The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-10-20
Ians, LEFT Driven Back.

the Russian army Us advancing. KAN
is hinderng everything The rivers
are bank mil and the fords are impas-
sable There are no bridges Supplies
Of all sorts are delayed There was
fighting yesterday on both sides Of the
great Manchurian road
Cossacks brought in captured guns
and japanese wounded prisoners on
October H. Russian soldiers surround
ed the prisoners and gave them bread
and water and in other ways tried TO
relieve their wants
News has just been received that the
japanese lefi flank has been driven
back with heavy loss and its retreat
cut OFF \ Russian regiment is now be-
ing hurried to the scene in the hope
OF completing the rout
The fighting on Monday was con-
fined 10 The Russian center at Shakhe
river and was mostly artillery fire. the
Japanese using big guns and high ex-
plosiyc shells During the Q days Of
continuous fighting the losses were
never less than 20o0 per day The hos
pitfalls are hardly able 10 handle the
wounded Nevertheless they have per-
formed wonders
The Chinese have deserted all the
villages. and the troops are using the
woodwork Of their houses for fuel. The
country south is desolated. The Japa
nese still seem 10 be exerting them
selves TO force the Russians out OF
Mukden. \ battle is assured in the po-
sitions surrounding the town.
II becomes more and more evident
that the resources Of the country can
not support a large army. This sea-
sons crops are spoiled
General Kuropatkin remains with
the troops having abandoned his head
quarters at Mukden.
As this dispatch Is filed TUESDAY
evening" the Russians are retaining the
ground gained at the Shakhe river
Several Maxim guns have been cap
tured. The firing ceased after dark
yesterday.
Lone Tree Hill. won by the Russians
after a desperate struggle. was the OBJ
ject Of a gallant unsuccessful attempt
at recapture by the japanese In spite
OF the awful slaughter with which
they had been driven from the hill.
the japanese returned TO the charge
during the night of October II, recog-
nizing that the hill was the key to the
position on the. southwest front. Nine
regiments par ~ipated. creeping up
through the nj. Vt and delivering a
furious assault a, dawn. But the hill
had been bought too dearly by the Rus
slams to relinquish il. and the Japa-
nese were driven back with terrible
The battlefield Of Lone Tree Hill
presents the most awful spectacle that
can be conceived Russian and Japa-
nese dead are mingled in heaps in in
extricable confusion The ground is
Btrewn with broken rifles that had been
smashed in hand-to-hand fighting.
Everything seems to have been utilized
as weapons The Russian doctors are
working heroicaly on the slopes of the
hill in the attempt to save those OF the |
who still survive but the |
Japanese keep up a sniping fire and |
render the work Of relief difficult and |
The continual vigilance Of the COM |
batants. and especially the serious ac-
reptance by the japanese army Of the |
Russian advance, promises further |
fighting although there has been al
ready ten days of unprecedented and
exhaustive conflict. The japanese have
been alternately testing the Russian
Russians in a mOnotonous and bitter
day to day resistance on the line of
contact The Japanese apparently
feared that the Russian advance would
develop a superior force of reserves.
The duration Of the contest already
exceeds by several days the common
as It was believed that
neither side was capable of such eX-
penditure of men and munitions. which
already Is in excess Of all the previous
lighting within 25 miles of Lao Yang.
The Russians appear to hold posi-
lions in the plain along the Shakhe
river, extending from the railway to
Da Pass, beginning at the mountains;
but the bitterness and tenacity of the
fight indicate certain situations in the
eastern army about which littlea is
known.