The San Francisco call., 1904-07-06
SIavs Make Three
Charges Upon
Trenches.
Almost AnnihiIate
One Company
of Enemy.

IOhlO, MONDAY July 4.-GeuSI di
Kuroki reports that two battalions Of
Russians attacked the Japanese out
posts at Molten Pass at dawn on July
4, under cover of a dense fog. The
Russians were repulsed. but they re-
turned and charged three times before
they were finally driven off. The Jap
anese pursued them for three miles to
the westward of Molten Pass The
Russians left thirty dead and fifty
wounded on the field. The Japanese
lost fifteen killed and thirty wounded.
ST. PETERSBURG. July 5.-Thirteen
companies Of Russian troops sent out
by Lieutenant General Count Keller in
a reconnaissance in force to ascertain
the strength Of the Japanese columns
advance force moving on Liaoyang
came into collision with the Japanese
between Molten and Fenshui passes
yesterday. Sharp fighting resulted and
the Russians retired before overwhelm-
ing numbers, after ascertaining the ex-
act strength Of the Japanese forces.
The Russian losses are officially stated
to have been 200.
In case the information obtained by
General Keller leads General Kuropat-
kin to consider that Liaoyang is Sc
riously threatened, It is probable that
some Of the troops will return north
from Tatchekiao. Then the Japanese
are likely to repeat their attempt to
capture Newchwang.
REPORT OF SAKHAROFF.
The general staff has received the
following dispatch from Lieutenant
General Sakharoff, the chief of staff of
General Kuropatkin, dated July 4:
''On July the advance guard of The
Russian force operating east of Lao
yang occupied a position at Yangtse
Pass. Toward evening the same day
our scouts ascertained that a detach-
ment of the enemy's advance guard,
1900 strong, had occupied the villages
of Ekhavuan and Tchakumenza, on our
front, the main force having remained
in Fenshui and Molten passes. At this
moment we discovered the movement
Of a japanese detachment, consisting
of a battalion of infantry, to turn our
left flank positions in the Yangtse
Pass. In order to check this movement
a force, consisting of five companies of
infantry, two detachments of mounted
IluSSdIS anu Hdll a COllpdnN VI us
sacks, was sent forward in the direc-
tion of this threatened point"
In order to learn the strength of the
enemy's position in front of Yangtse
Pass, the commander of the detach-
ment ordered out a accommodating par
ty of ten companies, which was sent in
the direction of Ekhavuan, under the
command Of Colonel Letschitsky. With
a view Of making a demonstration in
suring the return of Letschitsky's de-
tachment. three companies under Lieu
tenant Colonel Gar7itsky marched to
Mahoumizza, about a mile and a half
south of Ekhavuan, the crossing of the
roads leading to Sinkhi and the Lok
River passes. Firing began about 1880
p. m. on July 4.
COMPANY ANNIHHATED.
"Garnitsky's column reached the
cross roads and dislodged a company
of the enemy's advance guard, which
was almost annihilated. Simultane-
ously Letschitskys column dislodged
the enemy's advance posts without fir
ing a shot and approached the foot of
the heights, which were surmounted by
a temple. The temple is less than a
mile east Of Ekhavuan, where, al
though exposed to heavy frontal and
flank fire, our troops dashed forward
and dislodged the Japanese from their
entertainments and occupied the pass.
AS the enemy was preparing to deliver
a frontal and flank attack, our column
then retired, as previously instructed.
Three companies of Garnitsky's force
occupied the position which they had
been ordered to secure.
When Letschitsky's force began to
withdraw the enemy opened a heavy
fire from the heights. In spite of this
the column retired in. perfect order.
Brave Letschitsky remained continu-
ally on the firing line and directed the
column with remarkable ability and
coolness. He was the last to retire,
with his chief of staff and adjutant.
Garnitslzy's column behaved with equal
brilliancy and GOODNESS, carrying out
its task with no sign of agitation.
Our casualties were: LetschItsky,
bruised and wounded; Colonel Poppa-
low, Lieutenant Colonel Trakhemovsky,
Captain Soloieff, Lieutenants Markoff,
Latkine, Bobroskovsky and Kozine,
Second Captain Palic and several off,
GERS wounded and 200 soldiers killed or
wounded
Il observed the fighting with my staff
from the Tkhacoun tower and so can
personally testify to the conduct of the
troops.
PRAISES THE SURGEONS.
Il cannot pass in silence the remark
able devotion of the surgeons and the
chaplain, who attended the wounded
under hot fire, and even helped to
carry them off the field. All Of the
wounded were removed.
"On the morning of July our rein
forcements occupied Liandiansian. One
soldier was killed during the fighting.
The same afternoon a detachment of
the enemy, consisting of two bat
talions and six squadrons, with
six machine guns, advanced and
attacked our outposts lying south
OF the valley of the river Kho
who retreated under the vigorous
fire Of the enemy. The officer command
ing our advance cavalry advanced at
2:SO D. m. with detachment, and at