The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-10-19
WITH OKU's ARMY.
Detailed Account of the Early Days
of Fighting.

Headquarters of General Oku's Left
Army in the Field, October IA, p. m.
delayed in transmiSSion) via ITEM
tsin. Oct. 1S.-The way to Mukden is
apparently open. The last remnant
of the Russian forces on the plain
north of Yentai are being driven out
of their position by a heavy shell fire.
The Russians appear to have been
utterly defeated. at least on the right
flank. They are retiring hastily and it
is hardly likely that they will make
another stand south of Mukden. I'M
less along the Hun river.
The strategy of the Japanese ap-
parently has been entirely successful
and the cooperation of left, center
and right armies has been perfect. The
battle began unexpectedly on sunday
night, October 9, by an attack on hill
five miles north of Yentai, which the
Russians had begun to forty.
The right column of the left army
advanced against this hill on that
night and drove the Russians out after
a hand to hand encounter.
on the same night the center and
left column advanced and took uD po-
sitions in a line of villages four miles
north of Yentai, placing their artillery
and preparing for a conflict on Mon
day.
on Monday morning the japanese
began Smelling the Russian positions.
The Russians answered briskly and a
terrific artillery duel was kept up all
day. AT night when it ended the re-
suit was not decisive. During the
within fifteen hundred yards of the
Russian lines, taking up a position
along a line of villages
During Tuesday the japanese re-
pulsed fierce Russian attacks, the Rus
slams three times dashing across the
plain separating the two lines against
the Japanese trenches and recoiling
from the shock
7~1- F11n toll nP hot CT
poured shrapnel into the trenches
while the infantry fired almost contin-
ually volley across the plain.
The Russians lost heavily in the at
tack, the attackers being almost ami
/ hilated
| During the night the Russians with
drew for some 1000 yards and the Jap
anese took up an advanced position at
the same time.
| Early on Wednesday morning the
/ Russians made an attempt to drive
| the japanese back but the attempt
was not successful
| During the morning the japanese
| continued their steady advance for
ward. At . o'clock in the afternoon the
| japanese made their last rush arriving
at the Russian position in disorder but
| capturing the full battery of eight
guns The whole force of artillery Of
the left army was turned on the re-
| treating Russians, causing much havoc
| among them.
| The left wing circled the Russians
extreme right, forcing the Russians
| flank back on the center and capturing
! Il guns in a desperate infantry charge.
| The Russians during the day fought
bravely and desperately doing all that
men could do, but they were unable TO
check the advance of the Japanese
| The loss to the Russians is believed
| to far exceed those of the japanese as
| the result OF the days fight
] The japanese center column captur-
ed four guns and the left column took
! 10000 rounds of gun ammunition.
! The Japanese artillery repeated the
! excellent precision that it has display
| ed in other battles. According 10
| their practice. the Japanese used a
number of batteries captured from the