The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-10-14
RACES
Does a Fierce
Battle
Between Russia n
and Jap Forces.
CARS MEN
Fell Back After a
Bloody Attack.
General Superiority of Japan
ese in Mountain Opera
tons Conceded.

Mukden, Oct. IA bloody battle Is
raging about six miles north of Yentai
railroad station. The Japanese on
Sunday fell back along the whole front
and the Russian advance guards
crossed the Schili river (about half
way between Mukden and Lao Yang)
and came within three miles of YEN
tai; but on Monday the Japanese re-
ceived strong reinforcements Of in
fantry and artillery and not only held
offensive. The fighting lasted the en-
tire day and night
The Japanese directed their artil-
lery fire with great skill and searched
the Russian positions so fercely that
the Russians fell back north Of the
Schili river, which crosses the rail-
road seven miles from Yentai. The
Russians resumed their advance Tues
day morning, once more crossing the
Schili river and engaged the Japanese
two miles south of it. A terrific artil-
lery engagement is proceeding along
the entire front. The result OF the
battle is still undecided.
London, Oct. ia dispatch from
St Petersburg to a news agency here
says: in a dispatch to the emperor,
Gen. Stoessel confirms the report that
desperate sorties from Port Arthur
were made on October 5 and 6 and
states that the Russians, with greatly
inferior forces, repulsed the Japanese
four times and captured ten Hotchkiss
guns"
An extraordinary statement Is sent
by Bennett Burleigh from Shanghai to
the Daily Telegraph. Mr.. Burleigh
says it is believed that Field Marshal
Oyama and his staff will return or be
recalled to Japan. ostensibly because
the army is going into winter quarters
and that Gen. Nodzu will take over the
command.
"Tt is now well known amongst the
better classes of Japanese" Mr.. Bur-
leigh adds, that IL was Nodzu who
saved the situation at the battle OF
Lao Yang. Oyama had ordered re-
treat, when Nodzu protested against
such a step and begged them to make
another desperate effort. To Nodzu
therefore, is due the sole credit OF
averting a disastrous retreat"
According to Mr.. Burleigh the Japa-
, much farther north than Mukden, and
they will only under exceptional cir
cumstances attack Tie Pass this sea.
son. Mr.. Burleigh concludes:
"Gen. Nishi, commander OF the
japanese Second division, will become
governor of Manchuria."
st. Petersburg. Oct. 12.-Severe
fighting north of Yentai, resulting In 6
temporary check of Gen. Kuropatkin'i
advance guard, of which the Associat
| ed Press correspondent at Mukder
telegraphed the first news. Is not re
garded at the war office as indicating
a general engagement. The latest Of
fetal dispatches indicating the dispo
sition of the various corps show tina
the whole army is not yet in line o
battle. The present engagement ma,
| therefore be regarded as the result o
a counter attack which an enterprisinl
I foe like the Japanese might be ex
pected to make. but without any calcu
lation to prevent the Russian advance
Kuropatkin's present superiority II
numbers, it is held here, is boun,
sooner or later to compel the Japanes
to fall back upon their strong position
4
Lao Yang and Sykwantun. Every
thing points to that district as beinl
| the prospective scene of the decisiv
struggle of this years campaign
! Strategic reasons of the most weight
character render it imperative for tn
Russians, as well as for the japanese
to bestow their chief attention upo
the country east of the railway. TIL
Russians are compelled to this cours
because their railroad runs northeast
ward and hence lines of communica
ton are more vulnerable from tn
east.
The Japanese are influenced by
similar consideration, but the railroa
no longer plays a foremost part
their plans. In view OF the approach
ing close of navigation at Yinkow an
of the fact that the line from Pitsew
is long and cumbersome and liable I
interruption they must consider Fen
Wang Cheng and Takushan as tn
source of supplies during the winte
and with this in view the eastern con
,, munications of Lao Yang are Of th
utmost Importance. The Yentai tr
angle is admirably situated to prote'
them. Field Marshal Oyama mu!
therefore hold this triangle at a
costs.
!, The problem confronting Gen. Kurt
patkin in the immediate future is tt
a capture of the fortified heights con
a posing this triangle