The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-07-08
jAPS TAKE THREE
IMPORTANT PASSES
Railroad Line Between Russian
Armies and Mukden Is
Now Threatened.
WINNING AT EVERY POINT
Mikado's Men Take Three lmporta MT
Passes and Win a Battle-kuro-
patkin Decides to Retire
Northward If Possible.

St. Petersburg. June "9.-No further
advices from the front had been re-
ceived up TO midnight, though news
from General Kuropatkin and Rear Ad-
miral Without. in command of the naval
force at Port Arthur, was eagerly
awaited. The usual rumors of heavy
fighting pervaded the city, but they
We're based wholly on the fact that the
armies are IL close touch
Though 1t Years now from General
kuropatkin's tactics that a heavy en-
gagement may be deferred for several
days, it Is possible that the Japanese
may rush matters. but 1t is not general
~ expected that General kuropatkin
will give battle until he reaches a posi-
tion of his own SELECTION.
1t may clarity the military situation
to explain that the country In which
the armies are now coming into con-
slant contact consists OF series OF
mountain chains running parallel with
the railroad, alongside Of which the
Russians are falling back as the Jap
Ia are all passes which take their
names from the mountains over which
they run. Gen. Kuroki. who has here
tofore beef, north Of the mountains. is
advancing to the westward OF the Isl
Huen through very rough country,
and his columns must trl"e.'se the
passes named before emerging into the
more open country along the railway
approximately abreast of Ia Tehe
l<iao, Hal Cheng and Lao Yang. The
Russian outposts and the Japanese
advance are now IN close touch at I'll
these passes.
The Russians. after harassing the
n1v these
positions. are falling back Oh Ken
kuropatkin's main body. which is sup
posed to be somewhere between Lao
Yang and Ia Tche Kiao.
In the meantime General Oltu is sd
yancing along the railroad Oh the heels
of the withdrawing Russians. He is
backed by a powerful army. How large
a portion of this army he has detached
TO Join General kuroki has not been
developed, but it is probably large
enough to add material severity to the
:Shting befor" the Russians finally
abandon the mountains.
There is the greatest caserness for
news from Port Arthur, but nothing
concerning the situation there was
known up to midnight.
ST. Petersburg. June cS.-Ti:e Asso-
ciated Press is informed on good auth :
GRITTY that General Iluropatkin has de-
cideG TO withdraw northWard.
st. Petersburg. June 2S.--The emperor
has received the following dispatch
from General Kuropatkin. dated LAO
Yang, June 81:
THE japanese attacked our forces .oc-
cupyng the Molten, Feushui and Ia
passes on June 26. our infantry and
cavalry retreated, persuaded that the
advancing divisions of the Japanese
army which weer operating against
each of the three passes were stronger
than our detachmentS.
In the attack on Ia pass the Japan
csc guards. besides other regiments.
participated. The Japaicsc made front
and flank attack in considerable force
on both sides of this position. The Jap
anese troops occupied Fenshui ansi
Molten passes during the morning of
June q.
Our forces. which rctreated from
Fenshui pass, We're attacked by small
detachmeats Of Japanese. They. how
ever were easily reputsel. After push
ing back our advance guard during
the evening of the Goth from Van
Diapud see (on the Suyen-Haicheng
road)' to Ia pass. the Japanese contin-
ued their advance this morning against