The Irish standard., 1904-08-06

forts leading to Golden hill and that the
Japanese, shattered and exhausted, re-
tired to the eastward
Report Jap Cruiser Sunk.
Rome, Aug. 4.-The Giornale D'ItaNa
Wednesday published in an extra edition
dispatch from Toxic announcing that
the Japanese armored cruiser Kasaga,
formerly the Argentine warship Riva-
davia, has been sunk. The announce
ment caused a great sensation here.
Alarming News for Emperor.
st. Petersburg, Aug. 4.-The corre-
spondent of the press hears that EN-
peror Nicholas has just received a tele-
gram at Peterhof containing alarming
news.
1t is also reported that Viceroy Alex
Jeff, who had gone to Hardin on his way
to Vladivostok, returned to Liaoyang
Tuesday and conferred with Gen. Kuro-
patkin regarding the situation.
st. Petersburg, Aug. 4.-Whether a
general engagement is already pro-
crossing around Liaoyang between The
forces of Gen. Kuropatkin and the three
Japanese armies which have Been
moved against them from the south
and east. the decisive battle of the
campaign is regarded as certain if the
Japanese theoretically follow up their
preliminary successes Of the last three
days. At various points the fighting
has been of desperate and bloody
character, the Russians Offering he
most stubborn resistance. The losses,
therefore, although their extent is not
yet established, must be heavy on both
sides Between 5000 and 5000 men is
one estimate given OF the Russian loss
es. All the estimates, however, are
little better than guesswork as yet, and
possibly the Russian casualties may lie
much larger
The strong screen drawn around
Gen. Kuropatllin's interior positions
has been driven in at all points, Hal
cheng being practically abando ..ed
without blow. The pressure OF tile
Japanese numbers and the failure to
hold the northern positions probably
rendered it useless to try to hold out
there
The Russian forces Tuesday night
constituted compact chain in the
form of a semi-circle around Liaoyang,
extending from Anshanshan, nalf way
between Haicheng and Liaoyang, to
Anping, which is only 13 miles east of
Liaoyang. Unless the bulk of Gen.
Kuropatkin's army has already been
withdrawn north of Liaoyang, it is
difficult to see how he could now do
so with such great pressure, the Japan
csc being almost upon his main lines.
1nasmuch as portions Of four army
corps were engaged in the fighting up
to Tuesday night, and as these corps
comprise three-quarters of the whola
Russian army. it seems certain that
nothing except portion of the stores
and munitions has yet been removed.
Nevertheless well-informed military
attaches express the opinion that Gen.
Kuropatkin will get away with the
bulk of the main army if he finds the
chances against him.
Reports Heavy Russian Losses.
st. Petersburg, Aug. 4. - The en-
peror has received the following dis
patch from Gen. Kuropatkin, dated Au-
gust 1: According to the reports of the
officer commanding the eastern portion
of our army his troops, after abandon
ing advanced positions in the Yangze
pass, retired in the direction Of Liam
diansian toward Saimatsze and Lao
yang. Yesterday our troops, after q
stubborn fight, retired from their ad-
vanced posts to their principal position,
but although our troops held their ad-
vanced positions, they sustained heavy
losses. l hope that in their main posi-
lions they will maintain successful
struggle even against the numerically
superior enemy.
According to reports received during
the last few days Gen. Kuroki has eff
fected a concentration of his forces in
order to strike in the direction of
Saimatsze and Liaoyang. All the Japa-
nese troops which were posted in the
direction of Bensikhon and near Sassyr,
seemed to be intended to operate on the
right bank of the Taitse river. To-day
the enemy is acting undoubtedly on the
southern front