The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1904-07-22
RUSSIANS LOSE
OVER 1000 MEN
CZAR'c TROOPS MAKE AN AT
TACK ON MOLTEN PASS AND
ARE REPULSED.
JAPANESE RESIST GAllAN(lY
FIRST DRIVEN BACK By SUDDEN
ATTACK, THEY LATER RE-
TAKE POSITIONS.

With Kuroki's Army, Manchuria,
July 20.-A Russian force apparently
about 5000 strong attacked the front,
left and right OF the Japanese posi-
tons on the western slope of Molten
pass at 2 o'clock yesterday morning
under cover Of a fog. The sudden on
slaught drove in the Japanese out
posts, but as soon as re~inforcements
arrived the Japanese CALAMITY ad-
vanced to the attack, and after severe
fighting they drove the Russians off
and retook the lost positions. The
Russians retired. their retreat being
we'll covered. The fighting lasted un-
til three o'clock in the afternoon.
Russian Loss Over Thousand.
st. Petersburg, July 20.-Gen. Kuro-
patkin reports that Lieut.. Gen. Count
Keller lost over 1000 in killed or
wounded in the attack on Molten pass
July II.
Members of the general staff here
regard Kuropatkin's attack on the
Japanese at Molten pass as conclusive
evidence that Russian flank and rear
are not at the mercy of Kuroki. 1t is
also thought to show that Kuropatkin
has SO disposed his latest reinforce
ments as to
Check Kuroki's Troops
Russians a certain power of initiative
along it's southeast and south front.
Impulsive observers are stirred by
this evidence of Russia's mettle and
declare that Kuropatkin's army is now
large enough to bring the whole fabric
of Japanese plans to the ground.
Calmer critics confine their optimism
to the assumption that the cars com
mander-in-chief is holding his own
with great skill, while taking effective
precautions against q Manchuriau
Sedan"
Told by kuroki.
Toxic, July 20.-Gen. Kuroki reports
that two divisions of the Russian
army made a desperate assault on
Molten pass at dawn on July II, but
were repulsed. Casualties were not
stated. At. 3 o'clock Sunday morning,
q heavy fog yelling their movements,
two divisions of Russians. command
| ed by Lieut.. Gen. Keller, made an as
sault on the Japanese positions at Mo-
tien pass.
Gen. Kuroki adds that the Russians
assailed all the Japanese positions at
Molten pass and in It's vicinity desper-
ately. The Japanese resisted stub
bornly, repulsed the Russians and pur-
sued them for a considerable distance
westward.
Jap Loss Trifing.
London, July 20. - The correspond
ent Of the Times at Gen. Kuroki's
headquarters says that the Japanese
losses during the fighting at Molten
pass on July II were trifling.
The battle leaves the general situa.
powerful Japanese army is massed
and is constantly threatening Lao
yang, apparently only awaiting Gen.
Kuroki's signal to advance.
Crisis Near at Port Arthur.
Chicago, July 20. - Stanley Wash
burn, a Chicago Daily News staff cor
respondent. cables his paper as fol
lows from Chefu:
Admiral Togo's torpedo boats made
q reconnaissance at Port Arthur be-
tween 3 and 4 a. m. Sunday. Occa-
sional firing was heard all day Sum
day from the and side of the fortress;
but there was nothing to indicate q
general attack. 1t seems likely that
unless the Russian feet
Attempts to Escape
there will be NJ further naval attack
on Port Arthur on account of unayoid-
able danger from mines and the COM
p~arative ineffectiveness of shell fire
from sea.
Japan is relying on taking the fort
ress by storm after it has been thor
oughly invested. The presence among
the Miaotao islands Of many Japanese
coal schooners and semi-official dis
patch boats strengthens the belief
that the end is expected With
the exception of a single picket boat
the Fawan saw nothing of the Japan
csc fleet during the last few days.
British Fleet Will Take a Hand.
.Ondon, July 20.-The London Elk
Russian Assassinated.