Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-19
A LULL IN FIGHTING
Russians and japanese Rest
ing Today.
AWAITING DRY ROADS
OYAMA'S FORCES CoNCENTRAT-
ING WEST OF THE RAILWAY.
Kuropatkin Still Holding the Import
ant Position of Lone Tree Hill,
South of the Shakhe.
AWAITING DRY ROADS

With both armies exhausted by the long
continued and desperate fighting and roads
made impossible and streams bankfull
from recent torrential rains, there has been
a lul in the active operations along the
Shakhe river. Today's dispatches say that
yesterday passed quietly and the brief ad-
vices bearing on the situation as existing
today indicate that the battle has not
been resumed The Russians still hold the
important position of Lone Tree Hill,
around which fighting of the most desperate
character centered, and Gen. Sakharoff re-
ports that their left flank has been slightly
advanced
A veil is drawn over the general situa-
tion but the net result of the tremendous
battle seems to be that Oyama, while ef-
fectually checking the Russian advance,
las been unable to follow 1t up with vital
blow and has himself been stayed in his at
tempts to materially advance his position.
A dispatch from Mukden says that the
Japanese appear to be slowly falling back,
but Sakharof reports to st. Petersburg
that they concentrating at Linshinpu,
west of tn. railroad. Kuropatkin is
strengthening his right and the dispatches
Indicate that the battle will be resumed as
soon as the roads dry.
Tokyo dispatch says that no advices
from the front were received last night or
today
MUKDEN, October 19.-Yesterday passed
Off quietly. No firing was heard last night.
The Japanese appear to be slowly falling
back. glare seen above their encamp
ments may indicate that they are burning
their stores prior to withdrawal.
This morning broke chilly, but clear. AS
soon as the roads are drier a resumption of
the battle is probable, the Russians ev-
erywhere are in close touch with the Japa-
nese.
Russian Cavalry Raid Successful.
ST. PETERSBURG, October 19.-The en-
peror has received from Gen. Kuropatkin
under date of October is, the following dis
patch
During the night. the Japanese attacked
our advanced positions at Lone Tree Hill,
but they were repulsed. No reports have
been received of any other engagements
Everything was quiet at all our positions
up to 10 o'clock this morning. Rain fell
all night and the roads have been greatly
damaged.
Gen. Sakharoff telegraphed at midday to-
day that the japanese are concentrating at
Linshinpu. west of the railroad. de-
tachment of Russian cavalry accommodating
last night in the vicinity of Shakhe cap
tured two Japanese guns with no losses to
themselves, The general adds that last
night passed quietly, with the exception of
the exploits of the Russian cavalry, and
says the Russian left flank has advanced
slightly.
The Feeling in st. Petersburg.
The flush of enthusiasm yesterday over
the capture of Lone Tree Hill and Shakhe,
the repulse of the attacks of the Japanese
left and the hard drubbing given General
famada, with the capture of fourteen ad-
ditional guns has given way to a calmer
and more sober appraisement of these par
tal successes. There is no official confirma-
tion OF the report that General Kuropatkn
has resumed genuine offensive. Rather,
the general Japanese offensive has exhaust
el itself and the position of the armies is
now a sort of deadlock, with the country
rendered so sodden by the heavy rain to
compel a temporary suspension of general
operations. a complete veil hides the move
ments east but both Kuropatkin's and SAX
haroffs reports say there were no colls-
ions on that portion of the battle ground
Monday or Tuesday. Field Marshal Oyama
evidently considers that Lone Tree Hill,
from which Kuropatkin could pivot turn
ing movement against his left to be of vital
Importance, as both Sunday and Monday
nights the latter, during a terrific storm,
made desperate efforts to recapture it,
companying the assaults with demonstra-
tive attacks against other points. But all
the en0rtS falleu. Neither hurOpatkln nor
Sakharoff in the dispatches given out this
morning send details of the defeat of va
dama's column and the capture of the
japanese guns.
correspondents of the shelterless troops
bivouacking in the cold rain, the roads con-
verted into Quagmires and the streams
flooded.
Views of the Experts.
The military critics are not yet satisfied
that Oyama is ready to relinquish the Of
fensive. expressing the opinion that he
may still try to break through the Rus
sian center in order to compel Kuropat-
kin to retire from the line of the Hun
river. unless, as they believe, he has be-
come convinced that the superiority of
the Russian numbers and reserves makes
his withdrawal to the line of the Taitse
river advisable. Gen. Geisman asserts
positively that up to yesterday Kuropat-
kin had not brought anything like all the
regiments of his reserves into action, and
the number OF fresh units behind which
his battered troops could reform accounts
for Kuropatkin's ability to resume the
offensive.
The Troops Engaged.
The line of battle thus far engaged
counting westward from the east Cen
Geisman says. comprised Gen. Bilder-
lings 18th European Corps, parts of Gen.
SODOIeH OtH f-iSt SIBERIAN corps, pOr-
tions of Gen. Slouchevsky's 10th Corps
Gen. Meyendorff's LIST European Corps
and Gen. Zassalitch's I'd Siberian Corps
The extreme Russian left, which essayed
a turning movement and was meeting
with success, according TO Russian ac-
counts, until the situation at the right
center compelled it's withdrawal consist
ed of Gen. Ivanoff's Sd Corps and Gen.
Zaroubaieff's 4th East Siberian Corps
the Sd Corps bearing the brunt of the as
sault on the group of passes of the Tumin
range. Therefore two complete corps
Gen Stakellberg's 1st Corps and Gen
Dembowskis 5th Siberian Corps and
parts of Ave other corps are still unused
Waiting for Dry Roads.
The dispatch from correspondent of the
Associated Press at Mukden filed this MORN
ing. saying that there was no fighting yes
terday and no firing during the night indi-
Gates that the Japanese are retiring as the
light of fires was seen against the heavens,
possibly showing that they were burning
their stores. The correspondent also re-
ports that a resumption of the battle is
probable as soon as the roads permit. the