Arizona republican., 1905-02-04
A TURNING BACK
Russian Ranking Movement
 Against 0ydma
LOSSES WERE ENORMOUS
The Engagement South of the Hun Appears to Have Been More Exten- sive and Bloody Than the Earlier Reports Indicated.

Tolio, Feb. 3.-Field Marshal Oyama
 telegraphing yesterday reports that the
 extreme Japanese left holds it's line along the Hun river with it's extremeI
 left established on the right bank. The
 main body of Russians after their de-
 feat at Heikoutal retired across the
 Hun river and occupied Niuyupao,
 Shufangtai and a portion of Changtan
 On Wednesday the Russians began constructing defensive works in the neiShbOrhOod of Shufangtai Chungchi- aWOpenga and Changtan. Russian ca Valry patrols were seen Wednesday along the line of Tzuyuto, Pinpaotzu and Yuhnaotazu. The Russians made
 series of small attacks on the right
 army and the left flank of the left army but were Eepulsed in each in stance. Details of fighting from Jan. 9 to Jan. 29 which Field Marshal Oyama officially designates as the battle of Heikoutal show that the operations were more extensive, the forces engag- ed larger and the fighting more des- perate than the first reports indicated. | The Japanese casualties totaIed 7CO0. According to the Japanese estimate the Russians lost over 10000. The armies fought in a driving snow storm. It was bitterly cold and very difficult to see. \ night attack delivered in the early morning brought success to the Japanese.
 A Russian division surrounded and attacked Heikoutal on Jan. 9. Field Marshal Oyama reports that the gar ! risOn though Outnumbered, made stub i born resistance and retired at night under cover of darkness to EuChengt- i gu. In the meantime Field Marshal Oyama warned of the attack, ordered
 an advance for the purpose of retaking Heikoutal. It was showing and the movements of the troops were delay 1 ed. On Jan. 25, about noon, while the attack on HeikOutal was developing, a report reached the Japanese headquar- l ters that another division Of Russians l advancing from Changtan had sur rounded Chenchiehpao and also that an 1 independent and smaller body of Rus sians was operating west of Chen chiehpao threatening the left flank of ] inc Japanese force moving against Heikoutal, which had deplOyed from i Sumapao. westward of Heikoutal.
 i It was originally planned to deploy from Sumapao to TaopaO but 1t was 1 found that the Russians possessed a | line from HeikOutal to TaopaO. The 1 Japanese therefore deplOyed to ITuma-
  1 koutaI and Taopao. The latter place was strongly held but it's capture was necessary before it was possible to | take HeikOutal. Thirty Russian guns : placed around HaikOutal e~"'- the 1 troops attacking TaOpaO. Nightfall of l Jan. 25, saw the Japanese still strug- ! gling to dislOdge the Russians. On 1 Jan. 2, the Russians pressing the 1 Japanese right wing temporarily re- l treated. The freed force reinforced the Japanese center. The attack on Helix
 outal was resumed on Jan. 27. A GOV i ering force was sent to protect the right flank rear and also the left flank of the Japanese force operating at | ChenchiephaO. Another covering force protected the extreme left.
 The troops attacking HeikOutal ad-
 vanced fearlessIy and despite heavy losses inflicted by the reinforced Rus
 sians, constantly gained step by step. A Russian division advanced from the direction of Niuchu and struck the left column on the right flank. A force of Russian infantry and mounted artillery fired into the rear of the left column. i The Japanese lost heavily and the eX- treme left wing was compelled to re- treat temporarily. The Russians made a series of night attacks on January ] - catching a detachment stationed at Sumapao in the front and rear. A dcs- perate hand to hand encounter follow ed. The Japanese finally succeeded in repuIsing all the attacks. X portion of the Russians remained concealed at
 Sumapao and on the morning of Jan. 2S fired into the rear of the Japanese
 center The Japanese turned, attacked
 and practically annihilated the Rus
 sians only two hundred of them sur
 rendering. The fighting continued
 throughout the day of Jan. 2S. The
 Japanese. who were everywhere out numbered, decided to make a general night attack.
 In his report Field Marshal Oyama says: "Our object had not been at
 tained so I encouraged all the columns
 to make night attacks. All the col umns of the attacking force expected annihilatiOn. We attempted several attacks and movements, but suffered
 heavily by the enemy's artillery, cspe-
 cially the machine guns. All the col umns continued the attack with all
 their might. The enemy. unable to
 withstand our vigorous attacks. began
 to retreat at 5:30 in the morning. Our forces, charging into HeikoutaI, occu-
 pied the place firmly and entirely at
 9:30 o'clock in the morning."
 The Russian force engaged is asti-
 mated by the Japanese at seven divi-
 sions with q division of cavalry. Pris-
 oners report that the fourth Russian
 infantry was practically anpihilated.