Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-28
MANY SK|R N M|SHES
Main Japanese For ce Along
Branch Railway.
SOUTH OF THE HUN
PREPARATIONS FOR ADVANCE
GOING SLOWLY.
Dispatch From Gen. Kuropatkin Tells
of Alleged Panic of the
Enemy.
SOUTH OF THE HUN

ST. PETERSBURG, September 2S.-A dis
patch received from General Kuropatkin,
dated yesterday afternoon, announces that
numerous skirmishes have occurred along
most parts of the Russian front. The Japa-
nese have not altered their positions east
OF the railroad, and confine themselves to
outpost attacks to the north, all of which
so far have been repulsed
Reconnaissance by the Russian troops
have established the fact that the main
Japanese forces are still along the branch
railroad to the Yentai mines. Both sides
are in constant contact. General Samson
eff's troops particularly have had frequent
encounters. but have sustained very few
casualties. The Russians have captured
some Japanese cattle and horses.
The Japanese have constructed pontoon
bridges over the Taitse river at Bantshu
Alleged Panic of japanese.
The general adds: "On the night of Sep
tember 20 Cornet Mikheiff. with a detach-
ment of UraI Cossacks, attacked the Japa-
nese bivouacked at Khouand causing a
great panic. The same day the Orenburg
Cossacks laid ambush for half squad
ron of Japanese cavalry who returned their
fire but soon retired. having sustained con-
siderable loss and leaving several dead on
the field
The Russian cavalry west of the railroad
report an important japanese movement
and threatened attack. Four divisions of
Japanese remain al BentSapudze, three di-
visions are supposed to be near the Yentai
mines and two others west of them. Gen.
Mistchenko reports that he penetrated to
the Yentai mines and found only small de-
tachments of Japanese there.
The latest official advices from the front
are silent on the subject of the japanese
thanking movements east and west of Muk-
" no off, ,1a.
that Field Marshal Oyama has not yet be-
gun to press his advance from Su4ncnan,
or up the Lao river valley. indicating that
there is still further delay in the general
advance.
japanese South of the Hun.
The Associated Press is now authorized
to definitely deny the statement that the
japanese in any force have crossed the
Hun river about fifty miles from Mukden.
Mukden telegram reporting that the
Japanese had crossed the Hun river fifty
miles above the city is believed to refer to
scouting parties of japanese. whose pres
ence there was recorded in the Associated
Press dispatches of September 70.
The movement of japanese forces on the
Lao river which was reported in a dis
patch from General Sakharof to the gen.
eral staff September 26 is all the more sig
nifcant since Sianchan is the starting point
of roads leading to Tie Pass, Mukden and
Russians are fortifying Fakoman, twenty
five miles northeast of Mukden, shows that
General kuropatkin is preparing to check
the thanking movement on Tie Pass from
the west in case Sinmintin should have to
be evacuated.
Military Expert Views.
In summing up the situation today the
military expert of the Russ says it is evil
dent, from all indications at the front, that
the Japanese are engaged in big turning
movement on the eastward This would
give them the advantage as heretofore. OF
operating largely in the mountains tC
which their artillery is better suited thar
for movements in the open. But in the
present movement the units of the Japa.
nese army are necessarily losing touch
with one another. Their strategic position
is therefore less satisfactory than at Lao.
yang.
The Russ says it is a question whether a
decisive or even serious engagement will
occur at Mukden. Such an event will de-
pend entirely upon General Kuropatkin's
view as to the exigencies of the situation
However, one may rest certain" the paper
adds, that the sentimental question OF
violation of the Chinese tombs will not
weigh with the Russian commander. The
public must wait patiently few days IL
order to ascertain whether there will be {
big fight at Mukden or whether the retrea
will be continued to the strong position a
Tie Pass"