Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-09-07


pose his force between Liaoyang, the
Russian base, and the north, q move
ment, which, if successful. would cut Ku-
ropatkin's rear and command the rail-
road leading from Liaoyang to Mukden.
The withdrawal of the Russian right
and center probably will involve SIM
liar movement of the troops holding the
extreme left of the line and result in a
concentration of Kuropatkin's army in
the position he has established in Lao
yang. This is said to be superbly forti-
fed with rifle pits, entertainments and
barbed wire entanglements.
Rumor of City's Capture.
Toxic, Sept. 2. - There was report
current here at five p. m. Thursday that
the japanese had captured Liaoyang.
It is quite without confirmation.
Russians Retreat.
Toxic, Sept. 2. - The Russian right
and center, defending Liaoyang south
ward are retreating this Thursday
afternoon. The Japanese are pursuing
the Russian line according to previous
advices, occupying semi-circle several
miles to the southwark of the town of
Liaoyang, it is evident that the move
ment above alluded to is a retreat into
the fortified positions of the town and
its environs and not from Liaoyang 81
self northward.
Victory Still in the Balance.
Toxic, Sept. 2. 49, The united Man
churisB armies of Japan have engaged
in a desperate attack upon Liaoyang,
where Gen. Kuropatkin has concen-
trated every available Russian soldier,
Victory was in the balance and the bat
tie was draw when the weary soldiers
bivouacked Wednesday, night. The Jap
anase are attacking from the south and
from the east. The right wing of the
column attack from the south keeps
in touch with the left wing of the COL
umn going in the east, forming an i'm
mense circular triangle, the two fronts
of which cover an enormous range.
A Desperate Battle.
st. Petersburg, Sept: 2. - According
to official advices from the front the bat
tie at Liaoyang had not been resumed
L
The battle Wednesday was of the most
desperate character. It ragged continu-
ously from dawn" until midnight and the
slaughter must have been immense.
AT eight o'clock in the evening, after
holding his outer positions all day in
the face of the most desperate charges,
Gen. Kuropatkin gave the order to re-
tire upon the main works about the
city. The Japanese assaults during the
day had been directed principally
against the Russian center, a little east
OF Maietung Hill, near the railroad and
three miles southwest of Liaoyang.
Nothing approaching the severity of the
infantry, and artillery fire here had been
heretofore experienced in this war.
Gen. Kondratsvitch's division bore the
brunt and suffered the most. Bayonet
charges succeeded each other in rapid
succession, while the artillery duel never
ceased for q moment.
Hundreds Of Guns Used.
No attempt was made in the Official
advices to estimate the number Of guns
the Japanese used, except that they had
many hundreds. Each gun carried $50
charges and these must have been ex-
pended many times, as several hundred
thousand shots were fred between sun
rise and sunset. Gen. Kuropatkin's or
der to fall back on the Notifications was
probably due to the receipt Of informa-
ton that the Japanese had succeeded in
crossing. the Taitse river, northeast Of
Liaoya1g, although Gems. Rennenkam-
per's and Handariteff's divisions had
been especially placed in position in this
sdirectionxt checkmate such a. move.
The Japanese crossed at point called
Sakankankwantun, 20 miles east and
somewhat above Liaoyang, and marched
In force directly westward, with the evil
dent object Of cutting the Russian line
of communication with Mukden.. Their
exact strength was not established. but
division was made out.
Attack Resumed. ~
i Al soon as the japanese found the
Russians were retiring from their outer
positions southward they. resumed the
attack there, although It was thensuuite
dark. Thus pressed the Russians q.
rested their movement to the rear and
again faced the Japanese. With Z view
OF eventual retirement from their out
or positions the Russians had dug . larxe
number Of pits, with stakes concealed
y their bottoms. The pits were artfully
concealed among the high Chinese corn.
When the japanese charged after thA
Russians they fell into the pits III hun
dreds and were engulfed and impaled soni:
the stakes. and their lines were throw,
Into c0l1fuainn aNyhn,. II;