Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-04
| TERRIFIC CONFLICT
FIRST LAND ENGAGEMENT ON
THE YALU DISASTROUS.
Nearly 1000 Killed in Battle-Desper-
ate Fighting-Russians Aban-
don Guns-Losses.

A cablegram from st. Petersburg says:
In a report received by the emperor from
Gen. Kuropatkin under yesterdays date 1t
is stated that at least from 5000 to 1900
men we're killed in the Yalu river fight.
The emperor received the following tele-
gram from Gen. Kuropatkin: Gen. Zas-
salitch's report Of the fight Of May / says
that the battle was fought under the fol-
lowing circumstances:
The 18th and 22d Regiments and the "a
and Sd Batteries Of the 9Th Brigade of Ar
uilery were engaged in the battle, which
began with heavy cannonading of our right
flank by siege guns at Wi-ju and field bat
teries In the distance.
After q lull the fighting was resumed
with extraordinary violence against the left
flank of our main position at Turenchen
and our position at Potietinsky A fusillade
was also begun by small parties of Japan
csc across the Al river.
Bombarded by Japs on Three Sides.
The situation of the defenders position
became increasingly difficult, especially at
Potietinsky, which was bombarded on the
front and on both TANKS
Thirty Japanese guns were pitted
against our battery at Potietinsky, which,
after having silenced the enemy's mountain
battery, directed its fire on the Japanese in
fantry and sustained few losses, so long as
IT was not obliged to take up another posi-
ton, owing to the withdrawal of our in
fantry from the bank.
the Japanese under our fire made con-
tnual bayOnet attacks on our troops
river fords
simultaneously with the attack at Poti-
etfnsky an attack was being made on our
left flank at Turenchen and the Russian
trenches had to be abandoned under the
japanese enfilading fire. Our reserves sew
eral times mingled with the first line thus
enabling it for long slime to maintain its
position
All Russian Supports in Action.
Finally all Of the supports were brought
up into the firing line. but owing to the
great distance from our main reserves 1t
was impossible for them to reach the ad-
vanced force in time. and our men retired
from the principal position to another posi-
ton in the rear of Turenchen, followed by
the concentrated fire of the Japanese, who
could not make up their minds to descend
from the crest they occupied and face the
fire of our batteries at Poulemetts. They
dug fresh trenches and opened a heavy ar
tillery fire on our new position and began
to turn our left flank toward Chin-gow.
1t was only by advancing on the Japa-
nese with the bayOnet that the 7th Cd Regi-
ment was able to retire.
On the arrival Of the battalion of the
10th Regiment all the troops were able to
beat retreat.
The losses Of the 18th and 18th Regi-
ments were very great but they are not yet
exactly known. In the 18th the killed in
cluded Colonel Laming and Lieutenant
Colonels Dometti and Raievsky. The 18th
lost nine company commanders, killed or
wounded.
Heavy Loss to Russians
The I'd and Sd Batteries of the 9Th
Brigade. having lost the greater number OF
their men and horses. were compelled to
abandon their guns after rendering them
useless. For the same reason six guns OF
the Sd Battery Of the Sd Brigade of artillery
and eight poulemetts, which could not be
brought away, were also disabled. The
mountainous nature of the country made 1t
impossible to save the guns by means Of
drag ropes.
Up to the present 800 wounded, includ-
ing fourteen officers, have been brought to
the hospital at Feng wang-cheng. Their
eventual transportation elsewhere Is fully
assured
japanese cavalry appeared to the
southeast of Fengwang -cheng. but seeing
two companies with two guns opposed to it,
II did not venture to approach.
According to the statements of partfc-
ipants in the battle at least 5000 to 1000
were killed. "