Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1904-09-08
WAR NOTES.

point and we imagine tnat no part Oh tnls
planets surface ever more resembled
the human conception of the internal
regions than did the vicinity of the
Chinese city Of Lao Yang. last week
The modern field gun with its long
range and terrible explosives. the quick
firing magazine rife, and the mined
field and rampant have all added TO the
He'll nature of war since the days of
our struggle for the Union
According to the japanese accounts
the two contending armies came to-
gether on Thursday, Aug. Goth. the
lines of either army extending around
Lao Yang, through wheat and corn
| fields for distance of several miles
| A tremendous artillery duel followed,
each side working from four hundred
to seven hundred pieces, with terrible
havoc to their opponents. then came
desperate infantry and cavalry charges,
and hand to hand struggles with
swords and bayonets-during which
| fifty thousand men are said to have fall
len-making it one of the bloodiest bat
| ties of history.
| All this fighting was to the south and
] west of the city; Gen Kuroki's army
was scarcely engaged. But he was not
idle; he went up the swollen stream till
he found a fording, crossed to the north
| side and came down npon Kuropatkin's
rear. The latter did not learn that he
had been fanked till late Thursday
evening, Sept. 1st, when he ordered
retreat, and the Russian army retired
to the walls of the city, and part OF it
across the two bridges to meet the new
| danger.
All the Russians seem to have gotten
ont of the city and across the river on
Friday and Saturday, and to have
destroyed the three bridges, thus divid-
| ing the Japanese army, but Kuropatkin
retreated to a new position at some coal
mines about twenty miles north The
details of the weeks fighting indicate
that both armies went to the limit of
human endurance. lighting for days and
nights without food or water. and with
men falling asleep IN their tracks. The
tremendous attacks of the japanese
were a surprise to the Russians, one of
whose officers spoke of the Japs as being
disciplined demons
No news of Kuroki came on Monday,
but on Tuesday he was reported to the
north OF Kuropatkin, who was making
a desperate effort to reach Mukden,
while the japanese armies of Oku and
Nodzu were close at his heels, and con-
tinually engaging his rear guard.
Yesterday. Kuropatkin was reported
as still retreating north towards Muk-
den, with the Japs closely following,
and with Kuroki's army on a road to
the eastward heading for the same
place, while the Russians were fearing
the appearance of Jap gunboats on the
river to the west, and also of Jap di-
vision said to have been landed up the
Lao.
The roads were in terrible condition,
and the retreat was slow. A Russian
correspondent at Mukden. Tuesday,
said that the raius Of Monday and Tues
day made the roads 80 sodden that they
mired the numbering guns and heavy
transport trains. Long lines of com
missariat wagons, drawn by steamiDg
mules, horses and even bullocks, are
straning their way north over the soak
ing, cut-up main road from Yen-Tai.
Behind them come long trains Of artil-
lery, and back OF them still, Kuropat-
kin's army. The Japanese are hanging
ON Kuropatkin's fanks, keeping the
Russians engaged in continuous rear
guard action. The progress Of the re-
treating army has been slow, owing 10
the necessity Of first getting through
the baggage and guns; but the heads OF
the conmissariat trains already have
passed through Mukden and are contin-
ming toward the north.
THE main Japanese army is march
ing up along the roads eastward Of the
Russian lines Of retreat, which converge
at Mukden. Another Japanese force 10
also heading for Mukden from the west
ward. coming from the direction of the
Lao river.
Marshal Oyama seems to be making
a race for Mukden. He evidently has
great superiority in numbers. especially
in artillery
A Russian correspondent Of the Asso-
ciated Press said:
Our retreat IL being carried ont nm
der heavy pressure, and with the Japa-
nese on our heels. The task Is addi-
tionally difficnlt owing TO the terrible
condition of the roads and the rivers,
which are flooded.
THE fighting has now been almost
continuous since Aug. "a. and how
much longer ii will last 1t Is impossible
to aay, az the initiative is in the hands
Of the Japanese. The number Of lives
sacrificed and the loss Of supplies by
burning. bridges being blown up. etc,
can only be explained when we once
more have concentrated. and this will
occupy us for some days.
| The Red Cross IL working tirelessly.
not only In aiding the wounded. bat in
establishing booths by the roadside and
distributing food and tea to the sick. in
jured and starving. The Chinese pop
ulation In In state OF ferment."
| This mornings dispatches say that a
| great battle is being fought near Mukden
A MEMORANDUM regarding the
worlds supply Of iron and steel. prepar-
cd by the Bristish Board of Trade for
Parliament, Ii reviewed in the latest
issue OF "Engineering" which has reach
ed this country. The statistics present
ed in the document end with 1902. but
they Enable the reader to draw conclu-
sions which were not possible before.
England. Germany and the United
States together produc, more than tw o.
thirds OF the metal consumed every
year. and ii is the rivalry between them
which attracts the most attention from
the periodical just mentioned. In fact.
as America took the first place in the
race nearly ten years ago, the relative
positions occupied more recently by
England and her Continental neighbor
possess the chief interest