Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-08-09

received here from Lieutenant Gen
eral Stoessel, commander of the Rus
sian military forces at Port Arthur,
confirms previous reports that the
Japanese before Port Arthur are in
possession Of Wolf HILL THE gen
eral says that on July 30 the Russians
withdrew from their positions ON
Wolf Fill before the numerical super
iority of the Japanese. General Stoes-
sci estimates the number of Japanese
attacking Port Arthur at 10000.
It has previously been announced
from Chefoo that Wolf Hill was cap
tured July %. This hill Is possibly
identical with White Wolf Hill, situ-
ated southwest Of Port Arthur and
about seven miles from the harbop en-
trance. The foruth line of the Rus
sian defences, 1t has generally been
understood, ran from the southern end
of Sun Hill, west of the town, to
White Wolf Hill, thus closing the cir
Gle on the land side.
White Wolf Hill and d hill to the
westward Of 1t were strongly fortified.
1t would appear from the maps avail
able that the long range guns of the
Japanese should command the harbor
Of Port Arthur from White Wolf Hill.
The capture of White Wolf Hill
means that the Japanese now occupy
a position within the perimeter Of the
fortress Of Port Arthur.
Il
General Kuroki's Headquarters in
the Field, via Seoul, Aug 1.-Yester-
days battle was the most important
which General Kllroki's army has
fought since crossing the Yalu. Many
more Russians were engaged than in
any former battle. They occupied an
equally strong position, had much
more artillery and were better ac-
quainted with the country, having for
q long time occupied the area over
which the Japanese maneuvered. The
Japanese victory upon this occasion.
If not more important than that on
the Yalu, was won against greater
odds and was consequently a better
test of the mettle Of their troops and
more creditable to their valor The
result was that the Japanese gained
ten miles or more on their advance
toward Liaoyang.
How far the Russians have retreat,
ed Is not known yet but only one
strong stragetic and defensive posi-
ton intervenes between General Ku,
roii's army and Liaoyang, that being
situated eight miles south of that
city.
1t is impossible to estimate the Rus,
sian casualties during the engagement
and reports of losses on the Japanese
side were not rendered this morning.
While the Russians and Japanese
on this front are stretched over a long
line of country, the Russians are
known to have four divisions In the
field between General Kuroki and
Liaoyang and between that point and
Mukden, a large proportion of the
men being Poles from Europe
The theater of the part of the bat.
tie witnessed by the correspondent of
the Associated Press was valley be-
ginning three miles from the Yangses
pass. This valley, which is about
three miles long, nowhere more than
q mile wide, and running from north
to south, is level, covered with high
corn. giving the troops fine cover.
In the morning the two armies were
confronting each other across the
valley. The Japanese army was sta.
toned on ranges of hills fronting the
pass, while the Russians held high
er range west Of the valley. An artil,
derry engagement began in the morn
Ing and lasted until 8 in the after
noon, during which neither side ap.
peared to gain any advantage so far
As spectators could Judge. The Rus.
SLAMS had now batteries in the high
hills beyond the village OF Towan
commanding the Liaoyang road which
the Japanese shelled heavily all day
from the front and left without ST.
Iencing.
The Japanese artillery was handi-
capped in action by soft roads, which
forced them to bring up ammunition
ny hand.
The Russians used twenty four
guns from Molten pass. The Japan,
ese had two or more batteries In the
hills and one or two batteries in the
valley on the plain without any cover
except the high corn, which the Rus
slams never discovered, focusing all
their fire on the batteries in the hills.
A. spectacular and daring feature
of the day was the advance Of the
japanese Infantry across the valley
which began at 3 p. M. and resulted
in the occupation of all of the Rus
sian gun positions and their infantry
entertainments in the space of two
hours The Russians. as usual, could
not withstand the charges of the Jap
anese infantry and fed through the
hills.
The appearance of the field this
morning indicates a complete rout,
the Russians leaving much clothine
and camp paraphernalia behind them.
AS a battery stationed just to the
right of tower in the village OF
Towan. from which Lieutenant-Gen-
eral Sakharoff, commander Of the
First Siberian army corps witnessed
the engagement, dashed down a hill
in retreat. one gun was overturned
and left at the foot of the declivity
where 1t fell.
ATTACK LAST DEFESSEs.