The San Francisco call., 1904-08-05
More Than One Thousand
Russians Fall in ST.
moucheng Battle.
Number of Guns Abandon.
ed to the Victorious
Brown Soldiers.

ST. PETERSBURG. Aug. 4.-The
Emperor has received the following
dispatch from Lieutenant General SAX
haroff, dated August 3:
Lieutenant General Zassulitch re-
ports the following: In the fighting of
July 81 the operations were not deci-
sive. The action of the japanese on
our east front on July 80 convinced me
that they were making an attack with
their main forces on our south 'front.'
near Outuschoutouo (Simoucheng), to-
ward Dapoutzza and Pkhailantoun.
From dawn until daybreak on July
81 We heard cannonading on our right
flank. which obliged me TO hurry down
TO the south front, where at first from
a battery and later from a range of
hills, 1 directed the course of the fight
ing.
The battle began under the most ia
vorable auspices for us. The first re-
port 1 received was from Lieutenant
Colonel Solomsky, who informed me
that he was tenaciously holding his
position, although he had many wound
ed. / ordered at first two companies
and then a battalion TO reinforce him,
although he did not ask for support
simultaneously with the attack on
the heights, the center of our position
the Japanese directed attacks against
Major General Mistchenko's detach-
ment. and again at our right flank.
JAPANESE GUNS SILENCED.
THE beginning Of the fighting showed
the superiority of our artillery over
that Of the japanese. Not only did our
batteries silence the Japanese guns
previously in position and prevent them
leaving their positions, but the bat
teries sustained no loss and were able
to develop their fire at leisure.
AT l o'clock received the following
note from Colonel Solomsky: The
japanese turning movement has
stopped, the enemy sustaining enor-
NOUS losses. We have many wounded.
Captain Golitinisky was killed. The
wounded include two officers and a sur
geon. / am making firm stand
simultaneously with the receipt of
this report, it was seen that our de-
tachment had evacuated three crests
Of the mountain range. 1t was evident
that SolOmsky had too strong a force
to cope with and had been obliged to
give ground somewhat He continued.
however, to hold his position.
After reinforcing Solomsky with
two battalions and desiring to central
ize the command of these troops, ]
dispatched Colonel Polovitch Lepovatz
with orders to take command Of all
troops engaged in that position.
The fusillade continued on our right
flank without becoming threatening
our artillery continued to crush the
enemy's artillery with its fire, although
the japanese had brought mountain
and field guns into action.
RUSSIANS ABANDON GUNS.
AT $40 D. m. l received a report
that regiment posted at the extreme
right flank had retired from it's posi-
tion in the mountains, the Japanese
having turned it's flank. Six disabled
guns were abandoned. Two officers
We're killed and two wounded and the
commander Of a battery was injured.
Before this had occurred the Jap
anese had placed two more batteries on
the left Of those which had previously
taken up their position there, and, with
their batteries on the extreme left, they
began TO lombard our battery, as well
as TO enfllade the right flank of our
formation. This was the cause of the
destruction of our battery and the Sc
rious loss of troops on our right flank.
me battery was shattered, but at
the beginning of the action we sue
ceeded in saving four guns. while four
others were left on the field disabled.
OF the four saved two had to be sniked
and abandoned, owing to lack of
horses.
with the view of distracting the at
tention Of the japanese from our right
flank, directed Colonel Lepovatz at
O'Clock. when the heat was din,in-
ished. to order the soldiers to take off
their equipment and assume the Of
fensive.
ITO support this offensive movement
I. ordered our batteries to open a hot
fire on the ridges held by the Japanese.
The fire of our guns which had pre-
viously bombarded this point was muir