The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-10-26
RUSSIAN CAVALRY ROUTED
General Samsonof With His Co.'S
sacks Forced to Retreat,
BLOODY HAND-TO-HAND FIGHTS

The Cars General Led a Brilliant
Charge, But IL Calling Fire of Machine
Guns Crippled His Forces and Com
PEELED a Observation-Disclosures Sharp
shooters Do Good Work.
Mukden.-Couriers arriving early In
the morning after a forced ride from
General S~amsonoff's field h%eadquar-
tiers, bring information of a sudden re-
treat by that general in the face of 4
strong and rapid movement by Oku's
entire army. Instead Of advancing
with their customary caution, the Japs
rushed into action in 4 way that indi-
cated either a sudden accession of
recklessness OF extreme confidence in
their strength.
General Oku attacked Samsonof's
Cossacks with infantry and dragons,
and in less than twenty minutes the
entire Russian front at that point was
raked by a severe crosSire from the
enemy's batteries. Several Cossack
horse batteries were dismantled before
they could be swung into action. Two
sotnias of cavalry fighting dismounted
were thrown OH the centre with a loss
Of more than t~hirty-five in killed N
wounded, and in Il quarter hour the ell
envy followed that success by turning
back both wings of Samsonoff's divis-
ion and weakening his centre with a
concentrated rifle and machine gun fire.
Samsonoff III person led Il cavalry
charge, which, while Il desperate rem
edy, was the only O he could make
TO save his whole division from panic.
He pushed between the broken halves
of his centre at the head Of a regiment
of cavalry and hurled himself against
the Japanese skirmish line. Continu.
Gus fire from the machine guns emp.
tied many saddles before the regiment
galloped from column to line forma'
ton, and one sotnia was almost cut to
pieces when completing the oblique
swing to it's position OF the left.
The gallant Cossacks rode forward nj
great speed, however, standing i'll their
stirrup-leathers and firing as thei1
horses flew over the stretch Of plain
that separated them from Oku'S infan'
try and light batteries. Steadily rs
they advanced their number was deci'
mated by the terrible fire OF the ma
chine guns. Japanese Sharpshooters
picked off the officers. General Sam
sonoff's uniform was riddled with bull
lets and his horse was killed nder him
in the first shock with the batteries
He remounted and led his men through
the skirmish line against battalions Oh
infantry in close formation constituting
the enemy's support.
Hand-to-hand fighting between Cos
sacks and gunnerS followed the sweep
over the skirmisherS. The enemy'S eX.
tended formation was scattered anu
stray soldiers were cut down before
they could rally OH their companies,
More than one gun squad was wiped
out by the cavalrymen. The enemy's
support. however, moved OF the Cos.
sacks and poured a heavy rifle ire into
the regiment. Several sotnias OF Cos
sacks ~dismounted and fired prone at
the advancing infantry.
Others destroyed the Japanese guns
captured in the first rush and blew up
ammunition wagons. General Oku APP
parently was unprepared for such Il
demonstration, so his reserve did not
come up behind the support quickly as
it should have done to repel the charge.
The Cossacks and the Japanese infan.
try in the supporting force were about
equal in numbers. Neither side gained
further advantage for almost half an
hour, the fighting continuing among
and behind the guns. Many were
killed and wounded on both sides i'll
that stage Of the battle, but no prison
erS were taken.
When ~Samsonoff's division was in
full retreat Oku threw against his rear
a brigade of infantry, fanked by two
regiments of dragons and several bat.
teries of flying artillery. The Japan'
csc ri1emen moved down the Cossack
runners and the enemy's cavalry pur.
sued the retreating division. Oku's
batteries advanced rapidly, taking po-
sition from time to time and directing
q destructive fire at the Russian
ranks. General Samsonoff saved a few
Of his guns. but was obliged to aban-
don most of them to enable his cavalry
to escape humiliation.