The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-05-04
The Russians Story.
(By the Associated Press.)

(By the Associated Press
st. Petersburg May Is p. m.-The
Associated Press has obtained from
the general staff an outline of the OPP
erations on the Yalu river during the
past week. The Russian force, in
Guiding the reserves, was composed of
General KaShtalinsky's rifle division,
General Mishtchenko's Cossack out
posts and a brigade of artillery, the
whole under General Sassulitch.
knowledge of geography is essential
to q clear understanding. The Rus
sian lines were at Kulien Cheng or
(Turenchen) opposite Win and An
tung, both on the Feng Wang Cheng
road. mile north of Kulien Cheng
lies the village of Potietinsky. near Il
tributary of the Litzavin. five miles up
which is Chin Cow. On the opposite
bank of the tributary is the village of
l.itZaVena. Opposite Potietinslly stands
Housan, with a dominating height
Still higher, on the right of the Yalu,
is the village of Ambikhe at the con-
iiuence of the Aipike. The whole
course of the Yalu between Ambikhe
and Antung is divided by islands, the
largest Somalinda, facing Kulien-
Cheng. Another lies between Housan
and Sindiagow.
A Hundred Thousand Men.
The Japanese forces, the staff be-
lieVes, approXimated a hundred thouS-
and men, OF which four divisions, thir-
teen battalions and fifty-six guns were
IN action. The Japanese prepared for
crossing the river by placing all their
available guns, of which the Russians
say the Japanese had five times more
than they, along the line of fire 10
Kulien Cheng and Antung, and also
landed from their warships forty-seV-
eli guns. This array of artillery even
tually made Kulien Cheng untenable.
Under cover of powerful batteries
north of SindiagoW, the japanese
crossed the Housan, occupying the
height. AS the latter position would
have enabled them to direct rak-
ing fire against the Russians at Kulien
Cheng, General Sassulitch ordered it
to be retaken Friday. This was done.
but on Saturday the Japanese under
cover of battery re-occupied it, the
defenders falling back across the
Litzavena and continuing the fight
with the Japanese, who were attempt
ing to flank them from Chin-Gow.
The Russians Position.
The Russian force at Antung and
Kulien Cheng had meanwhile retreat
ed to it's second line, few miles west
ward. The whole force engaged yes
terday formed a semi-circle, the horns
of which were being gradually drawn
in preparatory to retiring to posi-
ton further west This was the stu
alton when the last Russian official
reports were sent.
A member of the staff Informed the
correspondent of the Associated Press
that the issue ultimately turned prob
ably upon whether the order to with
draw was given at the proper time.
A slight delay at a critical moment
might have enabled the enemy's vast
ly superior artillery to concentrate on
the Russian guns, killing horses and
gunners and compelling the abandon
ment of the guns. But, if so, the Rus
sian plans will not be changed by ac-
cidental loss. General Sassulitch would
continue his retreat, cOntesting stub
bornly a possible Japanese advance
along the Feng Wang-Cheng road
which runs through a hilly country
crowned with heights and exactly suit
ed to Russian tactics.