Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-15
WITH THE RUSSIAN LEFT.
Story Of the "Sagacious Retirement"
of the Attacking Army.

HEADQUARTERS OF THE RUSSIAN
WESTERN ARMY, October -, via Muk-
ken, October Ii. via Picking, October IL
The fiercest and most important hght-
ing that has taken place since the battle
of Lioayang reached its height at noon TO-
day, when, after bold attack which lasted
for three days, the Russians began sa-
gacious retirement from the positions they
held yesterday, and the japanese by
strong central movement forced the Rus
sian line five miles to the north.
The battle which was forecasted in a dis
patch filed by the Associated Press CORE
spondent on October II, reached stage OF
unusual severity on that day along the rail-
way and to the westward, eliminating in
the vicinity of Tousanpu. which place was
the correspondents center of observation
By the evening of the 18th GOO wounded
had reached the field hospital, situated at
the SiulintZu railway station, ten miles
from the front
The battle at this moment was best OBJ
served from Hungpas Hill, two miles
southeast of SiulintZu. Both the japanese
and Russian batteries We're distinguished
by the clouds of dust which were raised by
the conclusions.
The result of the fight was that a mile
of ground along the front west of the rail-
Way was lost but the Russians regained
this ground during the night by a bayonet
attack without shot having been fired.
The battle was renewed at dawn today
with terrific effect.
The eastern army evidently is engaged
in continuous small arm fighting.
There can be heard the desultory break
ing of shells along the foot hills about five
miles from the railway. To the westward
there is a growing activity, and the smoke
from the shells forms an almost impene-
trable haze, hiding the operations of the
infantry.
There was an entangled artillery duel
in the vicinity of Tousanpu, to the west
ward, in which, during the day, one regi
ment caught by cross fire and
threatened with extinction within a few
minutes.
Tousanpu wavered until noon, when the
japanese made good their occupation, and
Colonel Stackoytch, who had made mag
nficent stand for four days. after more
than twenty of his officers had been put
out of action, fell back before the terrible
onslaught of the japanese.
The Japanese proved their ability to util
lie the strong position at the Yentai coal
mines. which the Russian advance guard
reported had not been utilized up to Octo-
Der 10. The Russians moving in that direc-
ton were unable to occupy the position,
owing to the developments of the past
forty-eight hours, and fell back in con-
formity with previous plans.
AT II O'Clock in the morning the battle
reached stage of severity three times
greater than that of yesterday, solid masses
of troops filling up the front.
At 2:20 pm the japanese were occupying
a hill two miles to the south of Hungpas
hill. which they shelled from a battery
which was plainly visible. The results of
this Smelling were not important.
At 4:15 I'm. the Russian army made an
orderly and timely withdrawal followed by
a furious rife fire from the Japanese.
The Red Cross surgeons are performing
operations at SiulintZu railway station
Many of the wounded were loaded on
trains which moved north during the day.
At shutdown the cannonading to the
southwest could be heard continuously
The Russian rear guard was holding its
ground at nightfal