Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1904-05-07
RUSSIANS "STUNNED."
Magnitude Of the Yalu Losses the
cause--Never Intended to Pay Such
Price for Obstruction.

Magnitude Of the Yalu Losses the
cause-Never Intended to Pay Such
Price for Obstruction.
ST. Petersburg Russian losses
at the battle Of Kliuliencheng were
1000 men and 40 ofilcers-far greater
than previous reports indicated.
This Is the Official estimate of Maj
Gen. Kashtalinsky. who directly com
manded the division that suffered the
brunt Of the attack, and whose report
was received by the emperor Many
are inclined to place the Russian losses
even higher.
Gen. Kashtalinsky mentions also
.iiau more e."... 'Vv wOunueu hau al
rived at Fengwangcheng and these
may not be included in his calculation.
He made no attempt to estimate the
Japanese losses, merely stating that
they must have been colossal.
The magnitude of the Russian losses
had an almost stunning effect on the
authorities and aroused general grief,
mitigated only by satisfaction at the
bravery displayed by the Russian
| troops.
Not for moment was there any
| intention to pay such terrible price
| for delaying the enemy's crossing OF
| the Yalu. The fact was known
throughout the city and gave rise to
renewed reports attributed to official
sources. that Gen. Kuropatkin had of.
| fcially censured Lieut. Gen. Zassalitch.
If this was so Gen Kuropatkin's tele-
graphed criticism of Zassalitch was
| carefully cut out of the dispatches
which have been published, and the
| general impression now held is that he
will remain in Manchuria.
| Gen. Kashtalinskys report estab-
| fishes the fact that the Russians sus-
tained the greatest loss in order to
save the two regiments which were oc-
| cupying Antung.
The 1lth regiment was given the
| post of honor at the rear, with instruc-
tons to hold back the oncoming Jap
anese. The 18th regiment and the
third battery's quick-firing detach-
ment were directed to retire.
BY the time the latter movement
commenced the Japanese had almost
surrounded the Russian position. The
18th regiment was compelled to charge
with the bayonet and succeeded in
breaking through the enemy's line.
The second batterys quick-firlng de
| tachmenl. without horses, could not
move the guns and were compelled t.
| abandon them. The men Of the second
battery put their shoulders to the
wheels in an effort to push the guns
up the mountain side, but the japanese
fire was so hot that they returned to
the projection of the l1th regiment
| Nearer and nearer approached the
| japanese. and charge upon the 1lti
regiment and the I'd battery was i'm
minent, SO the guns were abandoned
Then a priest led the troops, anf
| the valley.
"Kiuliencheng is history, and W,
must now deal with impending
events" said an officer Of the general
staff to the Associated Press.
1
The idea has prevailed that the Rus.
SLAMS would not make a stand at Peng.
wangcheng. but the fact that Jap
anese occupation of that point woult
enable movement to the southwest
thus cutting off the Liaotung penin
sula which is taken into consideration
by the authorities. leads to the eXpec.
tation that Gen. Kuropatkin will dis
patch strong reinforcements there ant
make O determined stand.
The activity of the japanese. 1t i:
remarked here, is not only north of The
Yalu, on which there is constant scout
ing, but also off the Liaotung penin
sula, though the failure to seal oPrr
Arthur may interfere with the opera
tions they had been expected to carr,
out on the west coast OF the peninsula