The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1904-07-22
RUSSIANS LOSE
DESPERATE FIGHT
Two Divisions Assaulted Mo,
tien Pass Sunday and
Were RepuIsed.
CLOSE I'M ON NEWCHWANG
Japanese Are Pressing on the City. ano
Russian Naval Officers Are Ready
to Escape by the Horse
back Route.
CLOSE I'M ON NEWCHWANG

London, July 2o.-The Daily Express
this morning prints the following dis
patch. dated July is, from its CORE"
spondent at Malta:
The British Mediterranean fleet left
here today for Alexandria. 1t is be-
lieyed that the destination of the fleet
may be connected with the presence of
the Russian volunteer feet steame
In the Red sea. The British steamer
Terrible is said to have sailed from
Suez today for the purpose of looking
after the interests of British merchant
men"
London. July 2O.-The Morning
Posts correspondent at General Nu-
roki's headquarters, t~elegraphing under
date of July is, "
"A Russian force. apparently about
$1,000 strong. attacked the front, left
and right of the Japanese position on
the western slope of Molten pass at 2
a. IN. today under of a dense fog.
The sudden onslaught drove In the
Japanese %outposts, but as soon as re-
Inducements arrived the Japanese gal
lantly advanced to the attack and af-
ter severe lighting drove off the Rus
slams and r%eoccupied the position. The
Russians retired, their retreat being
we'll covered. The fighting lasted until
3 o'clock in the afternoon and when l
left the scene desultory firing was still
proceeding"
Russian Casualties 1000.
st. Petersburg, July 2o.-The Russian
and Japanese forces which are lined
expecting a clash, grappled in Il serious
fight Sunday morning, according to a
message from General K~uropatkin Pc
ceived here late last night. The report
indicated thai the Japanese misinter-
preted the movement and that instead
of it being an attempt to take Molten
pass 1t was a reconnaissance on a
larger scale.
General Count Kellar's account of the
fighting does not especially state the
number of men engaged, though it
shows that the Russian main advance
consisted of eighteen battalionS with
considerable reserves.
An important fact developed by the
reconnaissance was the exact location
of Il powerful Japanese force Secreted
in the region between Fen Shut and
Molten passes. Its strength is indi-
Gated by the fact that twenty-one bat
talions were insufficient to permanent
ly force the Japanese positions, though
some of them We're occupied ternporar-
lily. On the other hand it would appear
from the report that the Japanese We're
either disinclined or unable 10 follow
up Lieutenant General Kellar when he
retired TO his former position at Ikha-
vuan.
The seriousness of the days fighting
is shown in Genera Kellar's estimation
that the Russian casualties We're over
1000.
The battle leaves the general situa-
tiRn unchanged, out shows that q pow
ecful Japanese army is massed and is
constantly threatening Lilac Yang, APP
parently only waiting General kuroki's
signal to
Toxic, July 2O.-General Kuroki re,
ports that two divisions of the Russian
army made a desperate assault on
Molten pass at avn of July Ii, but
were repulsed. The casualties are not
stated.
The japanese torpedo boa destroyer
4, Hayator1 has captured a junk convey
ing mail from Port Arthur to Chefoo.
Letters dealing with military and naval
conditions at Port Arthur have been
seized.
At 3 O'Clock this morning, a heavy
fog yelling their movements, w di-
visions of Russians. commanded by
Lieutenant General Count Keller, made
the assault on the japanese positions
at Molten pass. General Kuroki adds
the Russians assailed all the Japanese
positions at Molten pass and vicinity
desperately. The japanese resisted
stubbornly II repulsed the Russians
and pursued them Il considerable dis
lance westward.
Russia Has No Fears.
st. Petersburg. July 2O.-Russia does
not foresee International complications
on account of the passage of the vol
unteer fleet of steamers through the
Dardanelles and their subsequent con-
version into war cruisers. The St. Pc
tersburg and Smolensk didn't pass the
Dardanelles as warships, but as lner-
chantmen. said an official of the foreign
office to the Associated Press today.
Under the treaty of Paris there is no
question of the rights of ships to go
out as merchantmen. With their sub
sequent conversion into warships Tur.
key has nothing to do. The treaty is
silent on that subject.