Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-05
Russians Constructing a Sc
ries Of Defenses.
THE BELIEF AT TOKYO
THOUGHT THAT KUROPATKIN IS
PREPARING A BATTLEFIELD.
Gen. Stoessel Reports Continued Sue
cess at Port Arthur and Heavy
japanese Losses.

The expected battle between the Russian
Manchurian army and Marshal Oyama' s
forces has not yet occurred and today S
advices do not indicate any developments of
an important character on the part of either
army St. Petersburg dispatches say that
kuropatkn is constantly receiving rein
forcements, especially artillery, but the mil
itary critics express doubt whether he con-
templates more than passive resistance at
Mukden- The opinion seems general that
the next battle of decisive nature will oc-
cur at Tie Pass
Lieut. Gen Stoessel reports that the Japa-
nese losses in the attacks on Port Arthur
from September 10 to % were ten thousand
men, He adds that the japanese are now
working actively and approaching by en-
trenchments and a tunnel. The success of
the Russian resistance at Port Arthur Is
believed in St Petersburg to have bearing
on Oyama's failure to attack Kuropatkin.
TOKYO, Japan, October 5.-It is evident
that the country which is embraced by an
irregular triangle, the apex of which is lie
pass, with the base running from Mukden
to Fushun on the upper reaches OF the
Hun river, will soon be the theater of ex-
tended and extensive military operations.
The Russians apparently are using Tie
pass DIS THEIR Udlll bttSc, anu eti' So'irSiNN
ing series of defenses to shield it from
the south and the east. Two roadwayS ap-
proach Tie pass from the south. One of
these roadways is the main highway from
Mukden and the other, which is smaller,
starts al Fushun and winds through hilly
country.
Nineteen miles north of Mukden is the
town of Yilu, the southern and eastern ap-
proaches to which are sheltered by sharp
ridges offering a natural protection. 1t is
reported here that the Russians are strong
ly intrenched in these ridges and are erect
ing semi-permanent fortifications The
Yilu river, which is shallow and is ford
able runs through the town.
The Russians are reported to be fortify-
ing the right bank Of the river between
Yilu and Tahaitun, fifteen miles TO the
uorthWard. Several lines of ridges cross the
road and it is said that the Russians are
erecting work many OF these emlnenceS
between Tahaitun and Tie pass. For some
seven miles the country, generally speaking,
is fiat although commanding the roadway
from the eastward is hill thousand
meters in height, which the Russians are
fortifying.
A range of hills fanks Tie pass on the
eastward.
The Russians are holding Fushun with
heavy force, and it is believed they are
erecting WorLS along the road from that
place to Tie pass.
This defensive work of the Russians and
the disposition of their forces strengthens
the belief that Gen. kuropatkln merely IN
tends to retard Field Marshal Oyama in
his crossing of the Hun river and to give
battle on the ground which he is now hur-
riedly forufying-
ST. PETERSBURG. october "a spe-
cial dispatch from Mukden, undel date
of October A. says:
A regular recruiting service has been
formed by the Japanese army, enlistihg
what is known as the Chinese volunteer
militia. The Japanese are assisted in this
work by Lin See. a prince of the Chinese
imperial household. The men are PAID
by the Japanese, but not armed by them
with the Japanese modern rifles They
use instead old muskets of enormous cali
ber.
The Russians have come in contact with
them several times and their bravery is in
contestable.
The Japanese are said to make no secret
of this organization, documentary proof
of which is said to have been procured
by the Russians in the shape of letter
addressed by the Japanese general, Vitche.
to 1.-The chief of the Chinese volunteer
militia"
MUkDEN. October 8 Oelayed).-A Rus
sian correspondent of the Associated Press
who has just returned from Major Cen
eral Mistchenko's division, with whom he
has been since September "a, says:
There have been constantly recurring
skirmishes in which the Russians have
regularly defeated the Japanese although
the engagements have never been very
large. The last advance l witnessed was
on October 2. when the Japanese made
several tentative movements, but We're
driven back on every occasion by the Rus
sian cavalry.
In this fighting Captain Lepekhin Cher
torogof was wounded, and also few Cos
sacks. The japanese lost one officer sew
eral privates and some horses. Fresh de-
velopments are now expected.
The correspondent was with Major Cen
eral Mistchenko's division during the en-
gagement reported October 1 near Toumy
tsa, north of Yentai. The Japanese there
occupied an intrenched position Toumy
tsa Hill, but the Russian artillery -opcn-
ing fire at 10 o'clock in the morning shelled
them out. and the Japanese fled after slight
resistance. Cossacks galloped up and oc-
cupied the positions. The Japanese were
followed to within two-thirds of a mile
of Yentai station. and the Russians came
into contact with them twice during the
day. They tried to surround the Rus
slams b. means of a turning movement
but supports came up and the Japanese
We're beaten off.
The Russians finally retired slowly to
the north. having collected informat ton
as to the whereabouts of the Japanese
and making no attempt to hold the posi-
tions gained.