The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1904-09-09
Harbin the Goal of Oyama
and Kuropatkin.
NO FIGHTING AT MUKDEN
Belief that the Japanese Field
Marshal Will again Attempt TO
: Surround the Enemy.

LONDON, Sept. 0.--The japanese
have bombarded KOrsakoff, the port
IN the island of Sakhalin in which the
cruiser Novik took refuge after her es-
cape from Port Arthur and where she
was destroyed by ships OF Admiral
Kamimura's squadron.
japanese cruisers shelled the town
for several hours. 1t Is thought this
action was taken to prevent Korsakoff
becoming harbor Of refuge for Rus
sian ships.
A Chefu report says that a Japanese
column numbering approximately 700
men while marching along at night in
the valley between Long hill and Dlvi-
sion hill met frightful disaster
through the explosion of an electric
land mine. The mine was. carefully
laid by the Russians three weeks ago
1t covered nearly mile of available
marching space. The explosive wds
placed at the bottom Rocks were
placed next, and on top Of these clay
was packed so carefully that the
ground gave 1.-The impression of not
having been disturbed. The indica-
tions of Japanese activity in this vicin-
ity put the Russians on guard Near
midnight the outposts rushed in and
reported that the japanese were ap-
preaching. The russians withheld
their fire for some time Suddenly they
threw a searchlight up the valley The
japanese opened with a rife fire The
Russians waited until apparently the
whole japanese column was in the
danger zone Then the mine was eX-
ploded. The force of the explosion
knocked number of Russians down,
and the sight of japanese rifles, water
bottles, legs and arms hurting through
the lighted space made by the search
light was an awful spectacle. Some
rocks landed inside the Russian lines.
There was one appalling moment, dur
ing which the garrison itself was
stunned, then a deathlike silence. The
searchlight coldly lighted up the road
and hlllsides strewn with dead. The
following day the Russians buried the
dead, but owing to their dismembered
and mutilated condition the Russians
were unable to accurately estimate the
number of killed.
A Harbin dispatch says that ii is
thought Field Marshal Oydhna is try
ing to repeat at Mukden the envelop-
ing movement which failed at LAO
yang.
If the armies continue to race north
ward to Tie pass, forty miles north of
Mukden, in the opinion of the best
military critics 1t will become of su-
preme Importance to Kuropatkin If the
door Of his retreat is closed there In
the event of defeat he would be forced
westward.
In order to protect his army against
such n possible catastrophe Russian
troops from Harbin have taken posses
sion of this pass.
Advices from Mukden say that a
fight has occurred at some point be-
tween Shakhe eleven miles northwest
of Liaoyang) and Mukden, and news
of 1t is hourly expected.
Among the many reports current is
one to the effect that General Kurold
has been killed and that two Japanese
generals have been made prisoners,
but no one seems to know where the
reports originated and no confirmation
is obtalnable.
: The fighting near Mukden has
ceased, and the Russian transports
and army are moving without inter
ruption. There is much uncertainty
concerning the movements and pur-
pose of the japanese.
General Kuropatkin evidently is not
seeking to renew the battle, but If
challenged he will not decline an en-
gagement.
The best information of the war Of.
fee indicates that General Kuropatkin
lost about 1900 men during the ten
days battle at Liaoyang.
General Kuropatkin reports that ho
did not lose gun during the retreat
bodies of Hurtig and Treiber Found
CLEVELAND, o., Sept 9.-The bod
los OF Julius Hurtig. and Albert G.
gr.otl,o, tha ioAf Of tho fifn mon who