The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-03
RUSSIANS ON THE RUN.
Continued from First Page.)

stroke. The Russian force left on the
Lao Yang side of the Taitse is re-
garded as strong enough behind its
fortified positions to hold Generals
Oku and NOdZu long enough to give
Kuropatkin a chance to strike kuroki
and at the same time to protect the
bridges, of which. it now develops,
there are ten over which KurOpatkin
must recross in order to follow I'D his
successes in the event that he brushes
Kuroki- In case of a reverse, the
bridges will also furnish ample faclll-
ties for the Russian troops on the Lao
Yang side to rejoin the main army.
Yesterday afternoon Oku assaulted one
of the strong Russian positions on the
Lao Yang side, which, it is presumed,
guarded bridges, but the Japanese
were repulsed with exceedingly heavy
losses, the Russians behind their
works suffering only slightly. The
Japanese are using siege guns on the
Lao Yang side.
Kuropatkin did not delay after his
concentration on the right bank Yes
terday morning he massed his artillery
and at noon began to lombard ku-
roki's position, preliminary to an in
situation according to the latest re-
ports in the possession of the war
office.
What the authorities at Toxic re-
gard as a Russian concentration at
Yentai was probably Kuropatkin's
preparations for taking the offensive.
Telegraphic and railroad communica-
ton between the Russian army and
Mukden were still open this morning:
For strategetic reasons the general
staff decided not to publish the text of
Kuropatkin's official dispatch of yes
terday, the substance of which was
sent to the Associated Press.
In military circles where the progress
of the battle is known Kuropatkin's
tactics are approved and confidence is
expressed in the issue.
Cot f0f TAIx tn oh 81
voluntary passage of Kuropatkin S
main army across the river is believed
here to indicate that the japanese de
sire to reap as much glory as possible
if they succeed in taking possession of
Lao Yang. Neither Kuropatkin's de-
cision to make the crossing with his
army, nor the fact that the bulk of it is
over. which was exclusively announced
by the Associated Press was known to
the Russian public till this morning.
Later in the day the general staff re-
considered its determination not to
make public General Kuropatkin's dis
patch to the emperor of yesterday and
the text was given out as follows:
"At night fall Thursday the Japanese
our Skywantun position, but
were repulsed after a hot fight They
renewed the attack at night, this time
with success. driving back regiment
in the direction of Sakutun. The retreat
of this regiment led to the evacuation
of the positions held by other troops.
Towards morning the troops advanced
gradually in order to retake the Syk-
wantun position.
"At dawn on Friday I assumed the |
offensive against the troops of General
Kurokis army. At midday the heads
of the attacking corps were in line and
were being made to retake |
by artillery the position captured dur
ing the night by the Japanese and the |
is also advancing to the at
tack.
During the night the Japanese vio-
ently bombarded the interior of the |
Russian position inside the town of
Lao Yang, the railroad station and the |
itself. Our losses were insig- |
Il have just received dispatch from
the chief of the Lao Yang garrison
timed 1926 a. m. to the effect that the |
Japanese attacked the fort situated in
the center of our position, but they |
we're repulsed with very great loss. We
had six men killed in the fort"