Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1904-09-23


tai mines, which Ii was intended ia
occupy with all our detachment com
posed OF thirteen battaiions. Taking
the position near Sykwantun as u
pivot. IL was intended that The army
effect a movement To flank thn jap
anese. which extended from the Taitse
river near the village OF kwantun to-
ward h Yentai collieries. Offensive
operations began when all the troops
had taken up their allotted positions.
The night of September ! the com
mander of the corps ON the right flank
sent q dispatch stating that the Japa-
nese, having taken the offensive and
occupied the district northwestward Of
Sykwantun position. which vas OF
great Importance TO us. the Russian
regiment holding the district was
forced to retire. and I was obliged 70
change my plans in order 10 retake tho
lost ground the following day.
Capture Sykwantun.
ut was not until the evening OF Sep
TENDER z that the entire mountain viii
lage OF Sykwantun was in our hands.
At first II attacks did not succeed, but
the fighting was continued with un-
abated vigor, even after darkness had
set In. We repeatedly gained possess
sion OF the heights, but We're finally
compelled 10 withdraw. Many Of IA
attachments became mixed up, and In
the disorder unity of command was
rendered very difficult. Leaders of In
diyidual attachments, however, con-
tinued the attacks time after time, and
at last succeeded in occupying the de-
sired position. thereby attaining the
object OF the operations ca oar right
flank, As soon as the left flank, In the
vicinity OF tho Yentai mines, on Sep
TENDER 2 (Orloff's detachment) occupied
h heights to the north OF the mines,
holding q strong position facing south,
We opened fire with two batteries and
engaged the army In ar artillery duel.
Orioff's right flank was then four miles
from the left flank and the remainder
OF the army. In order to aid our troops
holding positions near Sykwantun, Orr
loft sent part of his force from the hills
and attacked the enemy In the direc-
tion of Sakhumoon. This movement
was carried out in corn fields.
Bewildered in the Corn Fields.
Our men met with a frontal and
flank fire, and. losing their bearings in
the corn fields. began to retire. The
troops remaining ia the hills also re-
tired westward.
by that time Orloff's detachment
was within a mile and third OF our
other forces. Orloff himself was wound
ed, as also was General Fomin, who
subsequently died.
After the evacuation OF the position.
which had been intended to serve as a
base for our attack, the Japanese ex-
tended northward and occupied the
whole range OF hills and the Yentai
mines. Samsonoff's sotnia of Cossacks
~dismounted and defended our positions
with the utmost courage, but were
gradually driven back.
THE enemy was now established IN
IN extremely strong position In the
hills. and it would have been too naz-
ardous for our left flank 10 attack them
in view Of the losses sustained in the
previous five days. We therefore with
drew to the village OF TalienkoS and I
decided to retire to Mukden. the retreat
being accomplished on September 7,
"'The evacuation Of Liao Yang begafi
and was concluded the morning OF Sep
TENDER a. All our equipment was re-
moved. and there WAS no time TO save
the conluIisSariat stores. which were
sufficient TO last the whole army eight
days. These were all destroyed. The
pontoon bridges were d~islnantled and
carried off by. the troops. while tenn
porary pontoons were burned and the
railway bridge wrecked. The army re-
tired In perfect order. The enemy ATT
tempted to pursue, but WAS repulsed.
Fierce Attack on Rear Guard.
Precautions were taken on Septem-
Der 3 and 4 TO prevent a turning move-
ment from the east. The Japanese to
the southwark took no vigorous initiat-
i've, but General Kuroki assumed the
offensive to the eastward. Our detach-
ments holding positions at Talienko
sustained a furious night attack, which
was particularly desperate on Septem-
Der 5. We retained position but
suffered great losses. one regiment,
which bore the brunt of the fight. losing
500 in killed and wounded.
'By the evening OF September 5 the
danger of a simultaneous attack on our
front and left tanks had disappeared.
The removal of our artillery transport
and baggage trains was affected In the
face Of Immense difficulties. but was
successfully concluded. Our retirement
on Mukden on September 7 was coy
cred by a strong rear guard of cavalry.
I'VE abandoned nothing from August
80 up TO the time OF our arrival at
|Mukden. Our engineers worked with
the greatest devotion. Throughout all
the fighting they rendered invaluable
service In making and repairing roads
and assisting In the railway trafic."
EXPEDITION TO KAMcHATKA.