The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-10-17
SHAKHE IS AGAIN
 IN RUSSIAN HANDS
AFTER LAST EVACUATION OF VILLAGE BY THE RUSSIANS LAPS FAIL IN AN ATTEMPT TO REoccUPY IF.

| hEOCOOFf ls,
 Bulletin, Mukden, October Is q0:25 p. | m.)-Shakhe is again in the hands of the Russians. After the last evacuation of
 the village by the Russians the Japa-
 nese failed in an attempt to reoccupy 1t,
 and now the village is held by Russian
 infantry.
 There is every indication that the Rus sian right flank is about to resume the | offensive, and occupy the positions held | by them on October 10 and H. The Japa- | nese resistance is growing weaker. and
 they are apparently preparing to evacu- ate. Towards the east and center the Japanese are more stubborn. and are showing more resistance. Some of the positions on the fighting line have al- ready changed hands ten times. It Is 1 impossible to say how long the contest will continue before one side or the other is worn out
 While this disr atch is being finished the sound of increasing cannonade from the center indicates that something unusual Is happening. The correspondent is leav- ing for the front to ascertain the cause. --~~--~---~---~------~-~ Humantung the Japanese had planted four batteries. Upon the advance of the Russians these batteries retired to the southward, across a narrow valley which
 runs east and west, and joined the main Japanese force on the hills beyond. In the fighting around Humantung i few Japanese prisoners were taken. The
 Russians followed the Japanese across
 the valley, taking positions in the foot hills from which the artillery shelled
 the Japanese force, while the infantry advance through the defiles. October II the artillery duel continued, the Russians advancing slowly. During the night the Japanese changed their positions, and at daylight enfiladed through trenches, pouring a terrific shrapnel fire on the infantry composed of one regiment, only
 remnant of which was left. From this on the Japanese took the offensive the
 entire day of the 18th, throwing shrapnel and shimose powder shells among the in fantry and artillery. The Russians held tenaciously to their positions
 Japs Work Around Left Early in the day the Japanese contin- ued to work around the Russian left, and succeeded In dropping a few shells on the road. and in the villages where the transport and reserves were gathered. The Japanese had the range of the road and village perfectly. They compelled the men and wagons to take to the fields. This smelling did little damage beyond disconcerting the men and horses. Addi- tional guns were sent forward to protect the left, while the batteries withdrew across the plains to the hills on the north side. This gave the Japanese possession
 of high hill on the south, from wnicn they shelled the valley through which the Russians had advanced during the evening. The Japanese apparently sul- fered greatly from the Russian fire.
 General Kuropatkin says that Friday night was passed in comparative quiet
 but that Saturday saw an immense con
 centration of Japanese on the great Man
 darin road, where the Russian batteries
 were vigorously playing in an effort to
 hold them in check.
 Saturdays Fight Severe.
 The result of Saturdays fight has not
 been officially given out but there is | every evidence that 1t was of the most | severe character. It was during the Japanese furious night attack of Wednes-
 day, according to unofficial accounts, that l the Russians lost their guns Thursday l witnessed another furious cannonade in which the whole of the Russian center was forced back. In the afternoon of the
 same day the Russian right began to | give away. Towards evening came ! few hours hull. but at midnight the can | nonading was resumed with increased
 fury, eye witnesses declaring that it ex- | ceeded in intensity that at Liao Yang
 during the famous fighting of the 3Oth | and 31st of August.
 | There was much desperate fighting on | Friday which was carried on through | tremendous storm of rain, hail and | thunder. General Kuropatkin personally l took command of the Peteroff regiment. | It was in the midst of this awful war of
 man and elements, the Peteroff regiment
 leading 5000 Russians for the last time | charged doggedly into Shakhe and took | the town in the face of a hot Japanese l bombardment. The latest reports from
 the battle are of Sunday afternoon and | evening when the Russians were carrying
 On heary rear-guard fight, evidently retiring on Mukden. Generals Oku and | Nodzu were concentrating for another | blow on the Russian right where the l fighting is described as having been furi- | ous. General Nodzu is reported to have
 been wounded seriously, but this cannot | be confirmed.
 ! The morning of the 12th found little | change in the positions of the two armies. I except that the Japanese had work led l further around to the left Probably the l greatest artillery fight of the battle tooJx | place October 12 Batteries were placed | on every available hill. and at the same
 time regiment after regiment of infantry 1 was poured into the plain by both sides 1 only to be thrown back shattered and 1 torn. It is impossible as yet to estimate | the loss of life. Durin- the night heavy | rainstorm occurred, in the midst of which the artillery continued to boom. | and at one point the Japanese infantry | charged. They were met by Russian in- | fantrymen in the darkness. which was lighted only by flashes of guns, the burst l ing of small shells. and the streaks of
 lightning. The men fought hand-to-hand