Evening journal., 1904-08-31
NEARLY HALF
MILLION FIGHT
An All Day Battle, With In
creasing Intensity.
JAPANESE CLOSE TO THE CITY

ST. Petersburg, Aug. 31.-The great
battle Of Liaoyang, which began early
Tuesday morning, is raging with in
creasing intensity, but up to this hour
no official details beyond two brief
telcgroms have been received by the |
war Office.
Every confidence is expressed in |
General Kuropatkin's ability TO meet !
the japanese assault on ground Of his |
own choosing. but the city is hungrily |
awaiting further news Of the progress
Of the fight.
The Japanese forces engaged in this
battle can only be estimated here but
they are believed TO number about
100000 men. General Kuropatkin is
known to have six army corps, besides
li7 squadrons of cavalry in which
great confidence Is reposed, bringing
up the Russian total 10 about the same
number that the Japanese have. How
the armies compare with regard TO
artillery ia not definitely known,
though throughout the war the Japa-
nese have shown great preference for
this arm and great skill in its use.
Reports from the front credit the
Japanese with having about 200 guns
and many mountain batteries, and It
Is known that they recently shipped
twenty-four heavy guns to Yinkow
Four OF these guns already have been
mentioned In these dispatches as be-
ing in action.
Firing was nearu vu tnc ives, avvu.
two hours after the lighting became
general on the east front. and Cossack
scouts coming into the city reported a
renewal Of the attack made from that
direction Monday evening by Japa-
nese column advancing from the Lao
valley by way of the Hun ana Taitse
valleys It is estimated at least 10000
mixed troops are ip that army. which
has made rapid progress from the di-
rectlon Of the Iiaotung gulf in the last
few weeks. This mornings attack
menaced General Kuropatkn's rear,
but large body OF Cossack cavalry
was opposed to the enemy.
It was the first opportunity the Cos
sacks had TO charge the Japanese in
open country, ana they Istified the
expectations OF their commanders. The
japanese withdrew from the field aft
er sharp engagement, apparently
swinging to the north. Il Is supposed
that column intends to attack in force
from the west and northwest as soOn
as Il can advance by forced marches
to point above the city. General Ku
ropatkn is constantly in touch will
Its movements by means Of Cossacl
patrols and has Information of IL
l progress later than any official new
+ given ont here.
AS the morning advanced the Japa
e nese activity east Of the railroad swep
0 gradually southwark until the heavies
pressure was cxertcd against Genera
? Zaroubaicn's three army corps-th
4 First. Second and Fourth. In tn
meantime the Third corps withstood {
determined attack from the japanese
center and part OF the enemy's right.
The japanese attacked with fanatic
al fury. inspired doubtless by the fac
that the main battle was begun on the
milSado's birthday, for which it is sup
posed Marshal Oyama waited before
ordering the attack IN force. All tho
marshars troops displayed the same
spirit, but whereas the infantry at
/ tacks from the armies of Nodzu nnt
b Oku were the most savage the artil
{ lery fire from positions which on Sun
e day were occupied by detachments o
D Kurokrs soldiers at first maintained
{ the heaviest fire.
e II was apparent in the hand to han'
j fighting that followed the uncoverinl
!, of the lighter batteries the Japanes
Y not only were indifferent TO death. bu
J. courtcd II. Whole companies hurle'
J. themselves against strong Russian pc
+ sitions that would have repulsed wit
r severe loss much larger bodies. Tn
japanese returned TO the attack agail
and again I'm the face OF destructiv
fire from the Russian guns and sharT
+ shooters. II seemed impossible to driv
; them off for long periods and 1t wa
d evident that cessation of their actiyit
r at various points was ordered for strs
n tegical reasons.
r The Third corps bore the fury OF
J. terrible Japanese assault with remarl
+ able coolness When the japanese II
Is fantry advance was begun the Twel
r ty-third Russian regiment was move
against them. a severe exchange q
rifle fire followed. both sides being
skirmish formation. the enemy galnln
e some ground under cover of the Eel
e batteries.
@ Russians Strongly Fortified.
Is General Kuropatkin. in addition {
,r his field batteries. has number q
e. very heavy guns emplaced at impo
is tant positions at I.iaoyang where th
A. Russians have heen strongly fortifl
io ing for some time.
Tile Japanese claim 10 have captu
ed two field batteries during the pal
two days Russian official account
< admit the loss OF only six guns.
IN 1t is stated that a japanese batter
y. was captured south Of Anshansha
ro during the preliminary fighting an
es that several Japanese guns have bee
NJ destroyed since then.
Of Little Of the strategic situation n,
5. developed so far. Official news fro
the front says that there was de
perate fighting on the southern cente
while from that from other sources
,a appears that the Japanese are endea
all oring 10 turn the Russian right fro
N. the neighborhood OF the junction
he the Taitse and sakhe rivers The figh