Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-14
WHEN KURoPATKIN REITERATED
Desperate Fighting for the Control of
the Railroad.

ST PETERSBURG, September 14-The
question of the responsibility for the fail
ure of General Kuropatkin to crush Gem
eral Kuroki September g. north of the
Taitse river, which lost the battle Of Lao
yang, continue to excite all absorbing in
terest in military circles But the accounts
hitherto received here have been so meager
and conflicting that 1t has been almost
impossible to determine the exact facts
According to Russian correspondent
who throws the blame upon General Or
ION General SamsonofY, who commands a
division of Siberian CoSsackS, was ordered
by General kuropatkin August 81 to occu-
py the Yentai coal mines and hold the
extreme left while he launched his main
army against Kuroki. During the night Or
lor, with the freshly arrivel European re-
serve men, came up, and, being Samso-
nofrs senior, took over the command at
this point The next morning before the
arrival of the daily orders Orloff, on his
own initiative, decided to attack Kuroki's s
extreme right and directed Samsonoff to
execute thanking movement with his Cos
Sacks
The latter declined to do so until he had
time to reconnoiter, and also because. as
the correspondent declares Orloffs reserve
men, who had not previously been under
fire, were already showing signs of ner-
vousness. Had Samsonoff obeyed the cor
respondent says, he would have been cut
off and annihilated, as the Japanese were
already advancing, having opened a terrific
fire on the Yentai mines before which Or
lofts men fiinched and finally gave way.
While in the thick of the retreat one of
kuropatkns staff officers dashed up with
orders for Orlon to hold at all hazards
this position ne had Just abandoned Or
loff 8 troops had then retired almost to
Yentai station. There Samsonof's Cossacks
at last rallied them somewhat, but all the
burden of fighting the Japanese fell upon
the Cossacks. Samsonoff was informed that
Gen. Stakelberg was hurrying to his rescue
but the latter did not arrive till the follow
ing day.
In the meantime Kuropatkin believing
that his left had been turned. ordered a re-
treat September 2 as stated the same day
In the Associated Press dispatches from st.
Petersburg. But Samsonoff's Cossacks
who was temporarily in command of the
division while Samsonoff was comforting
with kuropatkin, threw the Cossacks des-
perately at the japanese when the latter
had almost reached the railroad north of
Yentaf
The slaughter which followed is described
as frightful, the Cossaeks using their
lances with terrible effect; but the Japa-
nese managed to hold on until Stakelberg
arrived, and thus preserved the railroad as
a line of retreat for the whole army. At
one time during this fighting the japanese
were lighting on two fronts
Returning japanese Refugees.
ST. PETERSBURG, September 14-Am-
bassador Mccormick has completed ar
rangements to send about 800 Japanese ref
ugees, collected at Perm, to Germany,
whence they will be shipped home. The
refugees will travel by boat from Perm to
Rybinsk Russia, and thence by rail to
Germany.
Harbin One Vast Hospital.
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
NEW YORK. September IA cable dis
patch from st. Petersburg says that Har-
bin has been converted into one vast hos
pital. Even the churches and theaters are
filled. There are $4,000 wounded men from
the battles around Liaoyang.