The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1904-10-21
CONFLICT IN FAR EAST

ties in history. Already the losses at
Liao-yang have been Appropriated
and the indications are that they will
be exceeded, that of the Russians up
to noon Of Oct. IA being estimated at
$4,000.
The Russian advance has been con-.
verified into a stubbOrnly-fought re-
treat. The result, according to the
Russians, is still to be determined.
Whole Regiments Go Down.
Reports from the Russian left wing
are lacking, leaving 70 for ques
ton if that part of Gen. Kuropatkin'a
army is not in worse extremity than
the center and right were at any
stage of the battle.
On both sides the soldiers have
shown the utmost tenacity and
bravery, and whole regiments have
gone down before the fire of the en-
envy. In official circles of ST. Peters
burg there is a disposition to argue
that even should Gen. Kuropatkin be
obliged to retreat upon Mukden his
position would be as favorable as
when the order to advance was given
on Oct. 6, and on the other hand the
Japanese powers of future resistance
will have been materially weakened
There is no news from Port Arthur.
Jap Victory Is Decisive.
Toxic. Oct. 15.-It is yet too early to
measure the results of the tremendous
struggle which has been waged for
the past three days south of Mukden,
ANT oil ,nrnft rnnnhino Tnkin lnHI.
-.ates hat Gen. Kuropatkin has been
decisively whipped and severely pun
tshed. The Russian commander was
evidently caught while making his
dispositions with his forces scattered
and he was beaten before he could re-
cover.
Tide Against kuropatkin.
Much depends on the ability and the
resolution of the Japanese in applying
and following up their advantages.
Kuropatkin may turn up in favorable
ground and succeed in beating back
the Japanese onslaught, but the tide
seems against him.
The Japanese yesterday began a
desperate effort to turn the Russian
right. and if this effort has been sue
cessful it would carry disaster to the
Russian arms.
Oyama Blocks kuropatkin.
Gen. K%uropatkin's advance has been
met with a counter advance of the
forces under Field Marshal Oyama.
According to advices received at To
kio a general engagement is in prog
ress between Liao-yang and Mukden,
but reports from Russian sources de-
scribe the fighting there as merely in
the nature of advance guard actions.
Gen. K%uropatkin is reported to be
aiming to strike simultaneously at two
widely separated points on h Japan
csc left. There has been
Hard Fighting
a short distance north of Bensihu, in
which a Russian loss of $50 in killed
or wounded is admitted. The Japanese
claim to have cut off a Russian col
umn south of the Taitse river. No
official reports from the front were
received by the Russian war Office
last night, and the fact is regarded
in some quarters as indicating the
thus far of Gen. Kuropat-
kin's forward movement. Military au-
thorities, however, point out that ow-
ing to the magnitude of the movement
planned it is too early to expect news
of decisive results.
Russ Advance Is Checked.
For three days there had been
sharp fighting a little north of the
railway town of Yentai, between Lao
yon~ ond AfuEdon Tho PncCian od-
vance was checked and the attacking
force was compelled to retire to the
north side of Schili river, where at
latest accounts a terrific artillery
fight was in progress. In military
circles in St. Petersburg the fighting
noted is not considered as being of
the magnitude of a general engage
ment, such as
Is Expected to Come.
possibly within a few days, some
where within a triangle indicated by
lines connecting ~Liao-yang, Yantai and
Sykwantun. This battle, when it is
fvught, is expected to be decisive Of
this years campaign. Wounded Rus
sian soldiers who have been taken
back to Mukden show by their cheer
fulness the improvement that has
been produced on the spirits of his
troops by Gen. Kuropatkin's force in
assuming the offensive.
kuropatkin IL Moving On.
While Gen. Kuropatkin has contin-
ued to advance his entire front
against the armies of Field Marshal
Oyama, he has not met with any
formidable opposition. However, the
expectation Is that a battle Of magni-
tude must be fought within a few
days. It is believed that the Japanese
will make a stand at Liao-yang. Sew
eral positions east Of that place have
been abandoned by the Japanese.
At st. Petersburg it is surmised
that Field Marshal Oyama's forces
have been weakened by the dispatch
of troops to aid Gen. Nogi in reducing
Port Arthur. and that this condition
has afforded Gen. Kuropatkin an op-
portunity to ground lost dur
49, -