Evening journal., 1904-05-02
Unable to Hold Town
After Yesterdays De-
feat and Worried by
Japs' Fire, They Re-
treat
2S Russian Guns
Captured by Japanese
Whose Losses Will
Not Exceed Seven Hun
dred

Tokyo, May 2.-The Russians were
forced TO abandon Antung yesterday.
They burned the town and retreated
10 Fenghuancheng.
The Japanese now control the estu-
airy OF the Yalu.
The Japanese forces began an at
tack on the Russians on the Yalu river
last Tuesday The battle was contin
ued Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.
Saturday and yesterday. On Thusday
the Japanese effected a crossing OF the
Yalu and secured a lodgment on the
right bank Of the river. The fighting
on Saturday was at long range and
there was duel with heavy guns
across the river. Fighting was re-
sumed at daylight yesterday and ended
in the capture of Antung.
The Russian force Is estimated at
10000
Heavy Loss on Both Sides.
The Japanese losses are placed az
about 700 killed and wounded. The
Russians lost more than 500 men.
The Japanese captured twenty-eight
quick firing guns, twenty officers and
men. The Russians made two stands.
The first Japanese army under Gen
eral Kuroki forced a crossing OF tho
Yalu river with gallant infantry
charge covering a frontage OF four
miles. IL drove the Russians from
Chiutenchong and the heights on the
right bank OF the Tho or Aida river.
which enters the Yalu from the north
almost opposite Wiiu.
The Japanese turned the left flank of
the Russian position, and m the battle
Of yesterday they swept away the new
front interposed by the Russians to
chock their onward movement
General Kurokd began the movement
on Tuesday by ordering a detachment
iof the Imperial guards division to seize
the island Of Kurito, which is In the
Yalu, above Win, and a detachment Of
the Second division 10 seize the island
OF Kinteito, which is situated below
Win.
The detachment OF the Imperial
guards met with some resistance. but
it succeeded in clearing the enemy out
and occupied Kurito island. The Rus
slams abandoned the island OF Kintei-
to when attacked by the detachment
Of the Second division.
During these movements on the is
lands the Russians opened fire on the
Japanese with eight nine and a half
centimeter guns from a hill behind
Chiutiencheng and two Hotchkiss guns
which were mounted on the bank OF
the river at Kosan. where the Rus
SLAMS seemed to have established their
headquarters. One battery of Japa-
nese artillery, which had taken posi-
ton on hill TO the east Of Win, fred
three volleys at Kosan, and at noon OF
Tuesday the Russian batteries behind
Chiutencheng shelled Wiju, wound
Ing one Japanese soldier, with shrap-
mel On Wednesday the Russians re-
sumed the bombardment Of Win, FIR
ing at intervals throughout the day.
The japanese artillery did not respond
10 this fire. General Kuroh has re-
ceived reports 10 the effect that the
Russians are fortifying the heights on
the right bank Of the Tho river. These
new defenses are declared to extend
from Cnlutiencheng through the vii
lage Of Makso TO Koshoki. a distance
Of three and a quarter miles.
Thursdays Fighting.
The Russians resumed their bonn
bardment on Thursday, but it was gen
orally ineffective. Subsequently Cen
sral Kuroki ordered two companies Of
the Imperial guards TO cross the Yaiu
and make a reconnaissance along the
eft bank Of the Tho for the purpose Of
discovering the character Of the Rus
sian fortihcations along the heights on
The right bank Of the river. The Japa-
nese force advanced toward Kosan and
then dispatched small detachment to
he village, where a party Of Russians
was encountered. In the engagement
which followed five Russians were kill
I'd. The Russians shelled the recon-
aoitering party from an emplacement
N the hills in the southeastern part OF
Yoshoko. This fire was without ef-
'ect.
The Russian artillery on the hill be-
nind Chiutiencheng, firing at high an
gle, opened on Wiju, the island OF
Kurito and Seikodo, to the south ef
Wiju, where some Japanese batteries
aad taken position.
This nring continued into THURSDAY
aight, and General Kuroki reports chat
while 1t was ineffective II disturbed
his preparations for an attack. The
Russians resumed the shelllng OF Win
on Friday, but the japanese guns did
not reply.
Japanese Cross the Yalu.
The Twelfth division Of the Japa-
nese army was chosen to make the
first crossing OF the Yalu. II began
its preparations on Friday by driving
the Russians from their position on the
bank OF the river opposite Sulkochin,
which is eicht miles above Win aud