The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-09
Abandonment of Feng-Wang-
Cheng Reported by Kuropatkin
to the War Ministry.
Total of 2,3o7 Officers and Men
Killed, Wounded or Captured
by the Japanese.
ALEXIEFF SLIGHTLY HURT
This Is the Report That Reaches
Nieu-Chwang, Which the Rus
slams Are Evacuating.

ST. PETERSBURG. May $50 a. M
Two of the dispatches calculated to in
crease the depression existing among all
circles in Russia were given out last night.
From the point of view of the progress
of the campaign the most important is
that regarding the capture by the japanese
without opposition of Feng-wang-Cheng
on May s. The second gives details con-
cerning the killing. wounding and missing
among the troops under the command OF
Lieutenant General Zassalitch as the result
of the fighting on the Yalu. the number OF
which totals 1887 officers and men.
General Kuropatkin forwarded a message
from Lieutenant General Zassalitch who
had been left In command of the column
retiring from -Wang-Cheng. which de-
scribed the movements of the enemy in
connection with the occupation OF the
town. The information caused no sur
prise TO the officials. who had already been
advised of the decision that attempt
would be made to hold Feng- -Wang-Cheng.
the superiority OF the Japanese in all fight
ing arms insuring a disaster similar TO
that at Chiu-Lien- -Cheng. Therefore Gen.
eral Zassalitch was given strict orders that
there should be no fight of The rear guard.
The Russians left while General Kuroki
was making his dispositions for a big
battle.
The japanese approached from two direc-
tions. along the main road and up the val
ley, placing batteries so as to command the
town. This procedure on the part of Cen
eral Kuroki shows the entire Japanese plan
OF operation had been thoughtfully prepared
and that every division commander knew
exactly what he should do.
KUROKI a PUZZLE.
Now that General Kuroki is established at
Feng-Wang- -Cheng. the Russians are puz-
zled as 10 what move he will make next.
The fact that he sent two companies TO
Dalian-Dia-P a-Pu-Tse. ten miles north-north-
east of Feng- -Wang-Cheng. might indicate
his purpose TO proceed along this road TO
Ting-Chan-Gien. ninety miles north from
where he would march due west TO Lao
Yang. This would permit an effective flank
ing movement. but IL is no. considered prob
able, the likelihood being that he will-,aaAev
along the road b. which the Russians re-
treated toward Liao-Yang. This road
branches off at Chata-Chang. twenty miles
westward of Feng-W -Wang-Cheng. and con-
tinues almost directly west of Hai-Cbeng.
which was captored by the Japanese during
the Chino-Japanese war. A march on this
place would compel the evacuation of NieU-
Chwang, as the force there would be in
danger Of destruction or OF being subjected
TO siege by the armies conYerging from
Hai-Cheng and the southern part of the
Llao-Tung peninsula.
There is no confirmation. mp to the pres
ent time. of the report that the Russians
CXaCuafe
but few would be surprised If IL should
turn out to be correct The effect OF
march along the road TO Hai-Cheng would
be. to place absolutely i'm the control OF
the Japanese all Manchuria between the
Yalu and the Liao-Tung peninsula. with
the exception of Port Arthur. The Rus
slams admit that at this stage OF the war
the japanese control the territory men,
toned. the Russky Invalid, the army or
San. making this concession. The rest OF
the press is silent. Only one afternoon
paper alluded to the abandonment OF
Feng Wang -Cheng, and that one inconspic-
uousy.
Where General Kuropatkin's main force
is now stationed has not been announced.
though General Zassalitch says the cavalry
left for Schind-Jan.
stead Of proceeding 10 Hai-Chong. Will
move northward along the road 10 Lao
Yang. lie will And the Russians intrenched
at en-Shori-Chan pass, west OF Mao
Tien-Ling pass.
HELPFUL TO RUSSIA.
Ii is pointed out that the abandonment
of southern Manchuria will be beneficial
TO the Russians, as it will enable the COM
pIete concentration of the forces which
have heretofore been scattered in conse-
quence of ignorance as to what the enemy
proposed to do.
Though the people are tried by the gen.
eral withdrawal, il is recalled that General
L, Iii
left ST. Petersburg for Manchuria. No word
of criticism of his conduct is heard
The grewsome figures in the Russian
losses on the Yalu are higher than had
been reported by Major General kashfa-
linsky, who himself appears To have been
wounded by a flying stone.
General kuropatkin does not give the
strength of the Japanese. only reporting
perior in artillery than the Russian forces.
The casualties show that one-fifth OF
General Zassalitch's command was placed
out of action. The Eleventh and Twelfth
regiments lost more than half their men in
the fight The Third Battery OF the Third
Artillery Brigade was almost annihilated.
losing eighty-eight I'm killed wounded.
and seNenty-twO out OF ll0 horses.
The Second Battery of the Sixth Brigade
lost forty-four I'm killed or wounded. and
Jos out OF 10 horses. The Third Battery
of the Sixth Brigade lost twenty-four killed
or wounded and forty-one horses. OF the
machine gun attachments only twenty-six
men were not killed or wounded.
The name of the priest Of the Eleventh
Regiment who led the gallant charge and
who was among the wounded. il III. Il.
Tcherbackoffsky. of the Orthodox Greek
Church.
Gen. kuropatkin says that prisoners
were taken by the japanese. but he admits
that seven Officers and 67S men We're LETT
on the field. but IL is not known whether
they were wounded or dead.
The only CLEAN Of brightness In the dark
cloud overshadowing the East lies I'm the
official information from Major General
Plug that Port Arthur lis not yet blocked
by the Japanese How this information
was obtained the officials will not say. but
they insist that IL Is reliable and are salts
fed that the defenders will prevent the
success of the further Efforts which the
japanese will undoubtedly make To bot
tie the harbor.
More Rad News from kuropafkin. IL