The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1904-05-06
GREAT Battle IS
FOUGHT ON YALU
ARMY OF 10000 JAPs ATTACK
10000 STRONGLY FoRTI-
FLED RUSSIANS.
MANY OF THE CARS
OFFICERS KILLED
Report Received at Washington Says
Mikado's Forces Win Great Vic
tory, But No Details Of Fighting
Are Received.

Kaupangtze, Manchuria, May e.
The first battle of the wal is persistent
ly reported to have occurred IN the
Yalu river. Sixteen thousand Japanese
crossed the stream Thursday and at
tackled 10000 Russians, who were
strongly fortified. 1t was rumored Sat
urday morning that the Japanese were
reinforced, and that the battle contin-
ued. The Japanese sh~arpshooters
killed many Russian officers whose uni
forms were conspicuous.
Rumor Heard at Washington.
Washington, May 2. = Reports have
reached the state department, sources
Of which the officials do not care to
divulge, to the effect that a great battle
has been fought in the Yalu river, re-
sulting in a complete japanese victory.
Details are unobtainable.
The Japanese legation here has no
news confirming these reports, but the
matter has aroused intense interest in
official circles. Reports which have
from time to time reached the Wash
ington government from it's agent in
the field indicated, that the two great
armies would not come in touch before
May l and that what has heretofore
occurred was nothing more than mere
outpost skirmishes and collisions be-
tween scouting parties. 1t is believed
now, however, that the weather ON
ditions in Manchuria have improved
sufficiently to facilitate the movements
of troops and artillery and that the
two vanguards have consequently
come together a few days in advance
of the expected date.
Reports of Battle Confirmed.
Shanhaikwan, May 2.-The re-
ports of a big battle on the Yalu river
have been given considerable sub
sanitation by information brought
in by four Danish missionaries who
have just arrived here from New
chwang.
When these missionaries left An
tung, ten days ago, the Russians in
that vicinity numbered 10000 men and
occupied strongly fortified positions
between Antung and the All river,
which empties into the Yalu river
about 20 miles northeast of Antung.
There also were small Russian forces
at Hsuyen and Fenghuancheng,
where bases had been established.
These two places are respectively
about 65 and As miles to the north
west of Antung. The Russians along
the railroad line, according to the mis-
sionaries, were burning bean cakes,
e~ndeavoring, with some success, to pre-
vent the export of this product.
No Confirmation at London.
London, May 2.-The Japanese
legation up to the present has re-
ceived no confirmation of the reported
important engagement between the
Japanese and Russian forces on the
Yalu river, but the officials think it
quite probable. The main body Of the
Japanese army is believed &c have
traversed the mountain passes and
crossed the Yalu 100 miles from the
sea, with the object of taking the Rus
sian forces neal the mouth of the
river in the rear.
The legation is of the opinion that
the japanese. operations at the mouth
of the Yalu were merely in the nature
of a feint.
Russians Driven Back.
Toxic, May 2. - Admiral Hosoya,
commanding the Third squadron, re-
ports that on the morning of April 20
gunboats fired on the enemy at the
mouth of the Yalu river, but the Rus
slams did not reply. Later a aotilla OF
small ships armed with cannon opened
fire on $50 Of the enemy at Sondoroto
and the latter retreated to the noun
tains, leaving many wounded. The jap
anese had no casualties.