Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-03


OF the heights west of Heiyingtai."
Kuropatkin Assumes the Offensive.
ST. PETERSBURG, Setember "a new
phase of the battle of Liaoyang has now
begun. The main operations have been
transferred to the north bank of the Taitse
river. where General Kuropatkin has as
sumed the offensive. hurling the bulk OF
his army against Field Marshal Oyama
right, under General Kuroki, and at the
same time holding the Japanese center anu
left, on the other side of the river, IN checR
with the force left on the south bank for
that purpose. The operations on the south
side are now regarded as being of second
ary choice at the war office, where huro-
patkn's action in throwing the oulk OF ms
army across the river to the right bank IN
order to protect his rear and give hlm an
opportunity to try conclusions single hand
ed with Kuroki is considered to bea brlih-
ant Strategical stroke.
The Russian force left on the Liaoyang side
of the Taitse is regarded as strong enough
behind it's fortifcations to hold Generals
Oku and NodZu long enough to give kuro-
patkin chance to strike kurok1 and at tne
same time to protect the bridges, OF when,
1t now develops, there are ten. over Wnlch
Kuropat tkin must Iecross in order to follow
up his success in the event that he crushes
Kuroki. In case of a reverse the bridges
will also furnish ample facilities for the
Russian troops on the Liaoyang side to re-
join the main army. Yesterday afternoon
Oku assaulted one of the strong Russian
positions on the Liaoyang side, which, it is
presumed, guarded bridges. but the Japa-
nese were repulsed with exceedingly heavy
losses the Russians behind their works
suffering only slightly The Japanese are
using siege guns on the Liaoyang side.
Attacked Kuroki.
Kuropatkin did not delay after his con-
centration on the right bank. Yesterday
morning he massed his artillery, and at
noon began to lombard kurokfs position
preliminary to an infantry attack. The
above was the situation when the latest
reports In possession of the war office
were sent.
What the authorities at Tokyo regard as
Russian concentration at fental was
probably Kuropatkin'S preparations for
taking the offensive.
Telegraphic and railroad communication
between the Russian army and Mukden
were still open this morning
For strategic reasons the general stan
decided not to publish the text of kuropat-
kin's official dispatch of yesterday, the sub
stance of which was sent to the Associated
Press.
In military circles. where the progress of
the battle is known Kuropat. ms tactics
are approved and confidence Is expressed
in the issue.
The failure of Tokyo to chronicle the
voluntary passage of Kuropatkins main
army across the river is believed here to
Indicate
as much glory .as possible If they succeed
in taking possession of Liaoyang. Neither
Kuropatkins s decision to make the crossing
with his army nor the fact that the pulK
of il is over. which was exclusively an
nounced by the Associated Press was
known to the Russian public till this morn
ing.
Even then the public had some difficulty
in figuring out the exact situation. but the
mere knowledge of the fact that kuropat-
kin had begun his attack upon hurokl
served to revive the peoples spirits, which
had drooped perceptibly during the past
forty-eight hours without official news
No information has yet been received re-
garding the result of Kuropatkin's attack
upon Oyama's right, and the keenest anxiety
exists as to the result of the whole battle,
which is now In the balance If Kuropatkin
is defeated his retirement further north
ward would seem to be imperative While
on the other hand Russian victory might
turn the tide Of war.
Not a single newspaper dispatch directly
from the front has reached st. Petersburg
since Thursday, for the reason explained In
these dispa atches-the transfer of the head
telegraph office at Liaoyang to Shakhe, fif-
teen miles north.
Kuropatkin's Report.
Later in the day the general staff re-
considered it's determination not to make
public Gen. Kuropatkin's dispatch to the
emperor of yesterday, and the text was
given out follows:
After nightfall Thursday the japanese
attacked our Sykwantun position, but
were repulsed after a hot fight. They re-
newed the attack at night, this time with
success. driving back a regiment in the
direction of Sakutun. The retreat of this
regiment led to the evacuation of the po-
sitions held by other troops. Toward
morning the troops advanced gradually
in order to retake the Sykwantun posi-
ton.
do 7 0f =
fensive against the troops of Ken. Ku
rokis army. At midday the heads of the
attacking corps We're in line and prepara-
tions were being made to retake by artil-
lery the position captured during the
night by the Japanese, and the infantry
is also advancing to the attack.
During the night the Japanese vio-
lently bOmbarded the interior of the Rus
sian position inside the town of Liaoyang,
the railroad station and the railroad it
self. Our losses were insignificant.
Il just received a dispatch from the
chief of the Liaoyang garrison, timed
10 80 a. m, to the effect that the Japanese
attacked the fort situated in the center
of our position. but they We're repulsed
with very great loss. We had six men
killed in the fort
| in General Kuropatkin's telegram, CORE
spends with the Tokyo report of the capture
| by the japanese of portion of the heights
| at Heiyingtai, which is situated mile east
| two miles southeast of Siakhoutin, whittier
| the Russian advance regiment was forced
! back by kuroki during the night of Thurs.
| day last.
| Reinforcing Kuroki.
The report from Tokyo of Oyama throw
| ing the bulk of his army across the Tatse
river is considered at the war office &c
| indicate that the Japanese are rushing uI
| reinforcements to support Kuroki the ne
| cessity for whose relief may be urgent.
| The Tokyo estimate of the japanese
| Continued on Second Page)