The Western news., 1904-10-19
GREATEST BATTLE CON1|UES
RUSSIAN AND JAPANESE ARMIES
SLAUGHTERED.
Cars Men Succeeded in getting
Away, but Then Losses Amount to
Over 10000 Men-Bigger Battle
Than Liaoyang-Both Armies Com.
pIeteIy Exhausted.


pIeteIy Exhausted.
Mukden, Oct. 1.-THE battle was re-
newed and continued throughout the
night. being especially heavy at mid
night. The Russians retain their po-
sition along the Shakhe river, and
have made frequent attacks upon the
Japanese, capturing six of the latter's
guns. The eastern army is helping
the western forces. There has been
heavy artillery firing tonight. The
fighting is now centered on the plain.
There was lull in the battle Satur-
day, but fighting was continued Sun
day on the right. The army was then
southwest of here 10 miles. It is now
certain that the army will be able to
extricate itself. The losses amount
to 10000. 1t has been bigger bat
tie than Liaoyang. The Russians at
tackled on the right yesterday
Slowly and painfully the entire Rus
sian army is retreating upon Mukden.
Hostilities practically ceased with yes
terday's victory of General Oku's left
wing over the Russian flanking force.
and only desultory firing, directed
against isolated Russian rear guards,
is heard. Both armies are exhausted
to the point of collapse. The fighting
of the past four days without rest,
without proper provisions, almost en-
tirely without sleep, require superhu
man efforts on the part of every man
engaged, and now the reaction has set
in.
General Kuropatkin has abandoned
his plan of effecting rally on the
north side of the Hun river. He is
retreating without fighting, and his
main object is to reach Mukden suf-
ficiently quick to leave the Japanese
outside the gates.
Numberless stories of heroism on
the part of the commander in chief
are told by wounded soldiers arriving
here Thursday evening he took per-
sonal command of the fighting, di.
recting operations on many points
amidst shower of shells and shrap-
mel. Twice he rescued considerable
forces from being annihilated by ex-
Treating them from perilous positions
He failed to save the force which at
tempted to turn General Kuroki's
right army, and jeopardized his own
safety, but was able to withdraw with
the troops surrounding him before the
Japanese could cut him Off There
is no longer any doubt that General
kuropatkin made the forward move
ment against his better judgment and
that he went into the fight expecting
defeat. It is positively known here
that he was commanded by the czar
to advance at all costs and to issue
statements of a reassuring character.
st. Petersburg evidently trusted to
the effect of sudden stroke upon the
enemy.
Narrowing tales are told by return
ing soldiers of the frightful slaughter
of the last three days. The number
of officers killed is appalling and can
only be accounted for by the desperate
bravery with which they led their
troops against the enemy. Several
companies lost every officer and were
commanded by prvates next in rank
by seniority of service No dependable
estimate has reached here of the to-
tai loss on the Russian side. Some
place it at fully $4,000, but this num-
ber may be too high. They will reach
10000, however, it is feared.
Orders have been received to con-
tinue the Notifications of the city with
renewed vigor. Thousands of Chinese
have been pressed into service and
great stretches of land south of the
city are being covered with entangle-
ments. New trenches are being built.
The first regiments returning from the
battle line are expected to arrive here
late tonight.
Preparations have been made for
their reception. The accommodations
are likely to be inadequate for the
present, but the work is progressing
rapidly.
Burying the Dead.
Tokio.-ln the reports of the great
battle which continue to arrive from