Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-01
THE DECISIVE BATTLE
Kuroki Has Ordered Simulta-
neous Advance.
FIGHTING NOW RAGING
ENvELoPING MOVEMENT OF RUS
SLAMS COMPLETED.
Kuropatkin In Desperate Situation If
Defeated-Keenest Anxiety Felt
at st. Petersburg.
FIGHTING NOW RAGING


ST PETERSBURG, August I, $50 PIN
At last the decisive battle of the campaign
seems to be in progress. Having complet-
ed his enveloping movement of the Rus
sian position. Gen. Kuroki has ordered ST.
multaneously an advance from all points
against Haicheng and Lao Yang. Fight
ing Is raging on both fronts and still con-
tnues The latest reports contain nothing
yet confirmatory of the rumors that Cen
eral Kuropatkin has been defeated. Ac-
cOrding to Kuropatkin's official dispatches
to the emperor, the battle began for the
possession of the important position at
Simoucheng, which is located at the juno
ture Of the Feng Wang Cheng and Siuyet
roads
Two separate armies were launched from
the east above the two roads. while a third,
under General Oku, moved up east of the
railroad from Tatchekiao, to try to cut OF
the Russian force there from Haicheng. If
the latter move is successful this force
will be crushed
A portion of General Kurokis army at
the same time advanced against General
Count Kellers position at 1khavuen, east
of Lao Yang trying the favorite Japanese
plan of outfianking him on the right Stlll
further north, on the SaimatSZa- Lao Yang
road the Japanese moved forward against
HoutsiatZe. twenty-five miles from Lao
Yang. At all )ints the Japanese employ
ed artillery to The best advantage.
General Kuropatkin's situation will be
desperate in the event of his defeat The
keenest anxiety is felt at the war office
for news of the progress of the battle.
The general staff seems utterly dunn
founded at the number of men the Japa-
nese possess, and consequently Kuropa-
kin'S statement that they are landing an
other heavy force at the port of Niu-
chwang adds to the solicitude
Dispatch From Kuropatkin.
The emperor today received the following
dispatch, dated July 81 from General kuro-
patkin:
Three japanese armies have renewed Of
fensive operations on our southern front
Our rear guard made an obstinate defense
until the appearance of considerably su-
perior forces of the enemy. and then grad
ually retired in the direction of Haicheng.
A detachment near Smoucheng. fifteen
miles south southeast of Haicheng, success
fully withstood the enemy until 3 IN the
afternoon. The attack was directed against
our right flank which from its position at
Kanhua Pass inflicted great losses on the
japanese.
The efforts of the Takushan army and
Gen Oku's army today are being mainly
directed to cutting our communications be-
tween Simoucheng and Haicheng, their OPP
erations starting from line traVershs
Yanshukan Tapuntse and LiaOhantse.
ION our eastern front the Japanese began
tn, offensive this morning against our TX
havuen position. the enemys main concen1
tration being against its right f1ank, which
was turned.
The enemy is also acting on the offensive
between Lao Yang and Saimatsza, almost
due north of Fen Wang Cheng against our
troops posted at Houtsiatze, twenty-five
miles from Lao Yang
"Intelligence has been received of a con-
siderable number of Japanese lanoins OH
Yinkow under the cover of several war
ships"
Reports Jap Repulse.
The latest reports from the scene of the
hattie are to the effect that the Russians
up to last night had successfully repulsed
the Japanese attacks against Simouchens.
Details of Simoucheng Fight.
A further dispatch from General Kuro-
patkin to the emperor. dated today, says:
"An our positions were retained at 81
moucheng when the fighting ceased at 8:45
nm. July 81, but have not yet received
reports of the operations on our extreme
ri-ht flank.
our eastern force at YangZe (correcO pass.
General Keller commanding, had chosen
this as the point from which to watch the
fight A battery near him was exposed to
heavier fire than any other, and he was
mortally wounded at o'clock this after
noon. He died twenty minutes later.
General Kuropatkin also reported the re-
tirement of the Russian vanguard on the
south front a short distance in the dTec-
tion of Haicheng.
After determined fighting near the viii
lage of Sanchengtse, the Japanese appar-
emily concentrated considerable forces on
the Saimatsza side of Lao Yang.
The Russian losses In the fighting on
July 81 have not yet been reported, but the
Russians hold their positions
Gear Attends Church Conservation.
Ila he G,,lt
desperately at the front. the emperor today
attended the conservation of the new church
OF st. Seraphim at Old Peterhof.
The new shore batteries at Oranienbaum
below Peterhof. have been completed. Two
tiers of nine-inch guns emplaced in these
batteries command the south shore of the
gulf OF Finland beyond the radius of the
fire of the Cronstadt forts.
In spite of the fact that the police say the
plot which resulted In the assassina ton OF
Interior Minister Won Plehve distinctly
placed the emperor as 'uninvolved," many
extra precautions have been taken to insure
his majesty's safety. His personal guard
has been tripled.
Charges War to American Trusts.
NJ Menshikoff. the well-known writer,
who formerly accused Jews In America of
responsibility for promoting the present
war now charges the gigantic American
trusts anxious to find new fields for ex-
plotation in Asia with the main respon-
kibility.
With the view to promoting shipbuiding
the government has promised to loan
money TO purchasers of Russian-built mer-
chantmen.
The details of the new Russo-German
commercial treaty are carefully guarded
and will be kept secret until promulgated.
although IL seems certain that Russia has
conceded greatly increased duties against
Russian cereals. which are even said to be
double. Some of the papers express salts
faction. saying this Is better than uncer-
tainty.
lt Is not believed here that the German
American will succeed In having the new
tariff inforeed before January 1905.
Praise for German Captain.
The Novos vremya today devotes an edI-
torSal to prsisins the German captain of the
Portland and Asiatic liner Arabia seized