The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-04-01
LAND
FIGHT REPORTED
This Time the Engagement Dis
played All Features OF
Heavy Battle.
MAc IN cIGLr NE kONG nm
WAS in SIGHT OF KONG Ju
Both Russians and Japanese Los.
Heavily Including Three High
Officers-Japancse G~allantry
Manifested.

Manifested.
ST. Petersburg, March 31.-The EN-,
peror has received a dispatch from
General kuropatkin, giving a lengthy
report from General Mishtchenke. dat
ed at 10 p. IN. March rs. which says
that an Important engagement took
! place near the town of Chong Ju, in
which the Russians were defeated. re-
firing in perfect order.
Cavalry and infantry on both sides
were engaged. The Russians occupied
a commanding positio.
General Kuropatkin. in his first re-
port to the emperor from the scene of
f; war. announced that effective land OPP
erattons had taken place against the
Japanese pom the sixth anniversary
! of the occupation of Port Arthur by
the Russians. The operations took the
form of a cavalry attack yesterday by
six companies of Cossacks, led persons
ally by General Mishtchenke against
four sQuadrons OF Japanese cavalry,
which the general believed to be be-
yond Chong Ju, but which he found to
be In occupation of that town.
/ Japanese Gallsntry.
Despite a cross fire which Misht-
chenke c%leverly directed against the en-
envy, he pays a tribute to their BRAY
cry, the Japanese only ceasing to fire
after a combat which lasted half an
hour. Before the Russians could follow
up the advantage three Japanese
squadrons galloped toward the town,
which two of them succeeded in enter
Ing. while the third was driven back in
disorded, men n horses falling.
Nh G.0 - - -
SO destructive that the Japanese We're
unable to make an effective return.
further Japanese reinforcements ar
rived an hour later, INC IN view OF the
superiority of the enemy General Mish-
tchenke determined to retire, doing so
without embarrassment, although he
carried with him three dead and six
teeen wounded.
General Mishtchenke's Cossacks
have been endeavoring for some days
to come in contact with the Japanese
patrols, but the latter refused to coul-
bat.
Russians Encouraged.
The skirmish of today will nave the
effect of encouraging the Russians to
retard as much as possible the adj
vance of the Japanese army.
General Kuropatkin's dispatch ~
porting General M~ishtchenke's opera
tons as published does not give the
place of its origin, but it is presumed
that the commander in chief is either
at Lao Yank or en- route to New
Chwang.
The Japanese fought CALAMITY, but
owing to their heavy losses We're un-
able to occupy the position abandoned
by the Russians. =
General kuropatkin's report is as
follows:
Il have the honor to respectfully
communicate to your majesty the re-
port OF General Mishtchenke, dated
March 90 at 10 p. M, which
Fol three consecutive days our
small outposts attempted to draw the
japanese cavalry into action, but their
patrols, after contact was established.
retired beyond Chong Ju, about fifty
miles northwest of Ping Yang.
Squadron in Sight.
Having learned that four SQUAD
rons of the enemy We're posted five
versts beyond Chong Ju, on March 27
and on March % reached Chong Ju at
1920 a. m. AS soon as our scouts APP
preached the town the enemy opened
fire from behind the wall. Two SQUAD
rons promptly dismounted and occu-
pied the heights 600 yards distant. An
engagement enSued
In the town a company of infantry
MC1G lyIIlS
in ambush. III men We're reinforced
by three companies and attacked the
Japanese for a cross fire. Notwith-
standing this and u commanding DO
sition the Japanese CALAMITY held their
ground, and it was only after a fierce
fight Of half an hours duration that the
japanese ceased firing and sought ref
uge in the houses. The Japanese hoist
ed Red Cross Gags at two points.
Soon afterward theree squadrons
of the enemy were seen advancing
along the Kasan road at full gallon
tward the town, which two of the
squadrons succeeded in entering, while
the third fell back In disorder under re-
peated volleys from our troops. A
number Of men and horses were seen to
fall.
For an hour afterward our COM
panies continued to fire on the Japanese
in the town, preventing them from leav-
ing the streets n houses.
The Russians Retire.
lar hour n a half after the be-
ginning of the engagement four COM
panies were seen on. the Kasan road.
fastening to attack. l gave the order
to mount. and the entire force. with a
covering squadron, advanced in perfect
order and formed in line behind the
hill. The wounded were placed in front
and the retirement was carried out with
the deliberation of a parade.
1.-THE Japanese squadron, which was
thrown into disorder. was evidently UNI
b to occupy the hill which we had
Just evacuated, and their infantry ar
rived too late.
""The detachment protecting our
rear guard arrived quietly at Kassan.
where we halted for two hours in order
to give attention to our wounded. At
8 p. m. our force reached Moo San.
ut Is supposed that the Japanese
had heavy losses in men and horses.
On our side, unfortunately, three Of
fcers were severely wounded-Step-
hanoff and Androoke in the chest, and
Vaselevitch in the stomach. Schilni-
koff was seriously wounded in the arm.
but did not leave the field. Three Cos.
sacks were killed and twelve We're
wounded. including five Seriously
Gen. Mishtenke bears witness to the
excellent condition and gallantry of the
officers and Cossacks, and especially
praises the Third company of the Ar.
gunsk regiment, commanded by Kras-
n~osteanoff.
French Protect Russian Interests.
Tien Tsin, March ga Frenchman