Evening journal., 1904-09-05
FIERCE BATTLE
STILL GOES ON
Kuroki Attempts to EnveloE
Retreating Russians.
NoDzUs ARMY IN CLOSE PURSUIT

" Japanese RANKING movement ouc'
eeeds, Several Divisions Of Kuropst.
kin's Defeated Army Will Be captur.
ed-HeaVy Losses Reported.
Tokyo, Sept. 5.-Few of General Ku
ropatkln's soldiers have been able ts
go north Of the Yenthai coal mines, an6
General Kurold's army, which succeed
ed in reaching the railroad north Of
Yenthai at noon Sunday, is attempting
a turning movement against the Rus
slams left flank, the success Of which
will determine how many prisoners
will fall into the hands Of Marshal Oya
mas army. At 6 o'clock last night
General Nodzu's central army was still
attacking the retreating Russian forces
holding the hills north and northwest
Of Liaoyang. General Oku's division
had in greater part crossed the Tai
river farther TO the west, and unless
General Kuroki should be defeated OF
compelled TO retire to the position be
held on last Friday night it Is extreme |
ly probable that several brigades OF
General Kuropatkin's army will be un
able to make Mukden.
Marshal Oyama has telegraphed that
General Kuroli had swung bis most
northerly division westward TO the rail, |
way, but had left a reserve force, be.
lieved to be sufficient, at satbuago tc
protect his right flank from any attack
by General Kuropatkin north OF Yen.
thai. General Kurokrs enveloping
movement has been successful since
his decisive defeat of the Russians on
Friday night, and as the Japanese cen.
ter and left armies are driving the Rus
sian center and right steadily across
the Tai river the escape of General
Kuropatkin's divisions in force is
doubtful.
Envelopins an Army.
Neither the number of Russians who
succeeded in escaping north nor the
number encompassed by Kurokfs turn
ing movement is known here. The wal
Office announces that the severity OF
the Russian defeat hinges largely on
what General Kuroki will do in cross.
| ing the railroad. If successful, the
number of Russian prisoners will in all
probability be the largest since the bat.
ties of the Franco -Prussian war.
The first bulletin received from Mar.
shal Oyama announced that the losses
of the Japanese center and left on Sat
urday were extremely heavy, which is
an indication that the Russian forces
must have suffered extensively. No
detailed report has come Of the fight
ing since Friday night. and there is
doubt concerning the number Of Rus.
SLAMS who escaped. but no doubt as to
the character Of the victory in and
about Liaoyang.
!, There is some surprise shown here
by foreign military attaches that the
Russian center and left divisions were
able to cxtrlcate themselves at Lao.
yang and cross to the north bank Of
the Tai. That they could do this was
expected by the war department, and
it was to drive them westward that
General Kuroki made his thanking
march last Wednesday. General ku.
ropatkin for months contrived a series
of trenches and fortihcations extend.
ing all along the ridges Of the noun
tains TO the Tai river, and so, with a
much inferior force, he was able TO re-
tard the work of the japanese army
while his main divisions were crossing
the bridges which he built during the
spring and early summer months
There is no doubt, however, that in
his retirement across the river General
Oku's army always was in touch with
the enemy, and while nothing has
been heard from the left of the Japa
nese since Friday morning it is conf
IDENTIFY believed that when General
Oku reports the japanese success will
take on more decisive character.
Nodzu Attacks at Dawn.
General Nodzu's center attacked the
intrenehed Russians north of Lao.
yang at dawn yesterday, and Marshal
Oyama announces that the Japanese
are pursuing the remnants of the Rus.
sian force south of the Tai river. This
is the only indication that all the Rus.
sian regiments have not been able to
make the north bank, and therefore II
is assumed that as General KurolSl
has begun the execution Of his turning
movement. the extreme southerly
force of General Kuropatkin will be
driven to the westward, where the
remnant Of General Stakelberg's army
now is resting
General KurOki telegraphed from the
field at o'clock Sunday morning that
his losses in the battle Of Friday night
and Saturday morning were trihing
He estimates the Russian loss in killed
and wounded at 1000 and has cap.
tured eleven guns. The general opin'
ion Of the war staff is that not more
than 10000 Russians have so far sue
ceeded in going north Of Yenthai and
battle Of great proportions is looked
for within twenty-four hours.
1t is recognized of course that the
men have been fighting for almost
thirteen days, that they have had per
haps neither sleep nor food for forty
eight hours at a time and that they
have arrived at the limit of human en-
durance and suffering. In view. how
. ever, Of the emergency which require:
that the Russian army should not es
cape, it is confidently believed here
that the fighting will continue unit
the Russians get away or are captured
north of the Tai river.
Russian Loss Irretrievable2