The Savannah morning news., 1904-07-06

St Petersburg, July 5.-The general
staff has received the following dis
patch from Lieut.. Gen. Sakharoff. the
chief of staff of Gen. Kuropatkin, dated
July 4:
ION July the advance guard of the
Russian force, operating east of Lao
Yang, occupied position at Lang-Tse
pass. Toward evening the same day
our scouts ascertained that a detach-
ment of the enemy's advance guard, l.
500 strong. had occupied the villages
of Ekhavuan and Tcha- Kumen-Za on
our front, the main force having re-
manned in Fen-Shui Mo Tien passes.
At this moment we discovered the
movement of a Japanese detachment
consisting of a battalion of infantry
TO turn our left flank positions in the
YangTse pass, in the direction of Liam
Dian-Sian. In order to check this
movement a force, consisting of five
companies of infantry, two detach-
ments of mounted hussars and half a
company of Cossacks was sent forward
in the direction of the threatened
point"
To Learn Their Strength.
in order to learn the strength of
the enemys position in front of Lang
Use pass the commander of the de-
tachment ordered out was reinforced,
and a accommodating party of ten com
panies was sent in the direction of Elk
havuan under the command of Col.
Letschitsky. With the view of making
a demonstration, insuring the return
of Letschitsky's detachment, three
companies under Lieut.. Col. Garnitsky
10 a hnItyofyzn oh r,,il
and a half south of Ekhavuan to the
crossing of the roads leading to Sin
Xii and the Lok river passes.
Firing began at 2:30 p. m, July 4.
Garnitsky's column reached the cross
roads and dislodged company of the
enemys advance guard, which was al
most annihilated. simultaneously,
Letschitskys command dislodged the
enemys advanced posts without firing
a shot and approached the foot of the
heights, which were surmounted by a
temple.
The temale is less than a mile east
of Ekhavuan, where, although exposed
to a heavy frontal and flank fire. our
troops dashed forward and dislodged
the Japanese from their entertainments
and occupied the pass. AS the enemy
was preparing to deliver frontal and
flank attack our column then retired as
previously 1UIGG COiApa-
MES of Garnitsky's force occupied the
position, which they had been ordered
to secure.
Retired in Order.
When Letschitsky's force began to
withdraw the enemy opened heavy
fire from the heights. In spite of this,
the column retired in perfect order.
Brave Letschitsky remained continu-
ously on the fighting line, and directed
the column with remarkable ability and
GOODNESS. He was the last to retire
with his chief of staff and adjutant.
"Garnitsky's column behaved with
equal brilliancy and GOODNESS, carrying
out their task with no sign of agita-
ton.
Our casualties were Letschitsky
bruised and wounded; Col. Poahelow,
Lieut.. Col. Trakhemovsky, Capt. So
loteff Lieuts. Markoff, Latkine, Bob
roslavisky and Kosin, Second Captain
Palys, and several other officers wound
ed and 200 soldiers killed or wounded.
Il observed the fighting with my
staff from the Tkhacouan tower and
can personally testify to the conduct of
the troops.
IT cannot pass in silence the remark
able devotion of the surgeons and of
the chaplain who attended the wounded
under a heavy fire, and even helped TO
carry them off the field.
All the wounded were removed.
Occupied a Town.
"On the morning of July our rein
torcements occupied Liam Dian-Sian.
One soldier was killed during the fight
ing. The same afternoon a detachment
OF the enemy, consisting of two battal-
ions and six squadrons, with six ma
chine guns advanced and attacked our
outposts, lying south of the valley of
the river Kho. who retreated under the
vigorous fire of the enemy. The officer
commanding our advance cavalry ad-
Vanced at 2:30 p. m. with a detach-
ment and at the same time the enemy
placed machine guns on the height |
northwest of Doun-S chu-Hedja and
their infantry occupied the outskirts of
tthe forest near the village. Our horse |
battery retreated on the position at
Daostchia, near the railroad, being
covered by mounted dragons and from |
yer guards. Under the fire OF our ar
llllery and rifles, the enemy quickly |
evacuated their position and retreated |
toward Senuchen. The cavalry pur- |
sued them until they reached an en- |
renched position occupied by a strong |
force of the enemy.
The enemys principal forces at pres |
eHt are concentrated at Nandiapudze, |
IN ~ me direction of Hai-Cheng and az |
sS,chlkeuyo about ten miles west of
ga Yen on the road TO Kai Chou.
heconnaissances July 3, discovered |
mat the enemy Is fortifying Ia pass