The Irish standard., 1904-07-23
A CRUSHING BLOW.
Russians Attack Japs at Molten Pass
Are Repulsed With Heavy
Loss.

St. Petersburg, July 19.-Gen. Kuro-
patkin reports that Lieut.. Gen. Count
Keller lost over 1000 in killed or
wounded in the attack on Molten pass
July II.
Gen. Kuroki's Headquarters in
the Field (via Fusan), July 2O-More
Russian troops were engaged in Sun
days battle at Molten pass than in
previous engagements There were
probably double the number of those
which took part in the fight at Yalu
river, while opposed to them were only
one brigade and one battalion of the
Japanese forces. The Russian loss is
estimated at 1000. The burial of the
dead continues. The japanese casual
ties aggregated 800. The engagement
has conspicuously demonstrated the
wonderful efficiency of the Japanese in
fantry. They proved incomparably the
better marksmen, more initiative and
they outfought and outgeneraled the
Russians on every point.
St. Petersburg, July 20.-The war Of
flee has no further details of the Rus
sian repulse at Molten pass. The loss Of
men, which it is freely admitted Will
probably be considerably in excess Of
Gen. kuropatkin's figures given out
Monday night, is greatly deplored But
: the purpose of demonstrating that Gen.
Kuroki's army has been heavily reen-
forced north, and the general staff is now
inclined to believe that the Japanese
commander may have decided that a
frontal attack from the south is iaad-
visable, and is concentrating his forces
for direct attack on Liaoyang.
Toxic, July 20.-It is reported from
ShanhailSwan that the japanese accu-
pied Tapingshan, near Newchwang. On
the 14th. At dawn on the 18th 10000
Japanese attacked 5000 Russians at
Seiseikiling, 20 Chinese miles from
Tashihchao. The fight lasted from four
o'clock in the morning until late in the
afternoon. The Russians offered stub
born resistance, with the cooperation of
reenforcements from Tashihchao. but
eventually abandoned their position,
+ leaving 200 dead, and retreated to Tash-
ihchao.
London, July 19.-Russian arms have
suffered another disaster, this time at
Molten pass. Gen. Count Keller, with
10000 men and IA guns, surprised the
Japanese forces, but after a battle
which continued for IL hours the jap
anese retooll all the positions from
which they had been driven. The Rus
sian army then retreated and was pur-
sued for several hours. Gen. kuropat-
kin admits that more than 1000 Rus
slams were killed or wounded.
st. Petersburg, July ia Russian
torpedo boat and German vessel
struck mines at Vladivostok and sank.
Their crews persisted
London, July 1S.-The Constantine
pie correspondent of the Standard in
dispatch dated July II says: "Tha
Russian guardship Chornomoretz
passed through the Bosphorus from
the Black sea this morning." The
Chernomoretz is gun vessel belong
ing to the Black sea fleet and carries
=, two eight-inch guns, one six-inch gun
and seven quicl-fring and machine
6uho. olAe Is tQulppSu VIII TWO lOT-
pedo tubes and carries crew of 16O.
London, July 1S.-Oficial Russian dis
patches admit that Gen. Kuropatkin's
army at Tatchelliao is menaced on both
right and left fanks, and that Kuroki
is advancing on Liaotung. British OBJ
servers are astounded by Russia's SEEM
ing inactivity. Either Kuropatkin is
hopelessly enmeshed in the japanese en-
veloping operations or he is confident of
his ability to defeat all the forces Gems
Oku and Nodzu can send against him.
The situation can mean only one thing
that Kuropatllin will be attacked
from three sides and that if defeated his
retreat to the northward will be cut of
by Kuroki, who will in few days be in
position to throw his armies across the
railroad.
Mukden, July 16.-In the fighting at
the right flank of the line of defenses of
Port Arthur July to July 6, the Rus
SLAMS drove back the Japanese and oc-
cupied the east bank of the Lunsantan
and the heights commanding Lunsantan
! pass. The Japanese losses were about
1000. Those of the Russians were in
significant.