The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1904-10-12
KUR0PATKIN
IS CHECKED
Russian Advance Stopped at
Yentai Station.
JAPS TAKE OFFENSIVE
Oyama Draws in His Scattered
Lines and Drives Back the
Enemy.
JAPS TAKE OFFENSIVE


eial dispatch says:
"A bloody battle is now raging
about six miles north of Yentai rail,
road station. The Japanese on sun
day fell back along the whole front,
and the Russian guards crossed the
Schili river about halfway between
Mukden and Liaoyang and came with.
in three miles of ientai, but the Japa-
nese, having received strong re-en-
forcements of infantry and artillery,
not only held their positions, but even
assumed the offensive.
The fighting lasted the entire day
and night The Japanese directed their
artillery fire with great skill and
searched the Russian positions so
tiercely that the Russians fell back
north of the Schili river, which crosses
the railroad seven miles from Neiltni
The russians, having resumed their
advance. once more crossed the Schili
river and engaged the Japanese two
miles south OF the Schil. \ terrific
artillery engagement is proceeding
along the entire front"
Tokyo reports that the troops under
Kuroki have recaptured the position
at Bentsiaputze, from which they had
been driven. This position is east OF
Mukden about sixteen miles, and Gen.
eral kuropatkin had announced that
it had been taken by the Russians,
who outgeneraled the Japanese.
Field Marshal Oyama's forces which
at the beginning of the Russian ad
vance We're, scattered over a front OF
sixty miles have been quickly con-
centrated. According to a high mill.
tary official in Washington, il was the
japanese plan to deceive Kuropatkin,
lure him south by leaving an intention.
al opening and then by rapid con
centration cut across his rear.
The Russians, assuming the often
sive, crossed the Hun river and at
tackled General Kuroki's forces, cap
turing a position which the Japanese
being strongly REINFORCED, have re-
captured and reoccupied.
The japanese thus have checked the
Russian advance.
1t is said that the losses on both
sides are heavy.
Advices from Tokyo say that the loss
of the armored gunboat IIei Yen has
been officially announced, and permis.
eli nj OIL hx- tha pthnritinc In
publish the details of the disaster.
The Hei Yen struck mine off Pigeon
bay on the night of Sept Is and found.
cred. Nearly 800 persons, her entire
complement, We're drowned. Two pet.
ty officers and two sailors managed 10
reach Chiaopai island, from which they
were rescued.
The Hei Yen, which was engaged on
guard duty OFF Pigeon bay, was miss
ed by the feet, and search for the
vessel was Immediately begun.
The petty officers and sailors found
on Chiaopai island reported that al
dusk a storm came up, accompanied by
high seas. The Hell Yen endeavored |
to return to her base when she sud. !
denly struck floating mine, which ex. |
ploded under her starboard side amid. |
ships. The vessel began to sink, and |
an attempt was made to lower the |
boats. The boats were swamped. and |
the crew jumped into the sea, where,
owing TO the heavy combers, they were |
quickly drowned.
The japanese feet carefully search. |
ed the patrolled locality. but failed &c
find any other survivors.
st. Petersburg advices say that Gen
eral Kuropatkin's superiority in num-
bers is bound sooner or later 10 COM
pei the japanese TO fall back upon
their strong positions within the TRAN
gle formed by ientai, Liaoyang and
Sykwantun. Everything points to that
district as being the prospective scene
Of the decisive struggle of this years
Strategic reasons of the
most weighty character render II i'm
perative for the Russians as well as
Tor the japanese 70 Destow their chief
attention upon the country east Of the
railway. The Russians are compelled
10 this course because their lines OF
are more vulnerable
rom the eastward.