Milford chronicle., 1904-09-02
GREAT BATTLE
b BEING FOUGHT
NEAR LAO YANG
Japanese Desperately Attack
- KurOpatkin's DefenCes.
ABOUT 100000 MEN ENGAGED

"v'Vn.s- r. =. -, e''''' % >''''''
Fierce Infantry Attack Succeeds She'll
Ing Of Russian Troops and JaPs
Were Hurled Back Six Times BY
Bayonet Charges - Wounded Men
Pouring Into Lao Yang.
Lao Yang, Aug. S1.-What appears
60 be the decisive battle Of the cam
paign was begun = few miles south OF
here at daybreak yesterday. So des-
perate were the Jap charges that many
haId-to-hand fights occurred.
The heaviest cannonading is coming
from the southeast, where the Japa-
nese evidently have numerous guns.
Deadly shells are bursting everywhere,
their white smoke being distinctly
traceable against the dark foliage on
the mountain sides. The japanese are
searching the whole countryside with
their fire, selecting certain squares OF
territory on which for a few moments
they mass hail of shot and shell from
all their guns. They then pass to an
other square, thus working the whole
field, with mathematical precision,
from right to left. In this way the en-
tire Russian front has been systemat-
cally searched in the first four hours
of the cannonading. Then commenced
the general japanese advance along
the whole line.
The japanese artillery fire only
ceased at 8 o'clock last evening and
was resumed this morning. The cas-
ualties have not yet been ascertained.
The third Russian corps repulsed a
hot Japanese assault, the Japanese be-
ing hurled back by bayonet charges,
firstly by the 23d and then by the oath
regiments, which received and re-
pulsed the enemy no less than six
times.
Two Japanese companies which sue
eeeded In occupying a Russian posi-
tion were mistaken for Russians and
annihilated by the Japanese artillery
IRE.
d. At 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon the
japanese concentrated their fire on
Russian southern detachment and also
tried to outfank the detachment from
the right under the protection Of the
batteries.
One company after another was no
ticed running swiftly to the westward
IN an attempt to outfiank the positions,
but a Russian regiment and battery
were ordered to advance and succeed
ed in forcing the enemy to retreat in
disorder, evacuating the positions they
previously had gained.
There has been an immense expen-
diture of ammunition throughout the
day, especially on the southern front
against the Russian third corps.
It is believed that the Russian
losses so far have not been very heavy,
except to the regiments which sus-
tanned bayonet charges. All the men
serving one Russian gun except one
were killed by shrapnel The survivor,
who was badly wounded, heroically
brought his gun to headquarters and
even then refused to quit his place
until the general peremptorily ordered
him into the hospital.
1t seems that General Kuroki's force
did not participate in yesterdays en-
gagement.
The center of the Russian position
is located near the famous tower of
Lao Yang, about seven miles to the
southeast. The fighting there was of
the most desperate character, but is
now going on much nearer at the
hanks.
The kissing of the shells is distinct
ly audible, and from the city it is easy
to see the shells bursting.
Heavy guns were brought into action
by both sides, and their dull roar was
discernible above the sharper detona-
tion Of field and mountain guns.
The Russians are using big ord
nance, which is in position in the inner
ring Of the Lao Yang forts.
The inhabitants are watching the
distant battle from the housetops and
watch towers or are wandering gloom
ly in the streets.