Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-05-03
JAPS Hzz!'E STRONG FOOTHOLD
in IN lNCHURIA AFTER FIERCE
FIGHTING THROUGHOUT WEEK
WcToRs CLAIM THAT THE RUS.
SLAMS HAVE DESERTED AN.
5, TUNG AFTER SETTING FIRE
TO THE TOWN..
GREATEST BATTLE
SINCE CIVIL WAR

GREATEST BATTLE
SINCE CIVIL WAR
This Is the Struggle Which Has Been
Waged on the Yalu Characterized by
One Correspondent Russian Author
tiles Blame Defeat to Lack of Num-
bers and Deny That Antuns Fell.
London, May 2. - A Seoul dispatch
says that after the Japanese charge
which resulted In the occupation OF
the Russian lines at chin-Tien.cheng
the Russians fell back in confusion.
The Japanese have not secured flrm
hold of the Mancl,urian side OF the
Yalu river. ~
London, May z. - The Japanese le-
cation gave out today an official des-
patch from the admiralty at Toxic, re-
porting an engagement between Japan
ese warships on Yalu and Russian
shore batteries. 1t is as follows:
"The captain of the eunboat Maya
reports that the gunboats Maya and
Vii and some torpedo boats ascendeo
the Yaiu on May and bombarded the
enemy. While they were returning the
enenny's artillery suddenly attacked
the boats. The latter silenced the
enemy after severe engagement last
ina thirty minuts. The flotilia all re-
turned to Tcngampo.. There were no
casualties.
aour armed launches reached An
tuna the same morning and repu'sed
the enemys Infantry and artillery after
thirty minutes sharp fighting. FIRE
was seen rising from, the town and the
natives say the enemy fled from Antung
after setting fire to it,
ST. Petersburg, May 2. ~ At $3.50
o'clock this afternoon the Associated
press was informed that beyond the
fall and retreat Of the Russians be
fore the overwhelming superiority OF
the Japanese on the Yalu river, no de-
tails had been received since the re-
nort from General Sassuliteh, COM
mander Of the second Siberian army
corps, Yesterday of the retirement
from kuIien-Cheng to Antung.
IL is quite possible that the loss on
both sides in the weeks fighting may
reach the figures given by the Japan
ese. as the reserves were not brought
up to support the Russian position at
kulien-cheng. where the fighting was
heaviest.
No confirmation has yet been re-
ceived of the reported capture OF ~
Russian quick firing guns, or OF the
woundina of General Zassaiitch and
General KashtaIinsky. 1t is confirm
ed that village of thatched huts was
set on fire by shell. The statement
that the Russians have fallen back SO
far as Fens Wang chens is declared
to be untrue.
Toxic, May 2-The greatest battle
since the civil war has been fought on
the banks of the Yalu river. and COM
plete victory crowns the Japanese
army.
Six days of sanguinary fighting,
chiefly with artillery, eliminated yes
terday in the first Japanese army fore
ing a crossing of the Yalu and driving
the Russians from their position with
a dashing charge of infantry covering
a frontage of more than four miles.
Recalls Battle of the Wilderness.
From reports received here 1t is
Judged by military experts that the
famous battle of the Wilderness has
been repeated along the banks OF the
Yalu and that General Kuroki COM
mander of the first Japanese army, has
followed the tactics of General Grant,
and stubbornly pounded his way to
victory.
General Kuroh reports that the Rus
slams have been driven from their first
line of defense at Chiu Tien Cheng and
from the heights on the right bank of
the Tho, or Aida, river, which enters
the Yalu from the north almost oppo-
site Wiju. The Japanese turned the
left flank of the Russian position, and
swept away the new front interposed
by the Russians to check their onward
Japanese Now Hold Key.
The present position of the Japanese
is dominating one, and they may
force the abandonment of the defenses
erected by the Russians at Antung and
other points lower down the river.
Losses Enormous on Both Sides.
Nothing has been received here as.
to the losses sustained in the fighting
previous to Sundays decisive conflict.
but it can be easily judged from the
reports received that the losses have
been enormous on both sides. Gem
eral Kuroki reports that the Russians
Sunday lost more than 800 killed or
while he places the Japanese
loss at about 700.
The report from General Kuroki COW
ering Sundays fighting says: :
"The Russians made two stands. (
The enemy's strength included all of
the third division. two regiments of
the sixth division. one cavalry brigade