The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-10-18
Russians FierceIy Assault Mar.
shall Oyama's Army.
Fierce Rush on Oku's, Nodzu's
and Kurokrs Positions.
WITH HEAVY LOSSES.
kuropatkin's LegiOns Are
Everywhere Repulsed.
First List of Casualties Reaches
st. Petersburg.

No direct word has come from the
Manchurian battlefield today but the
dispatches leave little doubt that the
Russians and Japanese are continuing
the fight that has ragged desperately
for ten days. Marshal Oyama reports
that last night two fierce assaults were
made on his left army and several
lighter attacks on other portions of his
line, all of which were repulsed, while
st. Petersburg says that heavy can
nonading continued throughout the
night, presaging important movements
today. Beyond the fact that the great
battle has gone against the Russians
and that there have been detached en-
gagements almost unrivalled in their
bravery and desperateness on both
Sides no new light is thrown on the
general situation. st. Petersburg Of
ficials stoutly maintain that Kuropat-
kin, far from being whipped into a dis
orderly rout is fighting a mastery re-
treating battle and while he has been
defeated he is compelling the Japanese
to purchase the victory at a cost of
men and munitions that is exhausting.
A dispatch from Mukden today says
that it is cold, that a cutting wind is
blowing and that the roads have been
ruined by the torrential rains. A dis
patch from Toxic confirms the report
that the Russians on Sunday broke
through an advanced column and cap
tured IA guns. The dispatch adds that
the Russians are concentrating in
front of the Japanese left army and
that another great battle is expected.
Toxic, Oct. $3.50 p. m.-The
Russians fiercely assaulted General
Oku and attacked Generals Nodzu and
Kuroki on Monday night, but were
everywhere repulsed with heavy losses.
First Casualty List.
ST. Petersburg, Oct. 1s.-7:45 a. m.
The first list of casualties among
shows killed 26; wounded 116; mis-
sing, 6.
Victory Still In Balance
ST. Petersburg, Oct. 1s.-2:0S p. m.
The issue of the bloody drama be-
low Mukden is still in the balance.
There is no attempt to minimize the
severe character of the reverses suf-
fered by General Kuropatkin last
week, but as yet there has been notlt-
ing absolutely decisive. There GER
tainIy is no rout and no Sedan and the
war office has not yet given up all hope
that Kuropatkin may be able to again
I
serted here that the tone which the
diplomats and newspapers of Toxic
assumed in referring to what they
seem to look upon as the closing act
of the tragedy of General Kuropatkin,s
army, is certainly premature. Both
armies are greatly exhausted and the
final issue probably will depend on
which can regather itself the quicker.
The Russian legions are terribly bat
tered and more or less demoralized but
the splendid manner in which they
went forward against Lone Tree hill
Sunday is sufficient evidence that the
temper and courage of the troops are
not completely shaken.
The emperor this morning received
Kuropatkins and Sakharoff's reports
of the Russian attack on and capture
of the village of Shalandtzy, half way
between Lone Tree hill and Shakhe
and simultaneously the storming of the
former, thereby gaining two positions
of the highest Importance on the south
bank of the Shakhe river.
Under Fire From Both Sides.
Mukden, Oct. 1S.-The desperate
ness of the battle. especially near
Shakhe, has not been equaled since
fighting has driven out OF the minds
of the soldiers all thought of personal
safety and the troops living in an at
mosphere of sudden death have lost
all thought save to conquer The loss
es on both sides have been enormous.
but this is forgotten in the crowding
of dreadful events upon each other.
The fighting still continues without
intermiSsion.
The Chinese population of Mukden
displays little alarm. Business in the
streets and markets proceeds usual.
Even children run about the business
portion of the town and all appear to
be curiously Indifferent to the great
battle which is proceeding only a few
miles away. The wounded from the
fight at Tumin pass state that some
positions were under fire by both sides
and that it was impossible to remove
the wounded. 1t is alleged that Jap
anese searching parties, working at
night, handled the wounded and when
ever reply was made in Russian
bayoneted the sufferers. Some, it is
said, saved themselves by feigning
death. The Russians removed about
300 wounded under fire from japanese
guns.