The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-30
For Four Hours Japanese Pour
ed a Torrent of Shrapnel
Upon the Territory Occupied by
Kuropatkin's Army.
AN INFANTRY ADVANCE
Commenced Along the Entire
Front at 10 O'clock.
About a Half Million Men En-
gagged In the Struggle.

The heaviest battle of the war Is
raging today around Liao Yang. Fol-
lowing the rear guard action which
Kuropatkin has fought in his retire.
ment from AnPing and Anshanshan,
he has either elected or been forced to
give battle and is meeting the attack
of the combined armies of Kuroki,
NodZu and Oku-
Dispatches from the battlefield show
that at dawn today the japanese
opened terrific artillery fire, directed
mainly against the Russian center and
right After four hours of CALLING
shrapneI fire, the cannOnading slack
ened and at O'Clock the Japanese
began a general advance. An Asso-
ciated Press dispatch from Liao Yang
at 500 this evening shows the battle
was increasing in intensity. the Jap
anese pressing forward until at one
point their advance developed into a
hand to hand fight, the Russians re-
pelling with the bayOnet.
The Associated Press dispatch and
the Russian official reports indicate
that the Rusissans occupy a semi
circle of about nine miles in length
protecting Liao Yang, the center and
right of this line receiving the brunt of
the fighting mp to the last advices. So
far reports do not indicate the trend
of the action but reports to the Rus
sian war office say the battle will ex-
tend over several days. -.-a
The combined forces engaged are
estimated at between 300 thousand
and 400 thousand of all arms.
Lao Yang. Aug. 800 a. m.-From
O'Clock this morning up to 9 o'clock
there has been an incessant shower of
shrapnel- The heaviest cannonading is
coming from the southeast, where the
japanese evidently have numerous
guns Deadly shells are bursting ev-
erywhere, their white smoke being dis
tinctly traceable against the dark fol-
tage on the mountain sides. The Jap
anese are searching the whole country
side with their fire, selecting certain
squares of territory on which for a few
moments they mass a. hail of shot and
shell from all their guns. They then
pass to another square. thus working
the whole field with mathematical pre-
cisiOn from right to left. In this way
the entire Russian front has been sys-
tematically searched in the first four
hours Of their cannonading. Then COM
menced the general Japanese advance
along the whole line. AT this hour, 10
a m. the Japanese artillery fire has
somewhat slackened. but their infantry
is steadily pushing forward.
The Russians have been holding their
ground gallantly and their losses are
small, considering the terrible nature
of the Japanese fire.
Fighting Grows Ffercer.
Lao Yang. Aug. 30-6:49 P. M.-The |
battle is growing in intensity. The jap
anese fire is chiefly directed on the |
Russian southern contingent The Jap
anese advance was pressed with such 1
Vigor that it developed into hand to /
hand fighting. the Twenty-third reg1- |
ment repelling an attack al the point |
batteries was dismantled- Wounded |
men have been pouring into Lao Yang |
since o'clock this morning, mostly |
hurt by shrapel shells and some by ri
fie bullets. The heights of Maetung
near the railroad have been showerSM
with projectiles.
Battle Began Early.
Lao Yang. Aug 30.-Rifie firing is
menced at the southwark at 5 o'clock
this morning. At 6 a. m. a steady
cannonading was in progress and it is
believed a great battle has commenced
point five miles west of the railroad
station yesterday evening. but were
dispersed.
Half Million Men Engaged.
Berlin. Aug. 3O.-A dispatch from
Lao Yang to the Lokal Anzeiger timed
SO a. m. today says:
What appears to be the deciding
battle began at a. IN. Since then the
artillery has been laundering and rifle
fire has been rolling incessantly. The
encircling heights resemble fire-emit-
ting mountains. Tho Japanese began
the attack east of Lao Yang. along the
Taitze river, but were repulsed.
The firing is now specially heavy
south and southwest of Lao Yang. One
can no longer distinguish individual
detonations. The Wyborg regiment of
which Emperor William II is honorary
chief. is deplOying upon the battlefield
The Russian army is full of confidence
The total strength of the combat
ants engaged is estimated at over half l.
a million men. The battle probably
will continue for several days"