Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-12


trating at the Yentai coal mines. Russian
scouting parties came into contact with the
Japanese Monday evening and captured 100
head of cattle. The retirement of the jap
anese was SO hurried that they abandoned
their field telegraph and telephone lines.
The Russian soldiers are in the best Of
spirits, and advance to battle singing.
Advance of the Russians.
SHANPINTAIDZE Ia mile south of Ben
tsiaputze), Monday, October 10.-With the
Russian Left Flanking Column.-The Rus
slams have been advancing in force for sew
eral days. Upon reaching Taidiamowza,
mile south of Kaoutou Pass, on the Fu-
shun-Benshiu road, they began to hear
sporadic artillery fire on their right, where
the Russian advance was in contact with
the Japanese. The movement of the main
column was Immediately accelerated. The
Russians were then two days march from
Shanpintaidze
Desultory skirmishing was constantly pro-
ceeding on the right and left, and the Jap
anese steadily retired.
The firing ahead became heavier yester-
day and wounded men from the scouting
detachments began to pass through the
Russian lines The Russians pressed for
ward with increased speed. the infantry
advancing at the double. The spirits of
the men were high, due to the fact that
they were actually assuming the offensive.
They arrived at the village of Shanpin-
taidze at . o'clock this evening. The Jap
anese had hurriedly abandoned the place
the night before. paying the Chinese big
prices to carry away their stores, amount
ing to 1000 bags of rice and barley.
Two Japanese Divisions Met.
There were two divisions of Japanese
in front of the Russians. The general
commanding this (Russian) column, upon
reaching Shanpintaidze. deployed a portion
of his forces, with battery of artillery,
sent out left-fiank supports and went per-
sonally to his right flank, where his skir-
mishers had already engaged the Japanese.
An artillery duel then opened on the left
with the Japanese mountain guns. brought
up from ChOwsan pass, which were she'll
ing the Russian scouting detachments
The Japanese projectiles, however, fell
wide, and the Russian guns came up at
gallop, unlimbered and opened fire on the
Japanese artillery. This duel was con-
tinued until dark. The Russian fire was
accurate, and eventually silenced the Jap
aneSe battery.
The Russians lost ten men wounded and
had one man killed.
This morning the batteries reopened fire
at 10 o'clock, the Japanese replying.
To the right the fight was proceeding
simultaneously, apparently In favor OF the
Russians. The latter were using about
ten miles of telegraph and telephone lines
abandoned by the Japanese
1t is rumored here that the Japanese
have occupied Yentat.
Bitter Fighting at Yentai.
AT THE RUSSIAN FRONT, October TO-
by messenger to Mukden, October IL (de-
layed in transmission)-The artillery duel
Is progressing on the Russian left, twenty
seven miles southeast of Mukden. while
the fighting at Yentai RACES with terrible
bitterness. The Japanese are essaying
counter-attack. The result is in the bal
info
up rapidly.
Positions of the Opposing Lines.
ST. PETERSBURG. October 12.-Accord-
ing to the advices received by the war
office here the Japanese hold entrenched
lines extending in semi-circle north OF
Yentai railroad station. enormously report
ed to have been captured by the Russians.
Thence they have series of ares covering
the Yentai branch railroad, including the
mines. whence their lines sweep southeast
ward toward the Taitse river thus inclos-
ing the mountainous region forming the
triangle of their main positions.
Gen. Kuropatkin's left seemingly Is car
ryipg out strong fianking movement east
ward. as reported by the correspondent OF
the Associated Press at ShanpiantaidZe
but whether it is intended to push it home
or whether it is only feint to cover an
ultimate attack against Field Marshal
Oyamas left has not yet developed. The
latter view is held by many officers here,
who believe that Kuropatkns purpose Is
to crumple up the japanese left, push them
off eastward from the railroad and then, If
he can carry the Japanese triangle, compel
them to retire in the direction of the Yaiu
river. thus clearing the way through Lao
yang for possession of the railroad south
ward and possibly enabling Kuropatkin to
relieve Port Arthur. which. as announced
IN the Russian generals recent order of
the day. is his main objective.
Stlll, the best informed members of the
general staff are inclined to think that the
strategy of the battle must depend on the
manner in which the engagement deyelops
1t is pointed out that In the event of defeat.
which kurOpatkin must constantly bear in
mind, since the japanese then will doubt
less try to push through straight to Tie
Pass, it will be necessary for him to keep
his heaviest battalions east.
Talk of oyama's Recall.
The story cabled from Shanghai to the
London Daily Telegraph by Bennett Bur
leigh that Oyama will be recalled and that
Gen. NodZu will be commander-in-ch chief of
the japanese forces. attracts lively interest
in military circles here. 1t is now known
that Gen. Nodzu's action at the battle Of
Liaoyang In pressing portion of his army
across the Taitse river to cooperate with
Gen. Kuroki, thus increasing the strength
of the Japanese flanking force and threat
ening kuropatkn's communications, made
1t impossible for the Russian commander to
risk continuing his original plan of striking
the Japanese right, which forced the Rus
sian retirement According to Russian
general who has just returned here from
Laoyang the Japanese had 10000 men, six
double divisions and four brigades, across
treat.