Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-09-01
THE CLASH OF WAR.

locked in death struggle, the tension
in St. Petersburg last night was strained
to the utmost. 1t is believed that the
fight cannot stop short Of the crushing
defeat of one side or the other.
All reports so far are favorable to the
Russians, though the suspension OF all
news for many hours has been exceed
ingIy trying and has given rise to sew
eral rumors, somewhat tempering the
earlier enthusiasm.
1t is stated officially, however, that
the report that the railway and the tele-
graph have been cut north of Liaoyang
| is untrue.
The highest military authorities con-
slider that the most critical stage OF the
battle has not yet been reached, and they
believe that the fight may continue Tor
sometime before either side acknowledges
defeat.
1t is thought in st. Petersburg that,
in view of the numbers engaged, the
desperate character of the assaults and
the length of the line, about seven miles,
the losses in the two days fighting can
not fall short of 10000 on each side.
Both sides are straining every nerve,
realizing that the fortunes OF war foi a
whole year are in the scale, and neither
side is in the mood or the position to
spare men in the effort to achieve final
victory.
The battle of Liaoyang will probably
rank as one of the great sanguinary bat
ties of history. II is estimated by the
general staff that the japanese armies
engaged number II divisions of 10000
men each, or, allowing for inefficients,
about 240, 900 men. Each division has
sc guns, and there are two independent
artillery brigades of 100 guns each, max
ing total of about 800 guns. The
estimates of Russian correspondents
range at from 600 to 1000 guns per side.
General Klropatkin's effective forces
are variously estimated at from 10000
to 200, 900 men.
The Japanese on Wednesday morning
attacked three sides of the Russian posi-
ton. One correspondent mentions a
Japanese movement to the northeast OF
Liaoyang, showing that the Japanese
were undoubtedly trying to work around
Kuropatkiu's rear.
One of the surprising phases OF the
situation is the endurance of the men.
They have been engaged desperately for
two days after more or less severe fight
ing under unfavorabe conditions every
day since August "a. 1t would seem
that human endurance could not persist
much longer without respite Of some
sort.
The japanese are using balloons to To-
cate the Russian gun and trenches.
The japanese are reported to be using
mortars to drop shells in the Russian
positions.
The second days battle commenced at
dawn. The Russians made repeated
bayonet advances on the road directly
south OF Liaoyang, where the japanese
approached from Sanquaiship and lao,
shelling the positions in the Russian
lines until 4 in the afternoon, when the
engagement, which was general
throughout the south and southeast,
narrowed to the main line. The Japan
ese advance on the southeast was by way
of the Feng Wang Cheng road. I'm
mediately in front CT Chiaofantum th'
Japanese stubbornly attempted to occu
py a round.topped hill, which was liter
ally shaved by Russian shells, making
repeated attempts the entire day where
apparently it was impossible for any
thing to live. The cannonading con
tinued from this point to the vicinity o
Wangpaotai until yesterday evening with
out apparent advantage to either side
The Japanese dropped shells within tw,
or three miles of the railroad station and
in the plain of Wentshu Mountain
which is the most important eminenc
around LiaOyaug, but the Japanes
abandoned aggression there on accom-
of the resistance they met, Over o0o'
600 men and 300 guns are engaged ol
both sides. Practically the whole kus
sian force is on the firing line.