The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-10-17
ARMY IS SECURE.
Nc Danger of Kurepstkin Being Cut

off.
 Mukdeh. Oct. 1s.--via Pekin. with the Russian Army of the Centre.-After six days of the hardest kind of fighting this section of the Russian army fell back last night on the Shakhe river and is now holding a position on the north side of that stream. The fight kng, which commenced shortly after noon, has been progressing continuous ly ever since.
 On October 9 the Russians advanced to the southeast, crossing the Shakhe river. thence to Humantung, 20 miles southeast of Mukden, and three miles north of Yentai. On the hills around Humantung the Japanese had planted four batteries. Upon the advance of the Russians these batteries retired to the southward across a narrow valley which runs east and west and joined the main Japanese forces on the hills beyond.
 In the fighting around Humantung few Japanese prisoners. were taken. The Russians followed the Japanese across the valley, taking positions in the foothills. from which the artillery she1led the Japanese forces while the On October 10, the artillery duel con- tinued, the Russians advancing slowly During the night the Japanese changed their positions and at daylight, pro- tected by trenches. poured a terrific shrapnel fire on the infantry composed of one regiment, only a remnant of which was left. From this on, the Japanese took the offensive the entire day of the 18th, throwing shrapnel and shimos powder shells among the infantry and artillery. The Russians held tenaciously to their positions.
 Early in the day the. Japanese con- tinued to work around the Russian left and succeeded in dropping a few shells on the road and in the villages where the transport and reserves were gath cred. The Japanese had the range of the road and village perfectly They compelled the men and wagons to take to the fields. This shelling did little damage beyond disconcerting the men and horses.
 Additional guns were sent forward to protect the left while the batteries withdrew across the plains to the hills on the north side. This gave the Jap anese possession of a high hill on the south. from which they shelled the val ley through which the Russians had advanced during the evening. The Jap anese apparently suffered greatly from the Russian fire.
 The morning of the 18th found little change in the positions of the two armies. except that the Japanese had worked further around to the left. Probably the greatest artillery fight of the battle took place October 12. Bat teries were placed on every available hill and at the same time regiment after regiment was poured into the plain by both sides only to be thrown back, shattered and torn. It Is impos- sible as yet to estimate the loss of life.
 Fight in Thunder storm, During the night heavy rain storm occurred. in the midst of which the artillery continued to boom, and at one point the Japanese infantry charged. They were met by Russian infantrymen in the darkness which was lighted only by flashes of guns. the bursting of small shells and the streaks of lightning. The men fought hard hand to hand. the Japanese regi- ment being finally driven back. The thunder and rain continued all tho morning of the 18th. but at morning firing opened promptly at daylight :. The Russians fought stubbornly but retired slowly. The Japansee contin- ued to threaten the Russian left.
 Toward evening the Japanese opened with all their guns on the Russians position. the shell dropping like hall in the field and on the hills. The morning of the 14th fouN the Rus sians with their backs to the Shakhe river across which transports had been withdrawn during the night. Fight ing continued from these positions all l during the day of the 14th. while the Russian endorsements took up posi-. tions on the hills to the north of the river
 Another thunder storm broke shortly | after noon. flooding the streams and turning the roads into seas and by evening the main Russian force had withdrawn across the Shakhe river The Japanese shells were droppina within short distance of the river on the left.
 The fighting recommended at day. light today, the boom of guns beine q distinctly heard in Mukden. The whole Russian army Is slowly retiring ana | hghtlnR every inch of the way. Wher the associated press correspondent came north today there appeared nc danger or any part of the army beins | cut off.
 In an informal talk which the ,asso. ciated press correspondent had witf General kuropatkin in the field just before the battle. he spoke in glowinr terms of the bravery of the Japanese saying that they were a gallant fo, and that they were also rS1st correct in the observance of the rules of war In this respect. he said. 1t was tn. most pleasant matter he had ever beer