Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1904-10-21
GREATEST BATTLE CONTINUES
RUSSIAN AND JAPANESE ARMIES
SLAUGHTERED.
Cars Men Succeeded in getting
Away, but Then Losses Amount to
over 10000 Men-eisger Battle
Than Liaoyang-Both Armies Com.
pleteIy Exhausted.

Mukden, Oct. 1.-THE battle was re-
newed and continued throughout the
night, being especially heavy at mid
night. The Russians retain their po-
sition along the Shakhe river, and
have made frequent attacks upon the
Japanese, capturing six of the latters
guns. The eastern army is helping
the western forces. There has been
heavy artillery firing tonight. The
fighting is now conferred on the plain
There was a lull in the battle Satur-
day, but fighting was continued Sun
day on the right. The army was then
southwest of here 10 miles. 1t is now
certain that the army will be able to
extricate itself. The losses amount
to 10000. 1t has been bigger bat
tie than Liaoyang. The Russians at
tackled on the right yesterday.
Slowly and painfully the entire Rus
sian army is retreating upon Mukden
Hostilities practically ceased with yes
terday's victory of General Oku's left
wing over the Russian fanking force,
and only desultory firing, directed
against isolated Russian rear guards,
is heard. Both armies are exhausted
to the point of collapse. The fighting
of the past four days without rest,
without proper provisions, almost en-
tirely without sleep, require superhu-
man efforts on the part of every man
engaged, and now the reaction has set
in.
General Kuropatkin has abandoned
his plan of effecting a rally on the
north side of the Hun river. He is
retreaiing without fighting, and his
main object is to reach Mukden srf-
ficently quick to leave the Japanese
outside the gates.
Numberless stories of herosm on
the part of the commander in chief
are told b. wounded soldiers arriving
here. Thursday evening he took per-
sonal command of the fighting, di-
recting operations on many points
amidst shower of shells and shrap-
mel. Twice he rescued considerable
forces from being annihilated by ex-
Treating them from perilous positions.
He failed to save the force which at
tempted to turn General Kurokfs
right army, and jeopardized his own
safety, but was able to withdraw with
the troops surrounding him before the
Japanese could cut him off. There
is no longer any doubt that General
Kuropatkin made the forward move
ment against his better judgment and
that he went into the fight expecting
defeat. 1t is positively known here
that he was commanded by the czar
to advance at all costs and to issue
statements of a reassuring character.
St. Petersburg evidently trusted to
the effect of sudden stroke upon the
enemy.
Narrowing tales are told by return
ing soldiers of the frightful slaughter
Of the last three days. The number
of officers killed is appalling and can
only be accounted for by the desperate
bravery with which they led their
troops against the enemy. Several
companies lost every officer and were
commanded by privates next in rank
by seniority of service. No dependable
estimate has reached here of the to-
tai loss on the Russian side. Some
place it at fully 10000, but this num-
Der may be too high. They will reach
10000, however. it is feared.
Orders have been received TO con-
tlnue the Notifications of the city with
renewed vigor. Thousands OF Chlnese
have been pressed into service and
great stretches of land south OF the
city are being covered with entangle-
ments. New trenches are being built.
The first regiments returning fiom the
battle line are expected to arrive mere
late tonight.
Preparations have been made for
their reception. The accommodations
are likely to be inadequate for the
present, but the work is progressing
rapidly.
Burying the Dead.
Tokio.-In the reports Of the great
battle which continue to arrive from
the front the most striking feature Is
the terrible record of Russian dead.
Before the severe fighting on October
IA General Oku's army alone recovered
and buried 1000, making the total
number of Russians buried by the Jap
anese, with Nodzu's army still to hear
from, $500. Applying the usual calcu-
lation, and making reasonable allow
ance for the fighting Of the 14th and
18th, the Russian losses will exceed
10000.
Fragmentary reports Of Japanese
casualties are coming in. General