The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1904-09-15
.KUROP
EXPLAINS
Russian General Reports on
the Battle LiaOyang.
ORLOFF THE SCAPEGOAT
His Failure to Hold Sykwan Was
the Cause Of the Army's
Retreat.
ORLOFF THE SCAPEGOAT

ST. PETERSBURG, Sept. 15.--Undel
the date of Sept. II General Kuropat.
kin reports TO the emperor as follows.
ut is now possible, from the details
of the battles since Aug. 26, in which
various army corps participated, TO
furnish your majesty the following re,
port of operations:
"On Aug 20 the Manchurian army
occupied three groups Of positions, the
first at Pettsu and Anping on The left
flank; the second at Liandiansan in the
center, and the third at Anshanshan
on the right flank. The same day the
Japanese assumed the offensive along
the whole front. At Liaudiansian all
their attacks were repulsed, and on the
left we retained our principal position
at Anpng. After a desperate battle
the japanese, however, succeeded In
securing the position at Pettsu, thus
threatening the line of retreat of the
corps along the Tan river. Simutane.
ously a turning movement 10y cOnSid-
erable forces Of Japanese was observ-
ed on the left flank of our position at
AnShanshan.
Taking advantage Of our positions
at Liandiansian and Anping in order
to gain time and inflict severe losses on
the enemy, l withdrew all the army
corps from advanced positions TO Lao
yang.
I'm consequence of the mountainous
nature of the country ON our front and
the bad condition of the roads toward
the south, the two days march toward
kind, and only the devotion OF all the
troops on the east front enabled it to
be carried out in good ortler. Only
after incredible difficulties was it found
possible to drag all the guns without
exception and all our baggage through
carried through the mountains by in
fantry. Difficult as was the retreat
through the passes, under pressure
from the enemy, the march across the
open country was still more arduous.
The left and center columns succeeded
III ENlllhS al anu OhE
gage to Liaoyang.
"The march of the right column,
which was obliged to cross westward
TO the railway, where the country had
suffered most severely from rains, was
especially difficult Considerable forces
of the enemy followed the rear guard,
which maintained a stubborn resist
ance. The guns of one of the retiring
batteries began to sink in the mud.
Every effort was made to save them.
Twenty-four horses were hitched to
each piece, companies of infantry as
sisting with ropes. The horses and
men, however, sank so deep that it
was necessary for the comrades of the
| latter to haul them out. General Rut-
| kovsky remained so long covering the
| extrication of the guns that his force
lost heavily, and the general himself
and Colonel Raben, commanding the
! Fourth regiment of east Siberian
sharpshooters, were killed. Notwith-
standing all efforts it was finally neces-
| sary to abandon the guns.
"On Aug % the army concentrated
| at Liaoyang. one corps took a position
on the right bank of the Taitse river,
while another held the left bank.
"On Aug. 30 and 81 the Japanese at
tackled our advance positions with
great energy, but everywhere were re
! pulsed with enormous losses There
was desperate fighting on our left flank
and center, accompanied by Il number
of counter attacks, resulting in bayonet
fighting, and was compelled to re-
enforce the fighting line with the spe-
cial reserves and the general reserves.
During Aug. 81 it could clearly be
seen that a considerable force of Gen
eral Kuroki's army had crossed to the
| right bank of the Taitse river Owing
| to attacks on our left on Aug. 30 and
| RI it was to be supposed that the main
body of kuroid's army had been told
OF 60 turn the left flank Of our position
and attack our line of communication
In consequence resolved to withdraw
the advance troops to the main position
and concentrate large force against
Kuroki and attempt to hurl his army
back upon the Taitse river. Only AT
certain points was this carried out sue
cessfully.
"At nightfall, undisturbed by the