The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-08-05
We're Finally Forced Back To-
ward Haicheng
LOSSES AMOUNTED TO 1000
Several Times Onset Of the Japs Was
Repulsed and Some Gallant
Charges Made BY the
Russians.

st. Petersburg. August 4-The emperor
has received the following dispatch from
Lieutenant General sakharof dated Aug
ust 3:
Lieutenant General zassalitch reports
the following details:
3" In the fighting of July 81 the opera
tions were not decisive. The action of the
Japanese on our east front on July 50
convinced me that they were making an
attack with their main force on our south
front near outuschoutoun (slmoucheng).
towards Dapoutzza and Pkhialaantoun.
!" From dawn of July 81 we heard cam
nonading on our right flank which obllg-
ed me to hurry down to the south. l di-
rected the course of the fight.
The battle begun under the most IA
vorable auspices for US. The first report
l received was from Lieutenant Colonel
solmonky, who informed me that he was
tenaciously holding his position, although
he had many wounded. / ordered at first
two companies and then battalion to re-
inforce him. alth9gsh he did not ask for
support.
simultaneously with the attack on
the heights the center of our position
the Japanese directed an attack against
Major General Mistchenkos detachment.
and against our right flank
Artillery Was Superior.
THE beginning of the lighting showed
the superiority Of our artillery over that
of the Japanese. Not only did our batter
les silence the Japanese guns and pre-
vent them leaving their positions, but
the batteries eoustained no loss and were
able to develop their fire at tn~'s leisure.
AT 10 o'clock | received the following
note from Lieutenant Colonel soimonky:
The Japanese turning movement has
been stopped. the enemy sustaining enor-
nous losses. We have many wounded.
Captain GolininslSy was killed. The
wounded include two officers and a sur
eeon. am making a firm stano.'
simultaneously with the receipt Of
this report il was seen that our detach-
ment had evacuated three crests of the
mountain range. 1t was evident that
Solmonly had lost considerable force
and had been obliged to give ground
somewhat He continued, however to
hold his position.
After reinforcing SolmonSy with two
battallions and afterwards with two and
three-quarters battalions and desiring 20
centralize the command of these troops,
l despatched Colonel Polovtch Lepovatz
with orders to take command of all troops
engaged in that position.
" The fuslade continued on our right
flank without becoming threatening.
Our artillery continued to crush the
enemys artillery with its fire, although
he japanese had brought mountain ano
field guns into action.
Right Flank Had Retired.
At 9:4O 1 received a report that
regiment posted at the extreme righ
flank had retired from it's position il
the mountains, having had its nanl
turned. Six disabled guns were aban
doned. Two officers were killed and tw,
wounded and the commander Of a batter!
was injured.
Before this happened, the japanese
had placed two NOR batteries the
left of those which had previously taker
up their position there, and with theii
batteries ON the extreme left they l@gar
to lombard our battery as well as TO en-.
filade the right flank of our formation
This was the cause of the destruction OF
our battery and the serious loss Of troops
on our right flank.
The battery was completely shattered
but at the beginning of the action VIC
succeeded In saving four guns, while four
others were left on the field completely
disabled. OF these four, two had to be
spiked and abandoned owing to lack of
horses.
With the view of distracting the at
tenton of the Japanese from our right
flank. | directed Colonel Lepovatz at 8
o'clock when the heat had diminished, to
order the soldiers to take Off their equip
ment and to assume the offensive
Hot Fire Is Opened.
ITO support this offensive movement l
ordered our batteries TO open a hot fire
on the ridges held by the japanese. The
fire of our guns which had previously
bombarded these points was murderous
and the Japanese again sustained many
killed and wounded.
=. Our attack In open order astonished
all beholders. Our men in this formation
advanced swiftly across the principal
mountain range, pushing on both sides
with fixed bayonets on the japanese.
who were unable to sustain the shock
and quickly evacuated the three crests
they had occupied. | am Informed by
Major Lord Kipanitze that those who
remained were bayonetted.
After this brilliant affair ordered
Colonel Lepoyatz TO stop and push no
further.
AT o'clock 1 received an order 10
retire in the direction of Haicheng.
According to the report Of the com
mander Of the Cossack regiment, which
reconnoitered the valley OF Dapulzsa dur
ing the battle, as well as organized the
delivery of ammunition and the removal
of the wounded, three divisions of Japa-
nese were observed moving throughout
the town Of Haputzza.
Our losses on July 30 and July 81
have been up to the present estimated
at 20 officers and slightly over 1000 men
killed or wounded "
cbao+e RrothAr In ParL