The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1904-06-17
RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR

t'
nation is at stake the sacrifice Of even
thousands of it's best sons in battle be-
m insignificant in comparison"
Both Sides Lose Ships.
st. Petersburg, June IA. Rumor
are in circulation here that a great
naval battle has taken place on Port
Arthur in which two Russian ana tour
Japanese battieships were n NO
confirmation of the rumor can be OBJ
tanned.
Japanese Lose Heavily.
Haicheng, Manchuria, June IA. - A
thanking movement of the Japanese
around the Russian left from renS
Wang Cheng June 9 was repulseo
with a loss of two whole battalions.
A large Japanese force moved out
in the morning along the Geng wang
Cheng and Haicheng road. The Rus-
SLAMS had a force strongly posted IN a
ravine thirty miles southeast or Hal
cheng. The Japanese were preceded
by two battalions, who walked into the
Russian Ambuscade.
They received a murderOus rifle ana
artillery fire at close range and were
wiped out. only one or two escaping.
The main Japanese force, which
was greatly superior to the Russian
force, tried to outiank the Russians,
who drew off without losing a man.
The Japanese, closing in, found the ra'
vine vacant, save for their own dead.
There are three battalions in each
Japanese infantry regiment, except
the bodyguard regiments, which have
two each. A Japanese regiment ordl-
narilv consists of seven officers, 154
suboficers and LAO privates-1,6 64
men in all. Therefore it is probable
that in the two battalions reported
wiped out there were at least LOO
men.
More Defeats for Russians.
Toxic, June 12.-Saimatsze was oc-
cupied by the Japanese troops on
Tuesday after a series OF skirmlshes,
in which the Russians were cleverly
rounded up and defeated.
On Monday and Tuesday there was
also much fighting south of Liushan-
wan. the Japanese clearing the Rus
SLAMS out of that district. The first
army, in cooperation with the forces
landed at Takushan, occupied Siuyen
on Wednesday, the Russians retreat
ing in confusion in the direction Of
Chaimuncheng and Kaiping.
Confirmed by Russians.
ST. Petersburg, June 1.-THE Jap
anese have taken Siuyen. driving out
nishes food for considerable specula-
ton concerning the real Japanese OBJ
~jective. Whether the advance to Stu
yen constitutes a forward movement in
force. military authorities here do not
pretend to know. It's character de-
ponds largely upon whether Gen. Ku-
ok has the number Of troops with
which reports credit him. If he has,
it is considered possible that tie Jap
nese may
Attempt to Rush
across the peninsula and establish a
new base at Niuchwang. The direct
road to Niuchwang passes south or
Hal Cheng. Such a movement on the
| part of Gen. Kuroki might precipitate
a serious engagement in the neighbor-
hood of Haicheng if Gen. kuropatkin
considered the time ripe to contest the
advance seriously. But it is also point
ed out that the Japanese movements
| to Siuyen and Saimatsze may be either
feints or merely a continuation of an
| effort to distract the Russian attention
from Port Arthur.
Will Fall in Less Than a Week.
Toxic, June 11.-Port Arthur is ex-
pected to fall in less than a week. The
attack on the fortress is being pushed
by the lane forces. supported by the
high-angle fire of Admiral Togo's war
ships.
The Japanese vessels in front of the
fortress are merely maintaining a
close blockade, except for occasional
reconnaissance. Detachments of the
fleet that are doing effective work in
connection with the storming opera
tons are stationed off both tanks of
the besieging army. They are quite
secure against russian fire. Their
shells, which cover a range OF many
miles, are said to exercise a terribly
DemoraIizing Effect
on the Russians. No inkling OF pro-
ceedings in the direction of Liao-yang
is allowed to be made public by the
authorities, who control the cable from
Korea. Their exceptional reserve in
this particular is construed as presag-
ing a general forward movement
against K%uropatkin. That Russian
general is apparently determined not
only to refrain from advancing to the
| relief of Port Arthur, but to persist in
THE shipment of superfluous stores
northward in preparation for retreat.
Some of the mikado's soldiers be-
lieve hat the Russians have already
delayed their retrograde movement
until there is slim chance Of their get
ting off without yer losses.
Germans Supply Russians.
Toxic, June 10.-The Germans at
Kiaochau. on the Yellow sea. their
port leased from China, are supplying
ammunition to Port Arthur, sending it
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