The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1904-11-17
JAPS WILL STAY
ARE BUILDING FORMIDABLE De.
FENsEs ON THE sHAKHE.
SklRaISHEs ALMOST EVERY DAY
Positions Of the Two Armies Remain
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Find Lone
Tree Hill OF the Greatest
Advantage 10 Them.

skirmishing going on, with the object
OF securing minor positions tending
TO strengthen the respective lines of
defense. The Russian scouts are dar-
ing in secretly reconnoitering the
whole Of the Japanese lines. some
even creeping up to the Japanese
trenches and lying concealed there all
day and returning at night The Jap
anese have constructed in many
places double and even triple and
quadruple lines of trenches, wire en-
tsnglements. mines and pits.
A Cossack patrol. on November 10,
penetrated as far as Sandiapau. where
they inflicted a blow against a large
force Of Japanese and then returned
rapidly to the Russian main pne with.
out loss. A patrol also got in the rear
Of two Japanese companies moving TO
attack a Russian position. The Cos.
sacks defeated the Japanese and re-
turned safely to the Russian lines.
MUKDEN. via THEN TsIN.-An ar.
tillery fire from both sides is con.
tinued at intervals. II is heavier on
the Russian wing. where. all day on
November 9. and also during that
night, the Russians shelled the Japan
csc positions with their heavy guns.
Neither side on that date gained any
advantage.
AS a result OF the heavy lombard
ment by the Russians. the Japanese
have withdrawn some of their batter
les from the advanced positions. Il
is believed that not being ready TO at.
tack, they are falling back to the hills.
The Russians gained a great advan-
tage. when, toward the end Of the bat
tie on Shakhe river. they recaptured
Lone Tree hill, which has since been
renamed Poutiloff hill. In honor of the
colonel who led the last successful at
tack. The hill commands a large part
of the plain over which the Japanese
must advance.
The operations are about the same
each day. There is artillery firing
most of the time and frequent clashes
Of infantry at Right
AS has been the case in most wars.
but entirely unexpected in this one,
the soldiers Of the opposing outposts
in close proximity engage in the ex-
change OF cigarettes and other luxu-
ries.
The Japanese. who during the preyi-
-cannonading seemed 70 have sue
eessfully used a searcblight directed
against the Russian positions for the
purpose Of covering their operations
at night in the extension Of their field
works in the region Of the railway. did
not reply when the Russians attacked
them further to the east.
The japanese are notably
ical in the use Of ammunition. as
though anticipating an early battle,
when great quantities will become nee
essary.
II is known that the Japanese have
placed guns OF large caliber in the vi
entity OF the Shakhe railway station.
bringing Schiatun. the next station TO
the north. within the range OF their
fire.
The great precautions taken by the
Russians, their continued vigilance
and the disposition Of their forces.
would seem 10 guarantee their army
against any repetition OF disasters OF
enormous magnitude.
The Russian army is celebrating the
distribution Of presents OF food. cloth.
ing and confectionery sent by the en-
press to the officers and men.
Regimental bands are playing from
camp TO camp along the line. n the
army. which Is nov IN better spirits.
appears TO be much more formidable
n homogeneous. The soldiers are
active IN collecting and storing all the
crops left by tRe Chinese In the fields,
which ,aey are conserving for use
both as food and fuel.
The demolition Of he Chinese
houses appears 10 continue only along.
the firing line. where their destruction
Is rendered necessary for straegieal
purposes.
Owing to the mlldness OF the wealth.
or and the prevalence Of sunshine. the
soldiers are bathing in the open.
The Russians are hosting m~anlkins
for the purpose OF drawing the Japan
csc fire. and they also make a practice
OF bautering the Japanese other ways.
Reports Of the grave condition OF
the besieged at Port Arthur have
reached Mukden. and as a consequence
the Russians will not be surprised 10
learn OF the eapltulation OF the fort.
ress.
The course taken By the government
Of Great Britain In the North sea IN.
cident Is now generally known here
and appears TO be regarded as highly
magnanimous.
In the extreme Asst the japanese
appear not 10 have advanced north Of
saimaehL and 90 have concentrated
their forces In their center.
The prevailing conviction Is that the