The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1904-09-23

the genius winch INSPIRED the ST atGBy
of the Russian commander-in-chi T.
The Daily Telegraph, in commenting
on the account of the battle of Lao
yang, says it was a struggle terri lie
beyond the imagination, with a s.
peration unparalleled in war" Hence
forth" 1t says, "a new standard of
heroism Is st in war. Jauanesa ann
Russians alike have shown capacity Tor
sacrifice contempt for death ana ut er
aggregation of self, in answer to the
supreme demands OF patriotism, which
nave never yet been excelled."
General Kuropatin's reports to the
Car of the battle of Liaoyang. after
ceiling OF preliminary movements, is as
follows:
ION August goth the army concen-
Grated at LIaoyang. One corps took
a position on the right bank of the
Taitse river, while another held the
left bank. On August 3Oth and 31st
the japanese attacked our advance po-
sitions with great energy, but every
where were repulsed with enormous
losses. There was d sperate fighting
on our left flank and center, accom-
panied by number of counter-attacks
resulting In bayonet fights, and 1 was
compelled to re-enforce the fighting
line with the special reserves and the
general reserves.
During August 31st it could clearly
be seen that a considerable force OIL
General Kurokl's army had crossed to
the right bank Of the Taitse river.
Owing to attacks on our left on August
Both and 31st 1t was supposed that the
main body OF Kurokps army had been
told off to turn the left flank of our
position and attack our line of COM
munication. In consequence resolved
to withdraw the advance troops to the
main position and concentrate large
force against Kurokrs army and at
river. Only at certain points was this
carried out successfully.
At nightfall, undisturbed by the
Japanese, we commenced the evacua-
ton of our advanced position which
already had rendered great service in
weakening the enemy by enormous
losses. Thanks to the sufficient num-
Der of bridges and the manner in
which the roads led out, all troops
destined to take the offensive were
safely on the right bank of the river
on the morning of September LIST. The
enemy did not occupy our abandoned
advanced positions until the evening
of September LIST, when they ovenel
an artillery fire on Liaoyang. No
trophies of war fell into the hands of
the enemy.
Il adopted the following plan of
operations: Having crossed to the
right bank of the river the army had
taken up a position between the VII
lage of Syl1wantun and heights near
the Yentai mines, which it was in
tended to occupy with all our detach-
ments, composed of thirteen battalions.
Taking the position near SyRwantun
as a pivot, it was intended that the
army effect a movement to flank the
Japanese position, which extended from
the Taitse river, near the village Oh
Kwantun, toward the Yentai cOlIeries.
Offensive operation began when all the
troops had taken up their allotted po-
sitions.
THE night Of September 1st the
commander of the corps on the right
flank sent a dispatch stating that, the
Japanese having taken the offensive
and advanced to and occupied the dis
trict northwestward of our Sykwantun
position, which was of great import
ance to us, the Russian regiment hold
ing the district was forced to retire,
and l was Obliged to change my plans
iii order to retake the lost ground the
following day. 1t was not until the
evening of September End that the en-
tire mountain village of Sykwantun
was in our hands. At first our at
tacks did not succeed, but the fighting
was continued with undated vigor
even after darkness had set in. We
repeatedly gained possession of the
heights, but were finally compelled to
withdraw temporarily. Many of our
attachments became mixed up, and in
the disorder unity of command was
rendered difficult. Leaders of indl-
vidual detachments, however continued
the attacks time after time, and at
last succeeded in occupying the desired
position, thereby attaining the object
of the operation on our right flank.
GAS soon as the left flank in the
vicinity of the Yentai mines, on Sep
TENDER End (Orloff's detachmenO, oc-
Cupleu the heights " lHS hOi III "a 49,
mines, holding strong position facing
south, he opened fire with two batteries
and engaged the enemy in an artillery
duel. Orloff's right flank was then
four miles from the left flank and the
remainder of the army. In order &c
aid our troops holding positions neal
Sykwantun, Orloff sent part Of his
force from the hills and attacked the
enemy in the direction of the village OF
Sakhomoon. This movement was car
ried out in corn fields. Our men met
with a frontal and flank fire, and los.
ing their bearings in the corn fields, be-
gan to retire. The troops remaining
in the hills also retired westward
"By that time Orloff's detachment
was within a mile and third of oui
other forces. Orloff himself was