Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-10-10
Movement Has Already Begun and
japanese Line at Bentsiaputzo
Has Been Broken
DETAILS OF RUSSIAN ADVANCE.
Soldiers Are Going Forward In the Ilca.
West Marching 0rder-New Phase
OF Things Discussed

fenslye is supplemented today by the
news that an offensive movement has
already been begun, and that the Japa.
nese line has been broken at BentsIa-
putze
The Japanese occupied a front Of
about 81 miles, stretching from Bentsia.
putze ON the east through Yental and
across the railroad to the banks Of TIE
Hun river on the west The Russian
forces had begun moving south IN close
touch with the japanese advance since
oct 4.
The Japanese outposts were driven
back IN a series OF skirmIshes and OH
oct the Russians reoccupled the sta
| ton OF Shakhe fifteen miles south of
Mukden, the railway battalion restor-
ms the bridge across the shakhe river
NE next day In order to facilitate the
advance
Meanwhile Gen. MIstchenko's Cos
sacks pushed southwestWard as far as
lne rental mines, defeating the Japa-
hese IN series Of warm skirmlghes.
The most important action however,
occurred on the Japanese right al Bent
saputze. Here the japanese held q
strong and important position but 1t
seems they made the lneXplicable omls-
| sion of fortiiying the commanding Hill.
| which was the key 20 the whole eItua-
ton a portion Of Cen Kuropatkn's
force made q strong attack on Bentsla-
put2e and, taking % leaf out of the
japanese book, occupied the Hill from
the cast and lanked the Japanese out
OF the town, causing "a serious loss IN
O rear guard fight The Russian casu-
alies are reported to have been incon-
siderable.
While these operations are progress.
ing south OF Mukden. Il Is reported
that two japanese divisions under Gen.
FushImi are marching west up the LAO
river, and are now % miles south OF
Sinmmtin Cen Kuroki Is expected TO
make q similar move eastward.
THIS statement, II accurate. leaves the
two armies IN the anomalous position OF
threatening each others line Of COM
munication, the Japanese by a wide
touring movement while the Russians.
pushing south, have already inflicted Il
blow on the Japanese right and are
croWding back their center along the
railway.
While It is understood that Mukden
is not heavily fortified, Gen. Kuropat-
KIN has "a powerful force behind him,
strongly posted at Tie pass and n. as
he asserts the Russians are now power
ill enough TO assume the offensive. lt
Is possible his advance movement Will
force the japanese Ranking column 10
withdraw In order 20 protect their own
base. On the other hand, there seems
20 be n possibility 81 one or both the
japanese columns threatening the rail-
way behind the Russians and forcing
a suspension Of their aggressive move
ment.
THE FORWARD MOVEMENT.
Mukden, Oct 9-The Russian for
ward movement has begun and Bentsla-
putze has been captured with a small
loss In order 20 gain a clear under
standing Of the situation Il may be ex-
planned that two days ago the Japa-
nese divisions confronted the Russians
north Of the Taitse river.
Their left flank, consisting Of two d.
visions was on the railway OF Sandal
pu, 80 miles southwest Of Mukden and
close to the Hun river Their center.
comprised Of four divisions, occupied
the railway between Lao Yang and
Chandiaputze u miles north. Two
more divisions occupied the extreme
Japanese right along the road between
Bentslaputze and Bensihu Their front
extended about 81 miles,
The position at Bentslaputze was
strongly fortified and intended TO with
stand attack, II is reported that Gen
Kuroki was there In person. The Jap
anese had omitted to fortlfy one hill
which was the key 20 the position, The
Russians, aware OF this omission made
a wide detour eastward and seized the
hill with little opposition,
The hill, once occupied, exposed the
whole Japanese position to heavy flank
ing fire The Russians also turned the
Japanese right, and the fortified posi-
lions thus becoming untenable, the Jap
anese were forced 20 withdraw hurried
ly from Bentsiaputze fighting a rear
guard action, in which they suffered
heavily.
The Russian losses throughout were
small although severe opposition had
been expected Gen Mistchenko's Co.'S
sacks had been harassing the Japanese
outposts for several days and We're en-
tlrely successful In a number Of en-
gagements.
The Russian southern advance began
on Oct. 1 with the occupation Of Shak-
he railway station. The next day the
station, which had been dsmantled by
the japanese was restored by the rail-
way brigade following Immediately be-
hind the fighting line, and the same br
gade also restored the bridge across the
Shakhe river on Oct 6 Gen. Mistchen.
ko advanced almost 10 the Yental
mines driving In the Japanese outposts
with heavy loss at an expense Of only
one Killed and Ave injured.
The Russian forward movement Is I'm
the heaviest marching order. one sees
everywhere whole companies, Of which
every man carries a large knapsack on
his back a rife on bis shoulder and a
large kettle or tea pot slung 10 his
waist while hanging from the belt Is
the cartridge case IN front and a big
wooden water bottle and an axe, pick
axe or spade on either side. Altogether,
with overcoats, the equipment weighs
100 pounds.
The soldiers move steadily and cheer
fully, though the column looks more
like a pack train than an army First
aid stations OF the Red Cross are being
organized. and the nurses are working
untlrlngly everywhere, Doctors and sis
tiers Of charity are going to the front IN
Chinese carts at the rate OF two miles
an hour over heavy roads, but are
cheerful and devoted as ever, IN spite OF
the imminent prospect OF more OF the
difficult and dangerous work under FIRE
which won them the undylng gratitude
Of the army Of Lao Yang.
Chinese reports Of the Japanese
movement say that Lleut.-Gen. Fus-
himi, with two divisions. Is moving TO
flank the Russians His force is already
on the Lao river, within % miles OF
slnmintin. A simultaneous movement,
It Is understood, Is being carried out by
Gen Kurokl 10 the eastward with the
object OF striking the railway and
flankIng the Russians out OF Mukden,
as was done az Lao Yslg but the con-
ditions are now rather different.
NEW PHASE DISCUSSED
London. Oct. 1o.--The rev phase Of
the war involved in Gen. Kuropatkin's
stlrring address 10 hts army Is keenly