New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-30
A STUBBORN ENCOUNTER.
Russians Retire In Good Ordsr-LosA
Estimates VGry.

81. Petersburg. March 29.-GensraI Kuropae-
kin. N his first report to thu Emperor from ths
scene OF war, announced that orensfvs land on-
erations had taken place against ths Japanese
upon the sixth anniversary OF the occupation Of
Port Arthur by the Russians. These operations
took the form OF a cavalry attack yesterday By
six companies OF CossacIx,. led personally By
General 06istchenlxow. against four s1uadrons
OF japanese cavalry. which ths general believed
to be beyond Chongtu, but which hs found oc-
cupyfng that town
The Russian commander Pays . trfouts tn
japanese tsnacity and bravery tns MIksdo's
troops only ceasing to FIRE after a combat which
lasted for half an hour. Before tho Russians
could follow UP their advantages three Japanese
squadrons gallOped toward the town. which two
Of them succeeded IN entering. while tho third
was driven back IN disorder. men and horses
falling. The fire maintained was so destructive
that the japanese were unable to make an er-
fective return
japanese reinforcenents arrived an hour later.
and, in view OF the superiority Of the enemy
General NIIstchenkow determined TO retire. doing
without embarrassment. although he carTied
with him three killed and sixteen wounded
General Kuropatkin's location was not made
public. He is supposed to be either at Lao
Yang or on the way to New-Chwang. General
Mistchenkows report follows:
For three consecutive days our small outposts
attempted to draw the Japanese cavalry into ac-
tiOn. but their patrols after contact was estab-
Ished. retired beyond Chongju. about hfty
F7vrae ,FU fr,t- V-4rrc~
Having learned that four squadrOns Of the
enemy were posted five verst5 beyond ChOngJu,
kasan. and on March - reached ChOng1u at
1920 a. n AS soon scouts approached
the town the enemy opened IRE from behind the
wall Two squadrons promptly dlsmouhted ana
occupied the heights six hundred yards distant.
An engagement ensUed.
In the town company OF infantry and a
squadron OF cavalry were lying in ambush
Our men reinforced by three companies
and attacked the japanese with cross IRE.
Mountaineering this and our commanding
position. the japanese gallanty held their
ground, ami it was only after a fierce fight Of
half an hour that the japanese ceased fire and
sought refuge in the houses. They hOIsted tho
Red Cross flag at two points.
soon afterward three squadrons or the enemy
were seen advancing along the kasan road
at full gaIIOp toward the town. which two OF
the squddr0Iis succeeded IN ehtetlLs, NhL5s lII9
third fell back IN disorder under repeated Vol,
leyS from troops \ number o. men anu
horses were seen to fall
For an hour afterWard our companies COn-
tiuued to fire on the Japanese in the town, pre-
venting them from leaving the streets and
houses.
An hour and a half after the beginning Of the
engagemenr four companies were seen on the
Kasan road. fastening 20 attack / gave the
order TO mount and the entire force, with \
covering squadron advanced in perfect order
and formed in line behind the hill The wounded
were placed in front. and the retirement was
carried out with the deliberattOn OF parade.
The japanese squadron. which was thrown
into disorder was evidently unable TO occupy
the hill which had Just evacuated, and their
infantry arrived tCO late
arrived quietly at Kasan. where we halted for
two hours in order to give attention 70 our
wounded. At o D. our force reached NOOSan.
n is supposed that the japanese had heavy
losses in men and horses. ON our side.
fortIInateIv three officers severely wounded
-StepanOff and AndrOOpke I'm the chest and
TasaIvftch in the stomach. SchilnikOff was less
seriously wounded IL the arm. but did not leave
the field Three COssacks were Killed and twelve
wounded including five seriously.
General NIistchenISow bears witness TO the ex-
cellsnt conduct and gallantry OF the officers and
Cossacks. and especially praises the 81 company
OF the Argunsk Regiment. commanded by Kras-
nostanOh.
Seoul. March ga report has reached here
that fifty Japanese and one hundred Cossacks
were killed and wounded IN a conflict between
Anju and Chongju.