Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-11
FIGHTING IS REPORTED
Japanese Said toHave Checked
the Russian Advance.
HEAVY LOSS ALLEGED
EXTENT OR LOCATION OF THE
BATTLE NOT KNOWN.
st. Petersburg Hears That Oyama's IS
Force is North of the Taitse-
Dash Of the Cossacks.

| Dispatches from both Russian and jana
| nese sources today leave little doubt that
the armies of Oyama and Kuropatkin are
now closely engaged, but neither the extent
nor the exact location Of the battle are
| known. Tokyo hears that the Russians
| nave crossed the Hun river in force and are
| asgressively attacking the Japanese The
| same dispatch says that the Japanese re-
| captured position previously taken by the
| Russians, but the name of the place is not
| given.
| Tokyo also reports that the Russian adj
| vance was checked and that the losses on
| both sides have been heavy
st. Petersburg reports that Oyama's front
has been rapidly narrowing during the past
few days under pressure of the Russian ad-
| vance, and that his entire force is now
| north Of the Taitse river covering a front
not exceeding twenty miles. The point Of
the Japanese concentration is not definitely
known beyond the general statement that
their line stretches from the Yentai mines
westward to the railway.
Tokyo officially announces the loss of the
| armored gunboat Hei Yen, which struck
| mine of Pigeon bay on the night of Sep
temper IL foundering with nearly her entire
| complement of 300 men,
TOKYO, October IL, p.m-Tokyo to-
| night is eagerly awaiting tidings of the per-
slstentiy rumored engagement south of
Mukden 1t is reported that the Russians,
assuming the offensive, crossed the Hun
river and attacked General Kuroki's forces
capturing position which the japanese,
being strongly reinforced, recaptured and
reoccupied. The japanese, it is reported,
| have checked the Russian advance. 1t is
said that the losses on both sides were
heavy.
No official confirmation of these reports
can be obtained.
Advtces From Kuropatkin.
ST. PETERSBURG, October 11.-General
Kuropatkin has telegraphed to the emperor
that the Russian vanguard is now in con-
tact with the japanese, who are within gun
shot. The scouts are skirmishing along the
entire line..-,
No official news has been received from
the front as to what is happening today
but portion Of General Kuropatkn's dis
patch, dated last night, given to the public c.
showed that his army was steadily pushing
forward and that the Japanese were grad
ually Withdrawing their outposts, which
were only cannon shot distant. There
have been almost constant artillery skir-
mishes, which at any moment may develop
into a battle.
There is confirmation of the japanese
evacuation Of the Yentai mines. but the
report is credited at the war office.
Field Marshal Oyama's front has been
rapidly narrowing during the last few days.
under the pressure of the Russian advance,
and now does not exceed twenty miles, ex-
terdfng from the Yentai mines westward
beyond the railroad. When the Japanese
concentration Is effected counter attack
Is likely to be the signal for a series of
battles. If the Russians are victorious the
II q a G IN "a
within the mountainous triangle formed by
the Yentai mines, Liaoyang and Sywantun.
which constitute the fortified Japanese posi-
tions.
A flood of kilograms is being sent to
Kuropatkin from all parts of Russia, con-
graduating him on the assumption of the
offensive.
Russian Anxiety.
A period of anxiety is ahead. The Rus
sian public has been warned that now
the tables are turned and the Russian
army Is advancing. it cannot expect news
which might reveal General Kuropatkin's
plans to the Japanese, and the people will
have to be content with meager informa-
ton concerning what has actually been
accomplished until the impending battle Is
in full swing. The same reticence charac-
terized the Japanese offensive, and the
latter being now on the defensive will
probably furnish the world with more in
formation of the Russian movements than
can be expected from the Russian side
An officer of the general staff, speaking
of the necessity for secrecy while on the
offensive. recalled how private letter
falling into the hands Of Napoleon after
the battle Of Borodino betrayed the whole
plan for Barclay de Tolly's offensive
movements and almost led to disaster.
With the curtain down on the war
stage many wild rumors may be expected.
While the general staff intimates that
Kuropatkin is advancing cautiously, and
intrenching he goes, most of the mill
tary critics hold the opinion that his
greatest chance Of success is a quick
smash at the Japanese positions north of
the Taitse river, which would drive the
Japanese in confusion back upon the river
before they had chance to prepare Tor
their withdrawal
AS Kuropatkin's order of the day was not
given out until seven days after the advance
began 1t would not be surprising II heavy
fehting was already in progress. Indeed,
the latest newspaper dispatches say that
an artillery duel lasted throughout Sunday
on the center and right flank, and that the
Japanese are everywhere retiring before
the Russian advance.
Kuropatkin's Advance.
The statement that Kuropatkin is moving
on each side of the railroad in order to
have an easy line of communications would
indicate his intention to make frontal
attack with a possible turning movement
from the west, where the ground Is open,
but there the river bars the way and no
decisive victory is seemingly possible unless
he can reach the Japanese line Of communi-
cations below Liaoyang.
A military expert writes:
'It is difficult to say when Field Marshal
Oyama will accept battle. Perhaps he will
resist the advance at various positions
north of the Taitse river and then defend
the river, but according to the latest un-
official reports our troops are advancing
along the whole line and the cavalry is even
across the Taitse river.
Oyama's Force North of the Taitse.
MUKDEN. October ia Russian cor
respondent Of the Associated Press describ--
ing incidents of the Russian advance, tells
of a frfghtful dust storm. peculiar to this
season in Manchuria. which ragged Satur-
day. 1t was at its height while battalion
of the Pekoff regiment. with guns, attacked