Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-29
RUSSIANS IN RETREAT
Troops Forced to Evacuate
Anshanshan.
RESIST STUBBORNLY
OVERCOME BY JAPANESE NUMER-
IcAL SUPERIORITY.
Much Desperate Fighting - Charges
and Countercharges With
the Bayonet.
RESIST STUBBORNLY

All the news from Lao Yang, OFFICIAL VI
otherwise. shows that General Kuropatkin
is gradually drawing in his advanced posi-
lions to the inner ring of his defenses.
After three days of heavy fighting. the
latter part of which was impeded by RAIN
the Russians were compelled to disable six
guns which 1t was impossible to move from
the high positions over the muddy roads,
but during the fighting on the southern
front they captured some Japanese guns.
1t is reported also that they destroyed some
Japanese mountain batteries.
General kuropatk in has not yet dis
closed whether he intends to make a de-
cisive fight at Lao Yang.
General disappointment is expressed by
the newspaper correspondents at the with
drawals now in prograss. The statement
that the reserves were not called up to hold
some of the positions which were aban-
doned. seems to show that there Is
strong force at Lao Yang, which is not yet
being utilized. At the same time from
private messages received from Lao Yang
1t might be inferred that a heavy move
ment northward has been progressing for
some days.
General Kuropatkin seems to be well sat-
isfed with the situation One dispatch de-
scribes him as being in high spirits and
laughing and joking at meeting of the ST.
Georges Society at Lao Yang.
The Russian losses to date are stated to
be about 1000. The Russian batteries in
ficted heavy losses on the Japanese.
Nothing has been learned regarding the
reports cutting of the railway south Of
Mukden by the japanese.
Russian Officers Puzzled.
According to a dispatch to the London
Daily Mail from Koupangtze. dated August
q, Russian staff officers confess themselves
completely in the dark as to the meaning OF
the JaD3DeSe movements and that cOnSe-
quently they have no definite plan. Ten
days ago. feeling that Lao Yang would be
surrounded. General Kuropatkin began to
draw his troops northward. Then on the
japanese retiring he brought them back
again. but continued his preparations for
effecting a retreat. There is no doubt,
says the correspondent. that the Russian
army is now completely at the mercy OF
the Japanese whenever they choose to at
tack
The Lao Yang correspondent of the Lon
don Daily Telegraph. in a dispatch dated
August IS. says that the japanese are push
ing on against three sides OF the city. near
which there is continuous fighting. great
quantity OF transport has been sent north.
leaving Lao Yang ready for all eventuali-
ties. The rumOr that the japanese lost
guns at Siauins, the correspondent says.
turns out to be incorrect. The correspon-
dent continues:
The japanese are reported to be adopt
ing new method of night attack. They
tackled. thus preventing the garrison from
seeing anything"
Describing recent fighting, the CORE
sEondent says:
The shooting on both sides was splendid
the Russians contesting every inch Of the
ground with all their characteristic stub
bornness- The Japanese attack from the
direction of the Lao river has not yet de-
yeloped."
Report From Gen. Sakharoff.
The Russian general staff has received the
following telegram from Lieut.. Gen. SAX
harof. dated August q:
Our advance guards and advance troops
on the southern front yesterday retired
slowly toward the fortified position at An
shanshan.
Rifle fire was general along the whole
front. The japanese artillery cannonaded
our positions at different points. Our guns
poured a heavy fire into the columns of the
Japanese as they advanced, and Into their
works and entertainments and eventually
compelled them to move their vast camp
from Panama to the village Of Baissiaza.
At 6 O'Clock in the evening there was lull
In the firing.
..The hottest fighting occurred on our left
flank on the south front, where our losses
amounted to two hundred. During the night
our advance guards retired to the principal
position. Five divisions of the enemy TOOK
the offensive against our south front.
.Our troops repealed toward the south
east all attacks of the Japanese directed
against their front. while our troops on
the right flank taking the offensive toward
evening" drove the Japanese back on Toun-
sinpu. Our losses on the southeast front
were about 400
"Our detachment on the east yesterday
had desperate fight against considerable
forces of the enemy.
Ion the right flank our infantry though
unsupported by artillery and though the
Japarese were at all points superior nu-
mericilly firmly and courageousiy REFUSED
Irrtn
enemy on the advanced positions OF Tsegow
and Anping This affair eliminated In sharp
bayonet fighting and some of our regiment
a. officers received sword. bayonet and re-
volver wounds
Russian Right Retires.
After desperate fighting on the advanced
positions at Tsegow and Anping. our troops
retired on the main position supported by
artillery.
.,rhe Tambofr regiment on the left flank
at Tsegow defended an advanced position
from / O'Clock in the morning until 4
o'clock in the afternoon, repelling all the
enemys attacks at the point OF the bayo-
net There were four counter attacks. The
commander of the regiment. Col. klembous-
ky, was wounded.
"A turning movement by the enemy
against the left flank of the TSegow position
and the enfilading fire of their batteries on
Khaouiou heights forced the Tamboff regi-
ment TO retire and the retreat was effected
in good order. Six guns were abandoned
but they were broken and rendered useless
THE japanese attacked like fanatics and
their losses must have been very great A
wounded Japanese officer. who was taken
prisoner escaped observation after his
wound had been dressed. and killed himself
BY dashing his head against the stones
our troops captured a considerable num-
Der OF rifles, caps and other articles of
equipment from the Japanese.
"our losses on this front have not been
definitely ascertained. but they exceed / 500
Killed wounded.
Notwithstanding the long and desperate
fighting and the consequent fatigue the
spirit OF our troops was alert as ever
md In the darkness of night with rain fall
ing heavily and transforming the ground
into liquid mud. they executed the necessary
movements. headed by their bands, In per
feet order.
ION August q the enemy had not az.
gumsd any definite offensive movement nj
any point along the whole front and our
troops retired gradually to new positions
AT about O'Clock In the afternoon II
was discovered that the Japanese were
'Govirg on Taempine by way OF Youd!ou-
kau."
A Correspondents Account.
Russian correspondent Of the Associat-
ed Press. IN Describing the two days 0rhf