Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-08-31

tuesday is the anniversary of the
birth Of the Japanese emperor and the
Russians expect general advance up-
on its positions around Liho Yang
EVerynody Is keyed up for the long
awaited moment and the soldiers face
the probable events with confidence.
from early morning till noon, Mon
day, In Liao Yang could be heard the
dnll rumble Of distant guns. Then
lull or four hours ensued when sud-
deniy nrlng reopened to the southeast
heavier and nearer than before and
continued with but little intermission
until darkness fell.
Lao Yang, Aug. 1910 A. Ny
From O'Clock, Tuesday MORNING m
to 9 o'clock there has been an incasI
SAINT shower of shrapnel. The heav-
lest cannonading is coming from the
southeast. where the Japenese evident.
ly have numerous guns. Deadly shalls
are bursting everywhere, their white
smoke being distinctly traceabla
against the dark foliage on the noun
tain sides.
The Japanese are searching the whole
countryside with their fire. SELECTING
certain squares of territory on which
| for few moments they mass a hal,
of shot and shell from all their eun.
They then pass to another square. Tins
working the whole field with mathe.
| NAUTICAL precision from right to left
| In this way the entire Russian front
has been systema tically searched in the
| first four hours Of the cannonading
1 Il.
advance along the whole line.
| At this hour, 10 A. NJ. the Japanese
artillery fire has somewhat slackened
| but their infantry has been steadily
nushing forward The Russians have
been holding their ground calamity and
! their losses are small, considering the
terrible nature of the japanese fire.
Lao Yang, Aug. 29.-Throughout
| Aug. 81 and % the Russian eastern d.
vision continued to fail back in good
order on Lao Yang. but the movement
was slow on account of bad roads and
the difficulties of transportation AMI
| the japanese pressed closely several
times with light batteries. dragging
guns to the hills and Smelling the
troops, whose retirement was covered
by Russian guns. Consequently there
was frequent artillery GIels.
| Gen. Marson was wounded and there
wore other losses of about $50 men.
The Japanese scouts are extremely
active, today (Monday). and rain is
falling. but the rumble Of artillery can
still be heard on the eastward. The
Russian retreat from Anshanshan was
ordered for strategic reasons, practi-
cally no resistance being offered. A
light screen of batteries facing the
enemy's guns beautifully disposed on
| 4 chain of hills masked the withdra wal
of the main force. When night fell the
batteries also took up the retreat,
their rear-guard lighting bivouac fires
to conceal the movement. The Japan
csc soon discovered this ruse and
pressed forward. coming up with the
Russian rear guard. Suday morning.
For an hour the light batteries were
holly engaged. To the lot of the Omsk
Tobo'sk and Krasnoyarsk regiments
fell the duty Of covering the retreat Of
Gen. Zaroubaieff's Fourth Siberian
army CORPS. The task was difficult as
the enemy continued to advance. de-
blowing light mountain guns against
! the ltuSSGtn rear d1lo ltIl lldHkS stlu
it was imperative that the enemy
should be held back to permit the re-
movaI of the baggage and artillery
trains. The roads We're washed out
and heavy with mud produced by the
dpluge of rain the preceding Friday.
Many guns were mired and the horses
exhausted. Cossacks and infantrymen
were harnessed to the guns and man.
aged to haul them along. 1t was SLOW
work. but was successfully accom-
plished The greatest difficulty of the
retirement on the east front was ex-
pcrinnced before Vanbanty pass where
it WAS necessary to hold the Japanese
in check until the artillery transport
raised through and also to keep in
touch with the 10th army corps, COM
manded by Gen. Herschelmann to tho
inorth, rs well as with the southern d.
vision in order to prevent a turning
movement
From dawn until dark, Monday, the
eastern troops although fatigued by
four days fighting sustained a rear
| guard action