The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-09-08
THE JAPS ENTER LAO YANG
Russian Headquarters in Manchuria Occupied
After Desperate Fighting


the right bank involved the abandon
ment of Lao Yang, which is situated
on the left bank. The Japanese took
advantage of this to occupy the city,
but the sternest part Of the fighting
is still before them unless General ku-
ropatkin decides at the last hour to
again fall back to the northward. II
is more likely, however, that he will
decide to fight to finish. The cards
are all In his favor, it Is believed, now
that he has the Japanese divided by
the river, thus effctually turning the
tables upon his foe.
"The determined pursuit by the Jap
anese Of the Russian outposts when
General Kuropatkin gave the first order
to withdraw, was probably due to their
anxiety to keep the Russians south OF
Lao Yang until General Kuropatk1n
should be able to strike from the north
east. General Kuropatkin, however,
saw the trap and cleyerly avoided 1t"
Up to the hour Of filing this dispatch
the War Office has not given out the
details of the fighting Of September l.,
but It is believed that this fighting ex-
ceeded In ferceness that Of any pre-
vious day.
CENSORS WITHHELD NEWS.
The absence of press kilograms from
Lao Yang on September l aroused
suspicion that changes Of Importance
were proceeding which the military
censors did not wish to be made
known. :,
A telegram from the Associated
Press correspondent at Mukden, filed
at 9:27 on the evening OF September
/, states that the train service be-
tween Mukden and Lao Yang has been
interrupted. but the dispatch does not
mention whether telegraphic commu-
nication are open.
According to a dispatch from Lao
Yang. General Kuroki made his first
attempt to cross the TaitSe river late
| in the evening under cover OF heavy
| bombardment Of the extreme Russian
left. The Japanese artillery, which
had been firing uninterruptedly for IA
hours that day, ceased about 9 o'clock
and then suddenly re-opened about IL
o'clock to conceal Kuroki's prepara-
tions for crossing the river. These
preparations necessitated the estab-
lishment of a pontoon bridge, as the
river was not fordable lower down the
stream.
JAPS CROSSED 20 MILES ABOVE.
The efforts of the Japanese to cross
the river ON August 80. were not sue
cessful, and General Kuroki ordered
portion Of the army to ford 1t at
Sakankankwantun. General Kuropat.
kin was unable to prevent the passage
of the river, owing to the distance from
Lao Yang, about 20 miles, but for the
same reason the Japanese were unable
to bring the forces which gained the
right bank Immediately into action.
Kuropatkin heard Of the passage at
Sakankankwantun after 6 o'clock on
the evening Of August 81, and immedi-
ately gave orders for his men to fall
back upon the outer positions. This
move is explained by the desire to col
lect q strong force with which to re-
pei the fianking attack.
General Sakharoff, In dispatch to
the general staff dated today on yes
terday's fighting says:
"A portion of General Kuroki's force
has crossed to the right bank of the
Taitse river and Sakankankwantun. A
division of infantry with cavalry and
artillery crossed first and covered the
advance Of another detachment. After
fordirg the river the Japanese ad.
vanc4d towards Lao Yang in two
bodies, one due west and the other
by The way Of the Yontai mines.
BOTH SIDES LOSE HEAVILY.
The Japanese left number OF dead.
After each bayonet engagement our
troops found time to dig pits in the
fields Of Chinese corn in front Of some
OF our positions. These, in some cases.
were completely filed with Japanese
corpses. The enemy's losses must
have beon enormous. Ours have not
yet been even approximately comput-
ed, but they are also large. A consid.
erable number of Japanese arms fell
into our hands.
1.-The night passed quietly. Up to 9
o'clock this morning there has been
no movement on either side.
General Kuroki Is constructing a
pontoon BRIDGE