Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-10-22
HEAVY RAIN ENDS
GREAT BATTLE,
Both Sides in Great Manchurian
Contest Now Resting.
PREPARING TO RENEW FIGHT


Lone Tree Hill, Which Resulted In
Awful Slaughter, the Dead Of Both
Sides Lying In Heaps.
st. Petersburg. Oct 2O.-For the mo-
ment heavy rains and impossible
roads have compelled a suspension Of
operations IN Manchuria. There was
practically no fighting yesterday and
none whatever last night.
There is every evidence of a new
disposition of the forces on both sides.
General Kuropatkin is extending his
right, whether with a view to a turn
ing movement for the safety Of Lone
Tree Hill. the Importance OF which
point is fully realized by the japanese.
who have attempted to retake it in two
night attacks, or whether to meet and
thwart a Japanese turning movement
from the west. has not yet developed.
The Japanese also appear to be shift
ing weight to the westward.
Yelled hints continue to arrive that
the Russians have recovered from the
blow inflicted last week by Field Mar
shall Oyama. and that General Kuro-
patkin is preparing to renew the strug-
gle as soon as the roads become dry.
Two Associated Press dispatches from
Mukden mention reports that the Jap
anese already are preparing to retire.
and the war Office admits that Kuro-
patkin's left has again moved slightly
forward. but there is no light upon the
movements of the Japanese. There is,
indeed. an utter lack of late news from
Toxic. and an enemy so resourceful
may really be preparing a surprise
movement instead of a retreat. reiiev-
ing the pressure on the front with a
view to accomplishing something on
the flank
Many critics here continue to believe
that General Kuropatkin intends to re-
turn to the line of the Hun river.
The enforced cessation of operations
by the bad weather, IL the Japanese
offensive has really exhausted itself,
gives both armies a chance to breathe
and pull themselves together and would
seem to ensure as much benefit to one
side as to the other, for practical pur-
poses. When operations recommence
they will assume an entirely new
phase. with new dispositions and OBJ
jectives. Practically last weeks battle
has ended. and It goes into history as
a Russian defeat. When operations are
resumed a new battle will begin.
The temperance of Viceroy Alexieff
at Mukden today for a conference is not
particularly reassuring. as such confer
ences In the past have not been fruit
full of success.
sian western frontier and the prepara-
lions to further reduce garrisons in
this region revive talk of a complete
understanding with Germany, under
which the frontier will be protected so
az to permit of the dispatch to Man
churia Of troops stationed in Poland.
There are about 900. 900 soldiers In Po-
land. comprising some OF the best
troops in the empire It Is already
known that practically all of three
corps in the wilma government will be
included in General Grippenberg's
army. but as these troops are included
In what is known as Russia's third
line of defense. the fact has not at
tracted much attention.
Lone Tree Hill. won by the Russians
after a desperate struggle, was the OBJ
tect of a gallant unsuccessful attempt
at recapture by the Japanese. In spite
OF the awful slaughter with which
they had been driven from the hill.
the Japanese returned to the charge
during the night of October II. recog-
nizing that the hill was the key to the
position on the southwest front Nine
regiments participated. creeping I'D
through the night and delivering a
furious assault at dawn. But the hill
had been bought too dearly by the Rus
SLAMS to relinquish it. and the Japa-
nese were driven back with terrible
slaughter.
The battlefield of Lone Tree Hill
presents the most awful spectacle that
can be conceived. Russian and Japa-
nese dead are mingled in heaps in in
NOhtuSlOh. ue BTOuUu is
strewn with broken rifles that had been
smashed In hand-to-hand fighting.
Everything seems to have been utilized
as weapons. The Russian doctors are
working heroically on the slopes of the
hill In the attempt to save those OF the
wounded who still survive. but the
japanese keep up a sniping fire and
render the work of relief difficult and
dangerous.
The continual vigilance OF the COM
batants. and especially the serious ac-
ceptance by the japanese army of the
Russian advance, promises further
fighting. although there has been al
ready ten days OF unprecedented and
exhaustive conflict The japanese have
been alternately testing the Russian
Russians In monotonous and bitter
day to day assistance on the line OF
contact. The Japanese apparently
feared that the Russian advance would
develop a superior force of reserves.
The duration OF the contest already
exceeds by several days the common
prophecies. as It was believed that
neither side was capable of such ex-