.
AS soon as our scouts approached the
town the enemy opened fire from be-
hind the wall.Two squadrons promptly
dismounted and occupied the heights
500 yards distant. An engagement en-
sued.
In the town a company Of infantry
and a squadron of cavalry were lying
in ambush. Our men we're REINFORCED
by three companies, and attacked the
Japanese with a cross-fire. Notwith
standing this and our commanding pO-
sition, the Japaneses CALAMITY held
their position, and it was only after
"a fierce fight of half an hours dura-
ton that the Japanese ceased fire and
sought refuge in the houses The
Japanese hoisted the Red Cross flag
at two points.
+" Soon afterward three squadrons
of the enemy were seen advancing
along the Kasan road at full gallop
toward the town. which two of the
squadrons succeeded in entering, while
sthe third fell back in disorder, under
repeated volleys from our troops. A
number of men and horses were seen
to fall
=, For an hour afterward our com
panies continued to fire on the Japan
-ese in the town, preventing them from
leaving the streets and houses.
'' An hour and a half after the
beginning of the engagement four COM
panies were seen on the Kasan road,
Fastening to attack. | gave the order
to mount. and the entire force. with
a covering squadron, advanced in per-
feet order and formed in line behind
the hill. The wounded were placed
In front. and the retirement was car
ried out with the elaboration of a
parade
The japanese squadron, which
was thrown into disorder, was evil
IDENTITY unable to occupy the hill
which we had just evacuated, and
their infantry arrived too late.
" The detachment protecting our
rear guard arrived quietly at Kasan,
where we halted for two hours in order
TO give attention to our wounded. At
8 p. m. our force reached Moo San.
1t is supposed that the Japanese
had heavy losses in men and horses.
on our side, unfortunately, four Of
ficers were severely wounded, Steph-
aneff and Androoko in the chest and
Vaselvitch in the stomach. Schilnilkoff
was less seriously wounded in the arm,
but did not leave the field. Three Cos
sacks were killed and twelve were
wounded, including FIVE seriously.
Gen. Mishtchenke bears witness to
the excellent conduct and gallantry
of the officers and Cossacks and es-
pecially praises the Sd company of
the Argunsk regiment commanded by
Krasnostanoff
Bonilla Sentence a Bluff.