The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-04-01

eral Kuropatkin, in his first dispatch
to the Emperor from the scene of war
announced that offensive land opera
tons had aiken place against the
Japanese upon the sixth anniversary
of the occupation Of Port Arthur by
the Russians. These operations took
the form Of a cavalry attack yester-
day by six companies OF Cossacks. led
personally by General Mishtchenko
against four ~squadrons of Japanese
cavalry. which the general believed
to be beyond Chong Ju, but which he
found to be in occupation Of that
town.
Despite a cross fire, which General
Mistchenko ~cleverly directed against
enemy, he pays a tribute to their ten
ac.ty and bravery. the Japanese only
ceasing to fire after a combat which
lasted for half an hour. Before the
Russians could follow up their adj
vance three s~quadrons galloped to-
wards the town, of which two sue
ceeded in entering, while the third
was driven Jack in disorder, men ara
horses falling. The fire maintained
on the town was S destructive that
h Japanese were unable to make an
effective return.
Further Japanese reinforcements
arrived an hour later and in view of
the superiority of the enemy, General
Mistchenko determined to retire. do
ing SO without embarrassment, al
though he carried with him three
killed and sixteen wounded.
---- r----
been endeavoring, for some days to
come in contract with the Japanese
patrols. u the latter refused to COM
bat
The skirmish of today will have
the effect of encouraging h Rus
slams to retard as much as possible
the advance of the Japanese army.
General Kuropatkin's dispatch re-
porting General Mistchenko's opera
tons as published does not give the
place of its origin, but it is presumed
that the commander-in-chief is either
at Lao Yang OF en- route to New
Chwang.
General Kuropatkin's report is as
follows:
st have the honor to respectfully
communicate to your majesty the re-
port OF General Mistchenko. dated
March Is, at 10 p. m, which "
For three consecutive days, small
outpoSts attempted to draw the Jap
anese cavalry into action. but their
patrol after contact was established.
retired beyond Chong Ju, (about SO
miles northwest OF Ping Yang.)
Having learned that four squad
rons of the enemy were posted five
versts beyond Crong Ju on March
9th, six companies marched toward
Kasan and on March 2Sth reached
Chong Ju at 1880 a. m As soon as
~hn nr- tho
enemy opened fire from behind the
wall Two squadrons promptly dis
mounted and occupied the heights six
hundred yards distant An engage
ment ensued. In the town a company
Of infantry n q squadron OF cavalry
were lying in ambush. Our men were
reinforced by three companies and at
tackled the Japanese with a cross fire.
Notwithstanding this and our COM
manding position, the Japanese gal
iantly held their ground. n 1t was
only after fierce fight Of half hours
duration that the Japanese ceased fire
and sought refuge in the houses. The
japanese hoisted the red cross flag ar
two points
soon afterward. three squadrons
of the enemy were seen advancing
along the Kasan road at full gaNop
toward the town, which two OF the
souadrons succeeded in entering,
III Liz AAAAAo ~ VAN ia ISL "a
under repeated volleys from our
troops. A number of men and horses
were seen to fall.
For an hour afterward, our COM
panies continued to fire on the Japan
csc in the town, preventing them from
leaving the streets and houses.
IAN hour and a half after the be-
ginning of the engagement, four COM
panies were seen on the Kasan road.
Fastening to attack. I a the order
to mount. and the entire force, with
a covering squadron, advanced in per-
feet order and formed in line behind
the hill. The wounded were placed
in front and the retirement was car
ried out with the deliberation of a
parade.
1.-The Japanese squadron which was
thrown into disorder was evidently
unable to occupy the hill which We
had just evacuated and their infantry
arrived too late
1.-The detachment protecting oul
rear guard arrived quietly at Kasan
where we halted for two hours in or
der to give attention to the wounded