Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-06-30
GREAT BATTLE
IMPENDING.
OKU AND kUROkI JOIN AND
FACE KOUROPATKlN.

Plan of Japanese Land Operations at
Last Revealed--Leave Port Arthur
Until Later and Try to Crush Main
Russian Army before Rainy Sea-
son--Latter Ready for the Fight
Disastrous Attempt OF Port Arthur
Squadron to Escape.
The great and perhaps decisive battle of
the Manchurian campaign is about to be
fought. The japanese second army under
Gen. Oku, after pushing the Russians
back into their defences at Port Arthur,
striking them heavy blow at Kinchow
in the movement, turned quickly to the
northward, leaving a force large enough
to keep the Port Arthur garrison from
assuming the offensive, and struck at
Vaiangow large Russian force moving
toward the relief of that port. This the
Japs signally defeated with loss of prob
ably 5000. Then they continued to move
northward along the railway, extending
! their right flank until ii joined the left
flank OF Gen. Kuroki's first Japanese army,
which, crossing the Yalu from Korea had
defeated the Russians at Kulien-Cheng,
occupied Feng- Wang -Cheng and strongly
established itself in that section, where ii
had faced to the northward and westward,
opposed by the main Russian army under
1 Gen. Kouropatkin, and had awaited the
advance OF the southern army to cooper
ate Together, these armies viii try TO
crush Kouropatkin before the coming
rainy season makes movements well nigh
/ impossible.
! There are no indications that the Rus
slams, on their part, seek longer TO post
pone the conflict. Kouropatkin has con-
centrated his forces, fortified all vantage
points and made every preparation for the
/ decisive encounter. The Russians sadly
need a victory to awaken their waning
enthusiasm, and Kouropatkin has prom
| ised il about this time. The japanese,
flushed by uninterrupted success, rush
greedily TO the fray. II is sad that on
both sides the forces number 10000 men.
The japanese evidently tried TO draw ku-
ropatkin as far south as possible, holding
out as an incentive a check 70 the advance
of Oku's main army. Meantime Oku
swung sharply to the eastward 70 join
Kuroki toward the Chapan pass, huroki
at the same time moving strong force by
the right flank towards Hsi-Cheng.
The main japanese advance continues
along the Feng- -Wang-Cheng Lao Yang
road, avoiding the Mao lien pass ny a
detour TO the northward. The advance in
all points is being attended by constant
skirmishing.
A large Russian force has pushed south
ward from Ta-Che-K Kiao against Oku.
While Kuropatkin is thus extending him
! self, the Japanese seem to be trying 10
concentrate for the purpose OF striking
the Russians in flank and rear.
Admiral Togo reports an attempted sally
bv the Russian squadron from Port Arthur
that met with disaster. The japanese ac-
count OF the affair is as follows;-
The Russian bsttleships Peresyiet,
Poltava and Sevastopol, and the cruisers
Bayan, Askold and Novik. attempted 10
emerge from the harbor at dawn on June
23, led by steamers used for clearing the
mines. AT II a. M, the battleships Care
witch, Retvizan and Pobieda Joined the
others.
All the ships then advanced endeavoring
to dispose Of the mines laid by the Japa-
nese but they were hlndered by two Japa-
nese torpedo destroyers which had been
guarding the mouth Of the harbor.
At 8 p. m. the japanese torpedo boats ex-
changed shots with seven Russian de-
stroyers, which were covering the clearing
operations. One Of the Russian destroyers
was set on fire and retired inside the har-
Dor. -
subsequently the Japanese deeoyed the
Russians out TO sea and awaited an oppor-
tunity 10 begin general action, but be-
tween S and p. m. the Russian ships
made for the harbor. The japanese tor
pedo boat destroyers and torpedo ooats
chased the Russians, and at $3.50 delivered
/ the first attack, in consequence OF which
the enemy was thrown into disorder.
During the night eight separate attacks
were delivered, lasting until dawn OF Fri
/ day.
In one OF these assaults, the Chirataka
| twice torpedoed battleship OF the Peres-
Wet type and sunk her. batt'eship OF
| the Sevastopol type and a cruiser oi the
| Diana type were disabled and towed
/ away.
There was only slight loss to the Japa-
| nese, none OF whose boats were sunk
! The Russians admit that battle took
place. but give no details. II is probable
4 that the squadron attempted to escape
| from Port Arthur and unite somewhere