New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-04
WAR BEGINS IN EARNEST.
St. Petersburg Startled by the Days
DEVELOPMENTS.

h6C6tOpHttHCS.
ST. Petersburg May 4.-St. Petersburg is cleo
trified by the sensational news OF lighting
land and sea.
From General Kuropatkin. conveying Lieu
tent General Zassalitch's report graphic
details of the battle of TLren-Chen CKulien-
Cheng), as the combat on the banks of the
Yalu is officially designated, which show the
savage character of the fighting displayed by
the Russians IN their effort to hold position
commanded by the japanese fire and their
derby retreat to Feng- Wang-Cheng. where they
intrenched, conducting on the way a
brilliant rear guard engagement. in which they
inflicted heavy loss the enemy.
viceroy Alexieff's command at Port Arthur
has been signalized by the repulse of another
desperate attempt by the japanese to close tie
entrance TO the harbor. Adding to this quote of
the war news the official relort OF the appear
ance of a number of Japanese ships off --apng
and Siniucher. on the west coast Of Liao-Tung
Peninsula, below New Chwang. forebodng the
Decentralization OF Japal-ese troops. with the in
tention of cutting off Port Arthur this war
may be said have begun in deadly
earnest.
Yesterday a day Of anxiety and excite
nent among al classes Of people from the
Emperor TO the lowest moujik. standing before
the bulletins, eagerly listening TO the dispatches
as they were read out by the educated persons
in the crowd.
THE CASUALTIES ON THE YALU.
Important was Alexiefr's achievement, In
spit of the magnitude OF the attempt Of the
japanese who this time sent in ten nreships to
block the Port Arthur entrance, It is dwarted
by the details of the fighting on the YaIu
showing the severe losses suffered by the Rus
SLAMS, who have removed eight hundred wounded
to Feng-Wang-Cheng. while General Kuro-
patkins report is taken to mean that the Jap
anese loss is between three thousand and four
thousand
If this statement Of the japanese loss is cor
rect, the Russian authorities say that General
Zassalitch must have credit for carrying out
that part Of his orders to make the crossing of
the Yalu as costly possible to the enemy.
Zassalitch's report indicates that the Japanese
began the battle by Smelling the right flank and
attracting attention TO that point and then q
hanl1ing movement TO the left began in force.
Zassalitch had only ten thousand men, of whom
two thousand were unable to take part in the
fighting, as they occupying Antung and
General Kuroki. approaching the inability Of his
opponent to bring up reserves. threw his weighty
force upon the points selected for attack
The japanese had from $1,000 t 10000 men.
besides the greater quantity of guns, many of
them being of heavier calibre than those Of the
Russians Thus ,utnumbered, the Russians
actually engaged more than five to one
RUSSIAN BAYONET CHARGE
The japanese succeeded I'm fanking two Rus
sian battalions on both sides and enveIoping
them in the rear. The Russians with music
playing a martial air and with fixed bayonets
and, it is to be added with priest holding aloft
a cross, charged. and the japanese opened be-
fore them, after which they succeeded in reach
ing the supports 1t was one of the most
gallant movements of A bloody day
Because of the weakness of the Russians they
were unable TO hold their positions. EnfIaded
by the enemy's fire men and horses began to
fall a few mounts only surviving. The men yet
unwounded sprang to the guns In an effort
TO remove them. but the mountainous nature Of
the country and the heavy roads prevented this.
and the guns abandoned their breech
locks being first removed. Three batteries thus
lost their guns.
No such determined stand as that made by the
troops was intended by General Kuropatkin,
but their tenacity in holding their positions IT
is said by the general staff, IS worthy of the
highest traditions of the Russian army.
These were not especially crack troops, but
Siberians who had been hurried TO the Yalu in
order 10 inflict much damage as possible on
the japanese, whose force was made up Of the
flower Of the army and trained with one OBJ
Ject in view-the defeat of the soldiers of Euro
pean Russia.
RUSSIAN REAR GUARD FIGHTS WELL.
II is cause of satisfaction TO the authorities
that. in spite Of the severe Russian loss. Cen
eral Zassalitch had sufficient strength to
sharply bite the pursuers, who lost three hun
dred in this movement alone
Three times the Russians halted and twice
the Japanese cavalry were hurled back only to
come on again. a third repulse sckened the
fighting stomach of the assailants. who aban-
doned the effort to crush completely the retiring
force
General Zassalitch's retirement is especially
noteworthy. because it was encountered by such
a large number of wounded Had the Japanese
been able TO bring up the entire cavalry
strength of their army, the day might have been
Tar blacker one for Zassalitch.
Inc general staff does not expect an irnmedi-
ate forward movement of the japanese but
that they are preparing a way for an advance
is SHOWN by the appearance Of a cavalry de-
tachment 10 the southeast Of Feng-Wang-
Cheng. The retirement of the detachment when
slghted by a Russian force indicates simply
that II was scouting in order to locate the next
point where resistance may be looked for
The Associated Press was informed this morn
ing by the general staff that General Kashtal-
lnsky is alive, and that Lieutenant General
ZaSsalitch was not wounded, but that the colo
nels lieutenant colonies and a majority of the
company commanders of the 18th, 18th and ODD
regiments were either killed or wounded
MENACING LIAO-TUNG.
It is evident that in order to weaken the re-
distance which will be offered to General Ku-
roki the japanese are preparing to land on the
west coast OF the peninsula of Liao-Tung So as