The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-26
Long Expected Movement Seems
to Have Begun in Earnest.
FIGHTING AS THEY GO.
Cars Forces Resisted Stubborn.
~ by Rear Guard Action.
Losses Not Stated But Admitted
to Be Heavy.

eral Kuropatkin's armies seems at
last to have begun in earnest. They
are moving up strongly from the south
and have captured Kanpass on the
road to Haicheng. A northern move
ment is also reported, but the objective
of the japanese at present seems to
be Hal Chang. Official news received
here shows the fighting at Ia Tche
Kiao and to the southwark has been
progressing for several days. How
ever, according to the latest reports
received this morning, the Russians
had not evacuated Ia Tche Kiao, but
were falling back on that place, fight
ing a continuous rear guard action.
The Japanese had advanced in strong
force Sunday morning, against the
Russian position at Datchapu, IA
miles north of Kai Chou. In view of
the great superiority of the Japanese
General Stakelburg, as forecasted in
these dispatches, did not attempt to
offer serious resistance. The Russian
losses are not ascertainable. but it is
dred men.
General Kuropatkin reports a con-
tinuation of the advances of a Jap-
anese column along the Saimstza road
Press Sintsintsin dispatches.
Wounded Reach Mulxden-
Mukden. July 25.-(Delayed)-Th enl-
press hospital train passed through
were wounded in yesterdays fight at
Ia Tche Kiao. The fight, which was
mainly an artillery duel, according to
the statements of the men on the train,
commenced at o'clock in the morning
and was still going on at IL o'clock at
night when the train left. The Russians
were then maintaining their positions,
about seven miles south of Ia Tche
Kiao.
1t is understood that the battle will
be continued today. The result of the
fight thus far is not known here.
Small bodies of Japanese are reported
to be moving in the direction of Ben
itzua, forty miles east of Yantai sta
ton and toward Sintsintsin. If this is
true it indicates the intention of the
japanese to try to turn the Russian
position at Lao Yang from the direc-
tion of Mukden-
French Fig Is Flying.
Tien Tsin, July 26.-4:O6 p. n.-Lloyds'
agent at New Chwang wires that 80
Japanese cavaIrymen have entered New
Chwang. The French flag is flying from
all the Russian buildings. The town is
quiet.
Bombardment of Tia Tche Kiao.
st. Petersburg, July 26.-The Official
Messenger this morning prints a dis
patch from Lao Yang dated July 70,
announcing that the Japanese main
tained a terrific bombardment of Ia
Tche Kiao throughout the day, but that
toward evening several of their bat
teries having been silenced by the Rus
sian guns they retired. No estimate OF
the losses on either side is furnished
but judging from the nature and extent
of the fire the engagement was a SER
ious one. The dispatch says
Throughout the night of July "a the
Japanese were busily engaged in plac-
ing the batteries on the crests and tops
of the neighboring mountains and at
o. clock in the morning opened terrfho
artillery fire on the Russian position
at Ia Tche Kiao from their front which
ued throughout the day. but slackened
towards evening and stopped entirely
at o'clock, the Japanese retiring from
the mountains. The Russian artillery
answered the Japanese tire hotly az
day long. According to the report Of
eye witnesses the Russians silenceo
three of the Japanese batteries after
which the japanese fire ceased The
Official Messenger does not make any
announcement regarding the status OF
the volunteer fleet cruisers which it was
generally expected it would do this
Japanese Lost Many Guns.
Mukden July 26.-The latest reports
received here are to the effect tnat the
Russians with about 100 guns in action
in the Ia Tche Kio engagement infiict-
ed serious losses on the Japanese and
destroyed many of their guns. The
Russian position was repulsed but the
Russians were ordered to retire yester-
day and occupy the heights five miles
north of Ia Tche Kiao. Tnise move
ment was carried out in good order.
Port of New Clwang Abandoned.
st. Petersburg, July 26.-The port
of New Chwang has at last been
abandoned by the Russians The
here, however, have no ad-
vices covering the details. The evacu-
alton of New Chwang proper is expect
ed to follow shortly.
Retire on Hal Cheng.
ST. Petersburg, July 26.-5:05 p. m.
just received by the war
office announce that the Russians
have retreated to Hal Cheng.
They decided to withdraw from Ia
Tche Sunday evening. General Zarou-
baieff commanding the fourth army
corps, who is General Stalkebergs
senior, resolved to take this step in
of the reports of scouts
that the Japanese were turning the
left flank.
The Japanese forces are believed
to include the whole of the armies
of Generals Oku and Nodzu. More
than seven divisions of Japanese are
engaged. The rear guard action be-
tween Datchapu and Ia Tche Kiao
continued until IL at night, when the
Japanese were within sight of the Rus
sian entrenchments. The Russians
withdrew in perfect order favored by
the moonlight
General KuropatIxin reports that the
Japanese column in the vicinity of
divisions strong. is marching along the
ALLEY of the Taitze with the obufoua