Milford chronicle., 1904-10-21
Ians, Left Driven Back.

MukQeu, OCL. lJ.-ll Is I6pOLlSu Illdt
the Russian army is advancing. Rain
is hindering everything. The rivers
are bank full and the fords are impas-
sable. There are no bridges. Supplies
of all sorts are delayed. There was
fighting yesterday on both sides of the
great Manchurian road.
Cossacks brought in captured guns
and Japanese wounded prisoners on
October II. Russian soldiers surround
ed the prisoners and gave them bread
and water and in other ways tried to
relieve their wants.
News has just been received that the
Japanese left flank has been driven
back with heavy loss and its retreat
cut off. A Russian regiment IS now be-
ing hurried to the scene in the hope
of completing the rout
The fighting on Monday was con-
fined to the Russian center at Shakhe
river, and was mostly artillery fire, the
Japanese using big guns and high ex-
plosive shells. During the 9 days Of
continuous fighting the losses were
never less than 1000 per day. The hos
pitfalls are hardly able to handle the
wounded. Nevertheless they have per-
formed wonders.
The Chinese have deserted all the
villages, and the troops are using the
woodwork of their houses for fuel. The
country south is desolated. The Japa-
nese still seem to be exerting them
selves to force the Russians out of
Mukden. A battle is assured in the po-
sitiOns surrounding the town.
1t becomes more and more evident
that the resources of the country can
not support a large army. This sea-
sons crops are spoiled.
General KuroDatkin remains with
the troops, having abandoned his head
quarters at Alukden.
As this dispatch is filed TUESDAY
evening" the Russians are retaining the
ground gained at the Shakhe river.
Several Maxim guns have been cap
tured. The firing ceased after dark
yesterday
Lone Tree Hlit. won by the Russians
after desperate struggle, was the OBJ
iect of a gallant unsuccessful attempt
at recapture by the Japanese. In spite
OF the awful slaughter with which
they had been driven from the hill,
the Japanese returned to the charge
during the night of October II, recog-
nizing that the hill was the key to the
position on the southwest front. Nine
regiments participated, creeping up
through the night and delivering a
furious assault at dawn. But the hill
had been bought too dearly by the Rus
tians to reiinq-lsh it, and tha Jo~7-
.nese were driven back with terrible
slaughter.
The battlefield Of Lone Tree Ell
presents the most awful spectacle that
can be conceived Russian and Japl-
nese dead are mingled in heaps in il-
extricable confusion. The ground is
strewn with broken rifles that had been
smashed in hand-tO-hand fighting.
Everything seems to have been utilized
as weapons. The Russian doctors are
working heroically on the slopes of the
hill in the attempt to save those of the
wounded who still survive, but the
Japanese keep up a sniping fire and
render the work of relief difficult and.
dangerous.
The continual vigilance of the com
batants, and especially the serious ac-
ceptance by the japanese army of the
Russian advance, promises further
fighting, although there has been al
ready ten days of unprecedented and
exhaustive conflict. The Japanese have
been alternately testing the Russian
Russians in a mOnotonous and bitter
day to day resistance on the line of
contac' The japanese apparently
feared that the Russian advance would
develop a superior force of reserves.
The duration of the contest already
exceeds by several days the common
prophecies. as it was believed that
neither side was capable of such ex-
penditure of men and munitions, which