Los Angeles herald., 1905-02-03
RUSSIAN REGIMENTS NEARLY
ANNlHILATED
FIGHTING MOST DESPERATE
Battle Waged In Midst Of Driving
Snowstorm and Severe Loss
Inflicted on Both
Sides
BY Associated Press.


TOXIC, Feb. 2, p. m.-Field Mar
shal Oyama telegraphing yesterday re-
ports that the extreme Japanese left
holds line along the Hun river with
its extreme left established OH the right
bank. The main body of the Russians
after their defeat at Heiyoutai retired
across the Hun river and occupied
Niuyupao, Shufangta and a portion of
Changtan. on Wednesday the Rus
slams began constructing defensive
works in the neighborhood of Shufang-
tai, Chungchiawopeng and Changtan.
Russian cavalry patrols were seen
Wednesday along the line of Tzuyuto,
Pinpaotzu and Yuhpaotazu. The Rus
slams made a series of small attacks on
the right army and the left flank of the
left army but were repulsed in each
instance.
Details of the fighting from January
25 to January 20, which Field Marshal
Oyama officially designates as the bat
tie of Seikoutai, show that the opera
tions were more extensive, the forces
engaged larger and the fighting more
Gated.
The Japanese casualties totaled 7000
According to the Japanese estimate,
the Russians lost over 10000. The
armies fought in driving snowstorm.
1t was bitterly cold and very difficult
to see. A night attack delivered in the
early morning brought success to the
Japanese.
A Russian division surrounded and
attacked Heikoutai January %. Field
Marshal Oyama reports that the gar
rison, though outnumbered, made a
stubborn resistance and retired at night
under cover of darkness to Fuch-
engtzu. In the meantime Field Marshal
Oyana, warned of the attack, ordered
an advance, for the purpose of retak-
ing Heikoutai 1t was showing and
the movements of the troops were de-
layed. January 26, about noon, while
the attack on Heikoutai was develop
ing, report reached the Japanese
headquarters that another division of
Russians, advancing from Changtan,
had surrounded Chenchiehpao, and also
that an independent and smaller body
of Russians was operating west Of
Chenchiehpao, threatening the left
flank of the Japanese force moving
against Heikoutai, which had deployed
from Sumapao, westward of Heikoutai.
The attack on Heikoutai was re-
sumed January 27. A covering force
was sent to protect the right flank,
rear and also the left flank Japanese
force operating Acknowledged An
other covering force protected the eX-
treme left. The troops attacking Hell
koutai advanced fearlessly and, de-
spite the heavy losses inflicted by the
reinforced Russians, constantly gained
step by step. A force of Russian in
fantry and mounted artillery fired into
the rear of the left column. The Jap
anese lost heavily and the extreme
left wing was compelled to retreat
temporarily. The Russians made a Sc
res of night attacks January 27 in all
directions. They succeeded in catch
ing a detachment stationed at Sumapao
in the front and rear. A desperate
hand-to-hand encounter followed, but
the Japanese finally succeeded in re-
pulsing all the attacks.
A portions of the Russians remained
concealed at Sumapao and on the morn
ing of January 2S fired into the rear of
the japanese center. The Japanese
turned, attacked and practically annihi-
lated the Russians, only 200 of them
surrendering. The firing continued
throughout the day and night of Janu-
airy 20. The Japanese, who were every
where outnumbered, decided to make
a general night attack.
In his report, Field Marshal Oyama
says: "Our object had not been at
tanned, so 1 encouraged all columns to
make a night attack. All columns of
the attacking force expected annihila-
ton. We attempted several attacks
and movements, but suffered heavily
by the enemy's artillery, especially the
machine guns. All columns continued
the attack with all their might. The
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