The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-03-29
RUSSIAN ARMY in Retreat
General Kuropatkin Gradually Forced,
Northwards by General Oyana.
BAyeaET CHARGES FREQUENT.

General Nogi, Cooperating With General
Oku, Smashes the Russian Defense on
the sinmintun Road West Of Mukden
and Imperils the Retreat Of AL the
Cars Soldiers.
Toxic, Japan.-Marshal Oyama sent a
complete report Of the Japanese opera
lions. His army on the west was re-
ported in firm position Of Slnmintun,
about tw~enty-four miles westb ~ north
west Of Mukden, and the forward DE-
vision Of this army corps was march
ing toward Mukden in the Tafang VAL
ley. A cooperating body twenty miles
south Of Mukden has gone as far north,
east as Shahotsu: Another column, at
ter hard fighting, has captured Lang!
toushan, parallel with Shahotsu, andt
two other columns were respectively
at Fanthiatai and northwest Of thel
Sha River five miles from the railroad;
Thus there were five columns Of the
western army marching OF Muliden. .
The centre army, Marshal OyamaL
said, was boWbarding Putilof Hill and
all the territory west Of the railroad,
but no advance had been made. The
right army, under General Kur0ki, had
one column fifteen miles north of Ia
Pass and the same distance west Of
crossed the Lokuyu River north OF
Cato Pass, and the extreme right
column has captured Chienhotsu and
was marching on the village OF Tita,
ten miles south of Sheling. He reports
severe fighting on both TANKS, in which
the japanese losses have been heavy
because Of the defensive positions held
by the enemy. Their second line OF
intrenchments, southwest OF Mukden,
has been captured, and the main de.
visions of their army are concentrating
directly south OF the Sinmintun and
Mukden road. Field Marshall Oyama
further says:
"Our right army has forced the en-.
envy from Wulungkow and Chienhotsu1
Severe night fighting gave US possess
sion of both sides Of the Irdeng River
and our column, fifteen miles west, Coz
operating with artillery, drove the en-
envy north. These divisions Of our
army then began marching on Tta,
the enemy stubbornlygg resisting QUIZ
progress. Their army has been REIN
forced from Mukden and has strong
positions.
"On our front the engagement con-
tinued along the Sha River, the enemy
counter attacking four times in att
tempts to retake Tsluketchen and
Kangningying, south of Ia Pass. ALE
their efforts were repulsed. Before
dawn they moved up east Of the rail.
way, and with artillery attempted to-
take the bridges crossing the Mandarin
road. After a two hours engagement
they were compelled to retire to their
original positions. In two infantry
charges they lost severely.
"Our force on the right Of the Hun
River has d~islodged the enemy at Linz
chiatai, at Chahotsu and across thd
Lao River at Yipantaf. There was
severe fighting in all these operations;'
but the advance continued success
fully. The enemy has been fighting
rear guard actions and constantly
drawing. in his lines. One section OF
our left army "a in possession Oh
Sinmintun and has crossed the Mukden
road at that point
, A Japanese army which4was believed
to be only one of the. operating detach-
ments Of General Oku's left wing has
come up with incredible rapidity on
the Sinmintun road, and it is now
known to be commanded by General
Nogi, the Port Arthur victor. In out
post engagements twenty miles west
of Mukden several wounded japanese
were captured. They were found to be
Port Arthur veterans. They had
marched for two days without food
and were in a pitiablysWeak condition.
This great force thrown by the jap
anese west of this point has caused
General Kuropatkin to send 10000, to-.
ward Sinmuntin, north of the mafn1
road. All one night small detach-'
ments Of General NogPs troops at
tackled the Russian SOutposts in the
several villages lying, east of Sinmin-
tun. Counter attacks were made BY.
the Second Usuri Regiment and by thes
East Siberian Fusileers. At the close,
of the engagement the Japanese had
gained two miles.
The sudden arrival Of General Nogi's
army west of this point came like
lightning out Of a clear, sky. The oper-
ating division was not believed to be,
more than 10000 strong, but they have
been pouring north from T%aimintun
and from Yitantai. This japanese di-
vision was evidently we'll prepared
with light artillery. aad is moving
north of the main Sinmintun road
Since dawn the Russians have held all
their defenses west of Mukden, but it
was feared that the eneny's second
column moving east Of the Liam River
would break the centre of the Russian