The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-05-27
GREAT ARMIES Are
CLOSE TO A CLASH
High Authority Says Desperate
Battle Will Be Fought
at Lao Yang.
MUkDEN BEING INVESTED
Japanese Try to Outflant This Rail
road Point and II Russians Are
Defeated Viii! Abandon the
Place.

LOuuOl, May 1S.-ANo lultIet News
has reached London throwing light up
on the appearance of Japanese troops
northeast of Mukden or indicating by
what route they reached that point sc
unexpectedly. The Japanese are SO sue
cessful in hiding their movements that
1t Is only possible TO guess at them
from the vague indications in Russian
official dispatches
According to the Standards Tientsin
correspondent. General kuropatkin has
left for Hardin, Niceroy Alexieff still
being at Lao Yarg with 10000 troops.
1t is noticeable that Russian official
dispatches seldom name the place
whence they are sent.
A question greatly discussed in the
London papers this morning is whether
General Kuropatkin has succeeded in
learning that the Japanese are threat
ening his rear sc near the Mukden line
and has been enabled to begin re-
treat, or whether he has elected to fight
In any case ii is considered that any
day may bring news of great battle
in this district, as the transportation
difficulties are believed to be so great
as to make it almost impossible for
General I<uropatkin to effect rapid
retirement.
Are Pounding Port Arthur.
Indefinite reports continue to reach
Port Arthur and Dalny.
The Standards odessa correspond
ent confirms the report that Gen. ku-
| ropatkin's aggregate forces for the
pending battle do not exceed 100000
men.
Shanghai dispatches report that the
Chinese are greatly gratified at the
Japanese invitation to the Tartar vice
roy Of Mukden to re-establish the adj
ministration of Antung and induce Chi
| nese traders to return and resume bus
mess.
Paris, May 1s.--The Journals Muk-
den correspondent says:
"ImpOrtant events are imminent The
outposts of the two armies are al
ready in contact in the zone northwest
of Feng Wang Cheng. The japanese
army advancing on Lao Yang is esti-
| mated at 100000 men. A persistent
runor which is not confirmed officially
has it that another Japanese corps is
executing q fianking movement direct
ed on some point between Lao Yang
and Mukden.
according to the best information
there are now no less than 100000 Jap
anese In Manchuria."
Russians Again Retreat.
London, May 19-The correspondent
at Shan Hal KWan of the Daily Chron~
icle, cabling under date of May II, says
that the japanese troops landed at 1<ai
Chau both Sunday and Monday, meet
ing with opposition.
The Daily Telegraph's New Chwang
correspondent, cabling under date Of
May II, says:
1.-The Japanese, with a large fleet of
transports and WarshipS. appeared at
Kai Chau yesterday morning and open.
ed a terrific bOmoardment against the
shore defenses, which were silenccd at
4 o'clock in the afternoon, the Russians
retreatins to Tashichao.
1.-The Japanese troops landed, and are
today advancing rapidly, outhanking
Tashichao and New Chwang.'
st. Petersburg, May 49, General SAX
haroff reports to the general staff .un-
der yesterdays date as follow:
General Samsonoff reports at il go
o'clock last night that the Japa nese
confined their efforts to feints at land
ing in the neighborhood Of Sung Yue
Cheng and Kai Chau. Their vessels
opened fire on the town of Siung Yue
Cheng, on our scouts and on the coast
The Japanese squadron left after
$50 o'clock, proceeding southwest, and
several of it's vessels remained visible
on the horizon until dusk"
The following telegram from General
EUROPA tllin to the emperor under date
of May 16, has been given out here:
approached Sung Yue Cheng and open
ed fire on the town. while five vessels
approached the shore.
At 1870 p. m. three large steamers
appeared off the cape, and at 1920 p. m
the enemy landed at Hueng Tsia Tung
and commenced a march In the direc-
ton Of Kai Ping"
New Chwang, May 19.-1n confrna :
ton of the recent Associated l~ress dis
patches the Russian evacuation of this
city has been completed. Nothing re-
mains but the destruction of the gun
boat Sivouch. which it is expected will
take place today.
The Russian troops marched out in
perfect order General Kondratsvitch
leaving with the last regiment
The Associated Press has received
exclusive information from the highest
Russian authority that the japanese
advance will be resisted at Hal Cheng
whence Russian forces will fall back
upon Lao Yang, where they will make
| determined stand, with a fighting
! strength there available of 10000 men
If defeated no stop will be made at
Mukden, but retirement will be contin-
ued to Thioling. 200 miles north Of New
Chwang.
Cossacks to Annoy Japs.
At the same time Cossack regiments
will be employed in the rear of the
Japanese army of the Yalu, harrassine
the troops and interfering with its com
munications. 1t IS not believed the Jap
anese will move into the interior until
they have thoroughly established Their
base here. repeating the movement
they made during the war with China
The Russians admit the advance OF
the Japanese army to q point within 1if-
teen miles of Hal Cheng. and that
many of their wounded are entering
there.
The nearest fighting expected before
the Japanese reach New Chwang vii
,, be at TaschiiChao, but it will not
amount to much. This city is nov
guarded by 300 Chinese police Every.
thing is quiet
Pulling Up Mincs.
Toxic, May 19.-Admiral Kakoko re-.
ports that on the 18th the operation OF
removing the mines in Kerr bay was
continued by torpedo boats under pro
lection of a bombardment by the fleets
There Is no change in the enemy's Ge
tense except the addition of two o,
three field guns to their position, which
had the effect of interruptng the work
Of clearing the bay of mines Never.
theless the Japanese destroyed eight
mines but there are many more lGrt
The work Of destroying them will be
continued.