The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1904-07-20
LOSS EXCEEDED 1000.
Official Report of Russian At
tack on Molten Pass.
Drove Back Japanese outposts-Rus.
sian Attack on Passes Failed Be.
cause Field Guns Could Not Be
Brought Into Action-General kel.
Ter Decided Not to Continue Fight.

Ter Decided Not to Continue Fight.
st. Petersburg, July 10. - General
Kuropatkin reports that Lieutenant
General Count Keller lost over 1000
N killed or wounded in the attack on
Molten pass July IT.
The following dispatch from General
Kuropatkin to the emperor, dated
July II on our eastern front" was
given out last night:
After the occupation by General
Kuroki's army of the passes in the
Fenshui mountain chain, our inform
alton concerning his forces and dispo-
sitions was in general inadequate. Ac-
cording to some reports, his army had
been reinforced and he had even eX.
tended his forces toward Saimatsza.
Other reports stated that a displace.
ment of his troops had been made in
the direction of Ia pass and Siuyen.
There were even indications that
KuroM had transferred his headquar.
ters from Tskhakhekan to Touinpu.
"On the strength of the information
received and on the basis OF recon.
naissances which had been made, the
hypothesis was formed that the prin-
cipal forces of the enemy were con-
centrated around Lianshankwan and
that their advance guards had been
strengthened in the passes of Siaokao
Wafankwan, Sinkia, Lakho and Papau
as well as at Sybey pass, two and a
half miles north of the road and half
the height of Siaokao pass.
To Determine Enemy's Strength.
"On July II in order to determine
the strength of the enemy, it was de-
cided to advance against his position
in the direction of Lianshankwan.
Lieutenant General Count Keller had
been instructed not to start with the
object of capturing the pass but to
act according to the strength of the
force that he would find opposed to
him.
THE left column of this expedition
airy force consisting of three battal-
ions was dispatched towards Sybey
pass. The center column, commanded
by Major General Kashtalinsky, con-
sisting of IA battalions with u guns,
was destined to attack Siaokao pass,
the heights surmOunted by the temple
and Wafankwan pass.
"The right column, one battalion
strong. was occupying points where
the roads leading to Sinkia and 1.akho
passes cross in order to cover the right
flank of General Kashtalinsky's col
umn. The general reserve was left at
Akhavuen and a portion of the force
occupied a position at that place.
At 10 p m. July 1G the head of the
column advanced from Ikhavuan. At
II O'Clock a battalion of the second
regiment dislodged a Japanese out
post at the point of the bayonet at the
crossing of the Lakho and the Sinkai
roads.
The details of this engagement have
not yet been verified, but its general
course, according to telegraphic re-
ports sent in by General Keller, was
as follows:
During the night the Japanese had
evacuated Siaokao Pass and the
heights surmounted by the temple,
leaving only outposts there. At dawn
General Kashtalinskys column oc
cupied these passes, driving back the
Japanese advance posts.
AT about $3.50 on the morning of
July II the Japanese in considerable
strength and with numerous guns oc.
cupied Wafankwan passes and the
bluffs to the south on the
flank of General Kashtalinsky's col.
umn. From this position and from the
crest of the mountains to the east of
the heights surmounted by the tenn
pie the enemy directed a very heavy
rifle and artillery fire.
Failure to Occupy Bluffs.
General Kashtalinsky advanced to
occupy the bluffs, sending forward at
first one and then three battalions,
but the attempt failed Notwithstanding
the support given by the horse noun
tain battery. as our field guns could
not be brought into action on account
of the nature of the ground.
"At about a. m. General Keller,
who was directing the fight around
deemed it necessary to lend
assistance to General Kashtalinsky's |
column by bringing up from the gener-
al reserve three battalions to the |
heights surmounted by the temple. In |
-:der TO maintain the position we had |
already occupied it was necessary ow
ing to the enemys pressure, to rein
force Immediately with other reserves
the troops in the fighting line, but
these positions owing to their situa
tion we're mtcnable
General Keller found the strength |
Of the enemy so great compared with |
ours that he decided not to continue |
the fight and not TO bring m either !
the special or the general reserves |
in view of tho fact that in
case OF his ultimately taking the Of |
fensivc It would be necessary to at.
tack without support Of the field ar.
tllery.
'In consequence of this, General
Keller decided about 1890 to with
draw his troops to the positions or
iglnalE occupied in the Yanzc pass.
The troops retired slowly step by
step and in perfect order, covered by
the fire of a field battery which had
been brought into action
Towards midday an offensive move.
mert by the enemy n the direction