The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-10-12
JAPANESE TROOPS ON MOVE
General Nodzu's Forces Continue to
Press Kuropaskin.
ARMIES IN RUNNING FIGHT

Marshal Oyama Keeps Up His Agrees
sive Campaign Against the Russians
With No Let-Gp--Russian ComInnn'ier
Has Gained in Point of Positions Held
-Kuropatkin Well Prepared.
Mukden.-Doubt Of Marshal Oyana's
intention in respect of an advance OIL
this place was dispelled when a strong
Japanese force crossed the South Sha
River Mt a point eighteen miles SOUTH
! west of here shortly before dawn, and
advancing rapidly seven miles in this
direction, began shelling the Russian
positions from the town OF Chang
shing. The Japanese centre and right
at noon rested on a line running from
Changshing east TO Chuchiatun, which
latter place is six miles northwest OF
TAPPING Mountain. General odzu
troops are marching north through the
broad valley between the limestone
region and the railroad. The Japanese
left. under General Oku. early III the
morning moved from Shihi to South
Sha and began building 4 DontooD
bridge east Of the railway for the
transportation Of feldpieces across
the river. General Samsonof's Cos
sacks destroyed the military bridge
across that stream resting on the high
way. and the railroad bridge was dam
aged so severely by Gen. Stakclberg's
artillery it was not strong enough to
bear even the enemy's lighter guns. \
detachment Of dragons. supposed TO
constitute part of Oku's left wing.
crossed the South Sla River west OF
the railroad and made Il reconnaissance
toward the east bank Of the Hun River
opposite Sanchiatsu, in the course OF
which it engaged IN several sharp
skirmishes with CosSack outposts.
The attacking force resting OH
Changshing evidently was the van
guard of Modulus army. 1t was made
up of several battalions Of infantry
and four field batteries, with a half
squadron Of cavalry. The enemy
shelled three Russian batteries bri-
gaded with four battalions Of Major
General Orloff's infantry. and was an
swered with a severe fire from the Rus
sian guns. An artillery duel ut long
range lasted more than an hour. Then
the Japanese infantry advanced under
cover of their guns and opened a scat
tering fire on the Russians. Two bat
talions of the Russian infantry moved
south in open order, approaching the
enemy's skirmish line until the faces of
the PROSTATE sharpshooters were plain
" visible. Steady firing was main
tanned by both sides until the enemy's
cavalry made 4 1anking charge against
the Russian left. Orloff's ri1emen
rallied quickly, repulsed the dragons
and fell back slowly in good order.
One of the Russian batteries scattered
the enemy's skirmishers with a we'll
directed fire, and Orloff's infantry
withdrew toward Paitapu. The Rus
sian guns were shifted under fire to
the latter town where they renewed
the fight, having the advantage of bet
ter support. No further gain was made
by the enemy in the afternoon, the ir-
ing being discontinued at dusk.
General Kuroki's forward brigades
were pressing north through the au-
thracite fields, midway between Taip-
ing Mountain and the Imperial TomDs
of Yang Pass. Cossack sotnias recon-
noitering southwark from the HIN.
east Of Mukden, were fired on by his
vanguard, and Withdrew without n
complete idea of his strength. II is
an accepted fact here, however. that
Kurokl is making all speed possible in
his detour against this point. General
Kuropatkin has disposed adequate
forces along the eastern road. and it is
believed the Japanese will not cross tie
Hun in that direction without a disas-
trous battle. 1t apparently is no part
of General Kuropatliin's purpose to be
outfanked by Marshal Oyama without
determined resistance. The turning
tactics of the enemy cannot find the
Russians unprepared, as i'll former
stages of the Manchurian campaign.
! Moreover. the relative positions OF the
opponents practically are the same ms
before the battle Of Liau Yang, While
the Russian commander has several ad-
vantages he did not possess in that part
Of the country. A general engagement
whether fought here, as expected by
the more practical. or around Tie Pass,
as Russian optimists hope, VIII hhu
Kuropatkin ready for any strataScm
Oyama may employ.