The Penn's Grove record., 1904-09-23
JAPANESE TROOPS ON MOVE
General Nodzu's Forces Continue ID
Press kuropatkin.
ARMIES IN RUNNING FIGHT

Marshal Oyama Keeps Up His Agcres-
sive Campaign Against the Russians
With No Let-Up-Russian Commander
Has Gained in Point or Positions He'll
-Kuropatkin Wei! Prepared.
Mukden.--Doubt of Marshal Oyama's
Intention in respect of IN advance on
this place was dispelled when a strong
Japanese force crossed the South Sha
River at a point eighteen miles south
west of here shortly before dawn, and
advancing rapidly seven miles in this
direction, began Smelling the Russian
positions from the town Of Chang
shing. The Japanese centre and right
at noon rested on a line running from
Chan9slling east to Chuchiatun. which
latter place is six miles northwest Of
TAPPING Mountain. General Nodzu's
troops are marching north through the
broad valley. between the limestone
region and the railroad. The Japanese
left, under General Oku, early in the
morning moved from Shihi to South
Sha and began building a pontoon
bridge east Of the railway for tho
transportation of fieldpieces across
the river. General Samsonoff's Cos
sacks destroyed the military bridge
across that stream resting on the high.
way, and the railroad bridge was dam
aged so severely by Gen. StakeIberg's
artillery it was not strong enough to
bear even the enemy's lighter guns. A
detachment of dragons, supposed to
constitute part of Oku's left wing
crossed the South Sha River west of
the railroad and made a reconnaissance
toward the east bank of the Hun River
opposite Sanchiatsu, in the course of
which it engaged in several sharp
skirmishes with Cossack outposts.
The attacking force resting Oh
Changshing evidently was the van.
guard of Nodzu's army. 1t vas made
up of several battalions of infantry
and four field batteries, with a halt
squadron of cavalry. The enemy
shelled three Russian batteries bri.
gaded with four battalions Of Major
General Orloff's infantry, and was an.
swered with a severe fire from the Rus
sian guns. An artillery duel at long
range lasted more than an hour. Then
the Japanese infantry advanced under
cover of their guns and opened a scat.
tering fire OH the Russians. Two bat.
talions of the Russian infantry moved
south in open order, approaching the
enemy's skirmish line until the faces of
the PROSTATE sharpshooters were plain.
ly visible. Steady firing was main.
tanned by both sides until the enemy's
cavalry made a lanking charge against
the Russian left. Orloff's ri1emen
rallied quickly. repulsed the dragons
and fell back slowly in good order
One of the Russian batteries scattered
the enemy's skirmishers with a well
directed fire, and Orlof's infantry
withdrew toward Paitapu. The Rus.
sian guns were shifted under fire to
the latter town where they renewed
the fight, having the advantage of bet.
ter support. No further gain was made
by the enemy in the afternoon, the fir
ing being discontinued at dusk.
General Kuroki's forward brigades
were pressing north through the au
thracite fields. midway between Taip
ing Mountain ard the Imperial Tombs
Of Yang Pass. CosSack sotnias recon
noitering southwark from the HIM,
east of Muktlen. were fired on by his
vanguard, and withdrew without a
complete idea of his strength. 1t is
an accepted fact here, however. that
Kuroki is making all speed possible in
his detour against this point. General
Kuropatkin has disposed adequate
forces along the eastern road, and it is
believed the japanese will not cross the
Hun in that direction without a disas-
trous battle. 1t apparently is no part
Of General Kuropatkin's purpose to be
outfianked by Marshal Oyama without
determined resistance. The turning
tactics of the enemy cannot find the
Russians unprepared. as in former
stages of the Manchurian campaign.
Moreover, the relative positions Of the
opponents practically are the same as
before the battle of Liau Yang, while
the Russian commander has several ad.
vantages he did not possess III that part
Of the country. A general engagement,
whether fought here, as expected by
the more practical, or around Tie Pass.
as Russian optimists hope, will find
Kuropatkin ready for any stratagem
Oyama NAV employ,