Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-09-02
JAPS CORNER RUSSIANS.
The Mikado's Soldiers Give Battle
to Gen. Kuropatkin's Army.
RETREAT is CUT OFF.
Islanders Attack Cars Forces as They
Fall Back N Heavy Mud and
Kill Many.

Kill Many.
st. Petersburg, Aug. $3.50 p. H.
The operations around Lao Yang have
undergone complete change. Owing to
the delay in the concentration Of Gen.
kuropatkin's army as a result of the
terrible condition Of the roads, the Japa-
nese seized the opportunity to attack the
slow moving corps and severe fighting
occurred August 27-2S, in which the Rus
slams lost another 1000 men, and they
now probably will have to accept a gen
eral engagement. Gen. kuropatkin HIM
self describes the latest phase Of the hos
tlhtles IN long dispatch TO the Empe-
FOR from a point on the railroad few
miles south Of Lao Yang, where Drac-
tcally the whole army was assembled
and awaiting battle. The telegram,
which was filed early this morning, says:
The japanese began at dawn, August
I with TWO movements designed to cut
off the first and fourth corps. The first,
stationed at Anshanshan, half way be-
tween Hal Cheng and Lao Yang, ex-
perlenced the most serious difficulty, ow-
ing to bad roads. The japanese under
Gen. Oku tried to flank this corps from
the. east. In the meanwhile, Gen. Ku-
1O1Ai- tlOoINOL4LS HIS pressure OIL 1SuS.
lvanoff and Herschelmann, drove a
wedge between the second and fourth
corps. which were stationed west of Liam
dlanslan, strong defensive position in
the hills twenty-four miles southeast of
Lao Yang. The Russians, greatly by
their artillery and commissariat, fought
a series Of rear guard actions in order to
cover the retreat Of their impediments 10
Lao Yang, in which they were success
ful. The first corps, which figured at
the battle of the Yalu and in the fighting
at Molten Pass, again sustained the
brunt of the fighting and suffered the
majority of the losses, including Gen.
Routkovsky and Col. Won Raaben.
The first, second and fourth corps.
combined under the command of Gen.
Zaroubaieff, and the tenth, seventeenth
and third corps, under Gen. Iyanoff
forming the eastern contingent, succeed
ed III effecting a concentration at Lao
Yang without further loss.
The whole sig corps, of which two
are European troops, have now formed a
semi-cfrcle within radius of six or eight
miles of Lao Yang
Gen. kurOpatkin has not far short of
10000 men.
japanese Resume Battle
Lao Yang, Aug. 29.-S a. m.-The
japanese artillery resumed the battle at
q O'Clock this morning, the point of pres
sure again being the Russian south
front.
The japanese infantry is now adyanc-
ing 70 attack, the regiments deployed in
open order.
The Russian army has effected its re-
tirement, with transport and artillery, on
Lao Yang, and is ROW in position await
ing the advancing japanese. The prog
ress of the latter has been rapid and de-
r,n1l
the attack on the Siaolindzy position, one
japanese battalion lost all its officers.
Hold Back Japanese.
The retirement of the Russian trans
port of four corps yesterday evening
across the plain while the artillery and
troops in the rear held off the Japanese
afforded magnificent spectacle. All
along the extended lines there was Il
roar of batteries, the Russians working
their guns with great GOODNESS and not
retiring until the transport was in
safety.
Gen. Rontkowsky was among the
killed.
Abandoned by Kuropatkin.
ST. Petersburg, Aug 29.-12:5O p. III.
Gen. Kuropatkin since yesterday morn
ing has been drawing in all his forces
from his eastern and southern fronts to-
ward Lao Yang. Anping, TscgOW.
Liandiansan and Anshanshan. consti-
tuting the main positions of the outer
defense line of Lion Yang, have been
abandoned
Brilliant Bayonet Charges.
The heaviest fighting occurred on the
extreme left where the japanese adj
vanced to the assault again and again
with bayonets. The positions at TsegOw
and Anping were held by the Tenth Eu-
Tho attacks 1pliV-
cred with fanatical bravery. The Rus
slams lost q large proportion of officers,
ten guns and from 1900 to 1000 men,
but the Russians had been generally sue
cessful in beating off the assaults all
along the long line, and the Russians de-
clare that the order to retire came as 4
surprise, just when they were expecting
orders for a general advance.
Retreat Imperative.
This is considered TO be proof that Gen.
Kuropatkin. finding his main positions
menaced on the flank and anticipating
difficulties in withdrawing owing to the
condition of the roads which have sud
denly been transformed into mudbogs by
the rain, considered that Il retreat was
imperative. The retirement from the
east front was greatly impeded by the
conversion of the Ian river into 4 noun
tain torrent and this probably also ac
counts for the failure Of the japanese
to follow up the retiring Russians.
Moving On Mukden.
The japanese column moving up the
Lao river and threatening Gen. Kuro-
patkin from the west is regarded as be-
ing extremely dangerous, and Gen. Ku-
rOki'S extreme right seems also to be
working around Gen. Herschelmann's
position at Anping and TO be moving to-
ward Mukden. The strength of the en-
yeloping japanese armies may be judged
from the fact that Gen. Oku alone. who
is coming up from the south, is officially
reported TO have $4,000 men.
Lao Yang Lost.
Whether Gen. Kuropatkin intends to
accept battle at Lao Yang may not be
known positively for several days, but
the belief several times indicated in these
dispatches prevails here that he will with
draw northward, having found that he is
not strong enough to cope with the Jap
anese and realizing that Lao Yang is
made no longer tenable on account of the
japanese threats at his west rear His
retirement undoubtedly will cause keen
public disappointment, as it was general
~ believed that he at last had sufficient
reinforcements to accept a decisive en-
gagement, and by the military critics his
retreat is interpreted TO mean Il great
proloneatioD of the war.
Has Railway Been Cut?
The Toxic report that Gen. Kuroii
had succeeded in cutting the railroad
south of Mukden is not confirmed by the
telegraph department, where it is said
that no reports have been received of an
interruption Of communications. Of
II &c lfu,a1 +Ia.