The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-08-09

All the newspapers today express great
relief over the news from Port Arthur.
The army organ says that though Gen.
stoessers report gives no details 1t is
evident the Japanese have suffered a
very severe reverse. The paper also pays
n tribute TO the navy's share in the de-
fense OF the besieged fortress.
Reviewing Gen. Kuropatkin's move
ments 1t continues:
The retreat is in accordance with
plan laid down for the first period OF the
campaign which is to weaken the forces
OF the enemy by contesting strongly the
defensive portions, thus impeding jap
anese progress and compelling the enemy
10 waste large numbers OF men and much
war material Oh the advances. The re-
suit has been that in three and half
months the Japanese have only covered
a few score OF versts."
The Russ estimates that the Japanese
losses thus far as a result~of the siege OF
Port Arthur aggregate 1900 men and
says the Mikado's Injunction not to waste
lives must have been ironical.
GRBAT BRrTAINs CONTENTION.
spectlve OF the question whether the
British steamer Knight Commander. was
q lawful prize, Great Britain's protest
against the sinking OF that vessel by the
Vladivostok squadron goes further to the
right OF Russia to destroy a neutral ship
in advance OF the Judgment OF prize
court-and while she does not specifically
ask for compensation for damages, she
does so by implication.
AN IMPORTANT BATTLE.
Gen Kurokis Headquarters. in the
field. Via. Seoul. Aug. ;-(Delayed in trans
mission). Yesterday battle was the
most important which Gen. kurokfs ar
my has fought since crossing the Yalu.
Many more Russians were engaged than
in any former battle.
They occupied an equally strong posi-
tion. had much more artillery and were
better acquainted with the country, hav
ing for a long time occupied the area
OF which the japanese manoeuvred. TIE
japanese victory upon this occasion, III
not more important than that at Yalu
was won against greater ODDS ana was
consequently better test OF the mettle
OF their troops and more credltable TO
their valor.
The result was that the Japanese gained
10 miles or more on their advance tow
ards Lao Yang.
How far the Russians have retreated
Is not known yet. but only one strong
strategic and defensive position inter-
yenes between Gen. Kurohs army and
Lao Yang. that being situated eight miles
south Of that city.
RUSSIAN CASUALTIES UNKNOWN.
II is impossible 10 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 long line
OF country, the Russians are known 10
have four divisions an the field between
Gen. Kuroki and Lao Yang, and between
that point and Mukden. large proportion
OF the men being Poles from Europe The
theatre OF the part OF the battle. wit
messed by the correspondence OF The As
ISOLATED Press. was a valley beginning
three miles from the Yangze Pass.
This valley. which Is about 10 miles
long. nowhere more than 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
we're confronting each other across the
valley. The japanese army was sta
toned on ranges OF hills fronting the
pass, while the Russians held a higher
range west OF the valley.
LONG ARTILLERY FIGHT.
An artillery engagement began in the
morning and lasted until 5 In the after