The Bourbon news., 1904-10-11
TAKE THE OFFENSIVE.
Japanese Line at Bentsinptze
Broken by Kuropatkin.
The Two Armies Are in the Anomal-
Gus Position of Threatening Each
Others Lines of Communica-
ton-At Pore Arthur.

CheliabinSk, Russia, Oct. S.-Capt.
Andrieff, of the Russian armored cruis-
er Rossia, of the Vladivostok squad
ron, passed through here on October
S on his way to Eastern Russia He
is suffering from an acute form of
nervous prostration, the result of the
terrific tension during the naval fight
with the japanese feet under Adm.
Kamimura, following the departure of
the Rossia, Gromoboi and Rurik from
Vladivostok. The same ailment af-
fects many of the wounded, who are
being invalided home and who look
like living corpses. 1t seems impossi-
BILE for the nervous system to recuper-
ate from the awful strain to which it
Is subjected in modern naval battle.
Toxic, Oct. Sit is reported here
that the fire of the japanese land bat
teries severely damaged four Russian
warships in the harbor of Port Arthur
1t is stated that one of the vessels
was completely wrecked The names
of none of the ships were given.
st. Petersburg, Oct S.-The first
troops of the Imperial Guard left st.
Petersburg Friday night for the front.
They consisted of the Second division
of the Finland Guards, of which the
infant czarovitch is the honorary colo
mel.
A special dispatch from Mukden,
dated October Z, says there has been
no change of Importance in the gen.
eral situation there.
The blockade of Port Arthur ap-
pears not to have been so effective re-
Gently, as a number of messengers
have slipped through. Latest advices
stated that the fortress has sufficient
ammunition and provisions to enable
the garrison to hold out nine months.
st. Petersburg, Oct. 10.-Gen. KurO-
patkin's order of the day announcing
his determination to take the offen-
sive was supplemented Sunday night
by the news that an offensive move
ment has already been begun and that
the Japanese line has been broken at
BentsiuputZe on the east through YEN
tai and across the railway to the banks
of the Hun river on the west The
Russian force has been moving south
in close touch with the Japanese ad-
vance since October 4. The Japanese
outposts were driven back in a series
Of slkirmishes, and on October the
Russians re-occupied the station Of
Shakhe. Is miles south of Mukden.
the railway battalion restoring the
bridge across the Shakhe river the
next day in order to facilitate the adj
vance. Meanwhile Gen. Mistchenko' 8
Cossacks pushed southwestward as
far as the Yentai mines, defeating the
Japanese in a series Of skirmishes.
The most important action, how
ever. occurred on the Japanese right
at BentsiaputZe. Here the Japanese
held strong and important position,
but 1t seems they made the inexplica-
BILE omission to fortify commanding
hill which was the key to the whole
situation. A portion Of Gen. Kuropat-
kins force made a strong attack on
BentsiaputZe and, taking a leaf out
Of the Japanese book. occupied the
hill from the east and flanked the JAP
anese out Of the town. causing seri-
Gus loss in rear guard fight. The
Russian casualties are reported to
have been inconsiderablc.
While these operations are progress
sing south of Mukden, it is reported
that two Japanese divisions under
Gen. Fugi are marching west up the
Liao river and are now % miles south
of Simintin. Gen. Kuroki is expected
to make a similar move eastward.
This statement if accurate leaves two
armies in the anomalous position of
threating each others lines of commu-
nication, the Japanese by wide turn
ing movement, while the Russians,
pushing south, have already inflicted
a blow on the japanese right and are
crowding back their center along the
railway.
While it is understood that Mukden
is not heavily fortified, Gen. Kuropat.
kin has a powerful force behind him,
strongly posted at Tie Pass and if.
as he asserts, the Russians are now
powerful enough to assume the often.
sive. it is possible his advance move
ulGUL Will lOICS IuS JdpduSSS uduhluS
column to withdraw in order to pro-
tect their own base. On the other
hand. there seems to be a possibility
of one or both the Japanese columns
threatening the railway behind the
Russians and forcing a suspension of
their aggressive movement.
Che Foo, Oct 10.-The increased ac-
tivity of the Japanese fleet, blockad-
ing Port Arthur in the stopping of
merchantmen, is due to a lookout
which is being kept for three British
ships. which, it is suspected, intend
to attempt to enter Port Arthur with
timed meats and vegetables. The
British steamer Victoria was stopped
near Wei Hal Wei Sunday evening
and the above explanation was made
to her by the Japanese boarding of.
ficer.
Lady Curzon Much Better.
Walmer Castle, Oct. 10.-After a