The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-10-17
CAR ORDERED
ATTACK ON JAPS
Statement Said to Have Been
Made by Russian Prisoners.
REPORT COMES FROM TOXIC
MASS OF DETAIL WAS ALSO
SENT OUT.

z OKIO, Oct. 16. 8 p. m.-According to
statements made by Russian pris-
oners General Kuropatkin was or
Aered by Emperor Nicholas to make
stand at Mukden and to assume the ag-
gressive as speedily as possible in or
der to relieve the Port Arthur garrison.
This order, the prisoners say, reached
Mukden on Sept. q and General Kuro-
patkin in obedience to ii began his dis
astrous southern advance movement.
An extended report dealing with the
statements of these prisoners is as fol-
lows:
Ordered by Gar.
According to statements made to Of
ficers of the Center army by Russian
prisoners whom they had captured the
army had received information that the
strength of the garrison at Port Arthur
was being daily reduced and that the
garrison was in a disastrous condition
Fresh Russian reinforcements were
constantly arriving at Manchuria from
Europe and the strength of the forces
under General Kuropatkin in the.
neighbOrhood of Mukden had reached
To over nine army corps. Thereupon.
the prisoners said, the Russian en-
peror on Sept. q ordered Kuropatkin
not TO retire a step beyond Mukden
and directed him, circumstances per-
hitting. TO assume the offensive as
quickly as possible End to drive the
japanese out of southern Manchuria.
in order to rescue the Pert Arthur gar
risOn.
KurOpatkin obeyed.
Acting under this command General
kuropatkin advanced with his whole
strength to the south of Mukden. divid-
ing his forces into three columns, the
center, the right and left. The center
column, composed OF the First, Fourth
and Fifth corps under the command of
General SOloieff advanced toward
Tungshankou and Linhua mountain.
The left column which was composed
of two corps under General StakeIberg,
advanced against the japanese right.
The right column, which was composed
Of three corps, advanced against the
japanese left. Besides these there was
enc corps held in reserve which was
following the center column.
l. Linevitch Was Coming.
General Linevitch, commanding the
field fighting force in the Ossou-i district.
was taking devious road from the east
and advancing toward the southeast of
Lao Yang for the purpose Of threatening
the line of a possible japanese retreat.
General Mistchenko, commanding six
regiments Of dragons, operated on Line
vitch's right.
The center column was disposed as
follows: The First corps or the right,
the Fourth corps on the left ana the Fifth
corps in rear of the center. The Fourth
corps consisted of the First and Fourth
Siberian reserve division. Four batteries
of quick-firing guns were attached to
each division.
The prisoners declared that the war
would continue for long time. because
the Russians had decided TO attain final
victory. regardless of the losses which
might be involved. as otherwise q defeat
would mean a general revolution and the
disintegratiOn of Russian territory,
Extraordinary Losses.
During one engagement the thirty
seventh division. especially the First
brigade. sustained extraordinary losses.
and Forty-fifth regiment was annihilated
on Sankuaihsi mountain, ana many line
officers were killed. wounded or cap
tured The Third Siberian reserve divis-
ion sustained the greatest loss.
AT the beginning Of the war the Rus
sian regiments numbered 1900 r1en each.
After the battle of Lia0 Yang each of the
regiments was reduced to a strength OF
about $500, with the exception of the
Twelfth regiment. which, as a result of
this battle. was reduced 10 500. This Tegi-
ment after the battle was commanded by
a captain. the battalions being in COM
mand of sub-lieuteuants, while fhe older
privates directed the operations of its
DanieS"