Perth Amboy evening news., 1904-09-09
.SHELLED KORSAKOFF.
Japanese lombard Russian
Harbor of Refuge.
JAP COLUMN BLOWN SKY HIGH
Mine Exploded Under Marching Reg
iment-Oyama Trying Again to
Encircle KuropatI<in's Army.
Fight Near shakhe.

Near
LONDON, Sept. 9.-The Japanese
have bombarded Korsakoff, the port
on the island Of Salkhalin in which the
cruiser Novik took refuge after her es
cape from Port Arthur and where she
was destroyed by ships of Admiral
Kamimura's squadron.
japanese cruisers shelled the town
for several hours. 1t is thought this
action was taken to prevent Korsakoft
becoming a harbor of refuge for Rus
sian ships.
A Chefu report says that a Japanese
column numbering approximately 700
men while marching along at night in
the valley between Long hill and Divi-
sion hill met a frightful disaster
through the explosion of an electric
land mine. The mine was carefully
laid by the Russians three weeks ago.
1t covered nearly a mile of available
marching space. The explosive was
placed at the bottom. Rocks were
placed next, and on top of these clay
was packed Sc carefully that b
ground gave the impression of not
having been disturbed. The indica-
lions of japanese activity in this vicin-
ity put the Russians on guard. Near
midnight the outposts rushed in and
reported that the Japanese were ap-
preaching. The Russians withheld
their fire for some time. Suddenly they
threw a searchlight up the valley. The
Japanese opened wifi n rifle fire. The
Russians waited until apparently the
whole Japanese column was in the
danger zone. Then the mine was ex-
ploded. The force of the explosion
knocked a number of Russians down.
and the sight of Japanese rifles, water
bottles, legs and arms hurting through
the lighted space made by the search
light was an awful spectacle.
A Hardin dispatch says that it is
thought Field Marshal Oyama is try
ing to repeat at Mukden the enyelop-
ing movement which failed at Lao
yang.
If the armies continue to race north
ward to Tie pass, forty miles north of
Mukden, in the opinion of the best
military critics it will become of u
preme importance to Kuropatkin if the
door Of his retreat is closed there. In
the event of defeat he would be forced
westward.
In order to protect his army against
such a possible catastrophe Russian
troops from Hardin have taken posses
sion of this pass. M
Advices from Mukden say that n
Tight has occurred at some point be-
tween Shakhe eleven miles northwest
of Liaoyang) and Mukden, and news
Of it is hourly expected.
Among the many reports current is
one to the effect that General Kuroki
has been killed and that two Japanese
generals have been made prisoners,
but no one seems to know where the
reports originated and no confirmation
is o%btainable.
The best Information of the war Of
fee indicates that General Kuropatkin
lost about 1900 men during the ten
days battle at Liaoyang.
General Kuropatkin reports that he
did not lose a gun during the retreat.
st. Petersburg dispatches say that
besides the formation of two fresh
army corps as the first answer to the
Japanese success at Liaoyang the Rus
sian army front will be reorganized,
probably in the form of two armies, in
command of General Linevitch and
General Baron Kaulbars respectively.
with General Kuropatkin as COM
mander in chief. General Kaulbars
will go out with the re-enforcements.
General Kuropatkin heretofore has
handled every detail of the vast or
g%anization. The work is too much for
one man, and he is now almost broken
down under the strain.
1t is known that the emperor is per-
sonally one of Kuropatkin's strong
supporters, and it is thought the gen
eral will in all probability retain chief
command of the two armies. Kuro-
patkin, however, has been seriously
criticised by some of the emperor's
close military advisers, and it is posi-
Bile that he may eventually be super
seeded.