New-York tribune., 1904-09-04

st. Petersburg. Sept. 3.-The general staff
gave out to-day General Kuropatkin's dispatch
Of yesterday. Its text follows:
At nightfan on Thursday the japanese at
tackled our Syk-Wan-Tun position, but were re-
pulsed after a hot fight They renewed the at
tack at night. this time with success, driving
back a regiment in the direction of Saku-Tun
The retreat of this regiment led to the eVacu-
alton of the positions held by other troops
Toward morning the troops advanced gradually
in order to retake the Syll-Wan-Tun position.
AT dawn on Friday 1 assumed the offensive
against the troops Of General Kurokfs army
At midday the heads Of the attacking corps
were in line and preparations were being made
90 retake by artillery the position captured in
the night by the Japanese The infantry Is also
advancing to the attack
During the night the Japanese violently bonn
barded the interior Of e Russian position IN
side the town OF Lao lg' the railroad station
and the railroad itself Our losses were insig-
I have Just received dispatch from the chief
of the Idao-Yarg garrison, timed 1873 g. m. 10
the effect that the japanese attacked the fort
in the centre Of our position. but they We're
repulsed with very great loss. We had six men
killed in the fort
The fighting at Syk-Wan-Tun, referred to in
General Kuropatkin's telegram. corresponds
with the Toxic report of the capture by the Jap
anese of a portion of the heights of Hei-Ying-
Tai, which is mile eastward Of SylI-Wan-Tun.
The latter place IS two miles southeast Of Sia-
Khou-Tin whittier the Russian advance regi-
ment was forced back by Kuroki on the night OF
Thursday.
The report from Toxic Of Oyama throwing the
bulk Of his army across the Tai-Tse River is
considered at the War Office to indicate that the
japanese are rushing up reinforcements to sup
port Kurod the necessity for whose relief may
be urgent
The Toxic estimate of %. 600 Japanese casual
ties up TO yesterday is regarded here as moder-
ate The War Office is not in possession Of suf-
ncient data to estimate the Russian losses. but
St is thought that they may reach $4,000
The battle is now regarded as having reached
Its most critical stage.
The main operations have been transferred TO
the north bank OF the Tai-Tse River, where
General Kuropatkn has assumed the offensive.
hurling the bulk of his army against Field Mar
shal Oyamas right, under General Kuroki, and
at the same time holding the Japanese centre
and left on the other side of the river. in check
with the force left on the south bank for that
purpose. The operations on the south side are
how regarded as being Of secondary Importance
st the War Office, where Kuropatkins strategy
Is highly praised.
The Russian force left on the Liao-Yang side
Of the Tai-Tse is regarded strong enough be-
nlnG It's IortlneQ 10 nol1 +TtueTa1S OfAl
and Nodzu long enough TO give Kuropatkin a
chance to strike Kuroh and AT the same time
TO protect the bridges, Of which, it appears,
there are ten. Yesterday afternoon Oku as
saultsd one of the strong Russian positions on
the Liao-Yang side. which, il is presumed,
guarded bridges, bat the japanese were re-
pulsed with exceedingly heavy losses. the Rus
SLAMS behind their works suffering only slightly.
The japanese are using siege guns on the Lao
Yang side.
Kuropatkin did not delay after his concentra-
ton on the right bank Yesterday morning he
massed his artillery and at noon began to bonn
bard Kurokfs position preliminary TO In
: fantry attack What the authorities at Toxic
regard as a Russian concentration at Yentai
was probably Kuropatkin's preparation for
taking the offensive.
Telegraphic and railroad communication pe-
tween the Russian army and Moukden were still
open this morning
The failure of Toxic to chronicle the voluntary
passage Of Kuropatkin's main army across the