Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1905-02-03
Roth ARMIES LOSE HEAVILY
1okIo TELLS OF ENCOUNTERS
OF THREE DAYS.
sIav Advance checked-kuropatk
Armies Said to Have Retreated
Across Hun River to Right Bank
FIGHTING Ceases TemporariIy-Rus-
STA Repulsed at sandepu.

Toxic, JAN 30-The Russian advance
movement upon the Japanese left and
center has ended disastrously for the
enemy, and the Japanese forces have
driven back the attacks and conquered
along the line. In many places the
fighting which has ragged furiously for
three days has ceased, and in the vi
cinity of Sandepu (Sandepas) the
Japanese soldiers are now engaged in
dislodging the enemy from the village
which they captured on Friday
Field Marshal the Marquis Oyama
has sent several dispatches to imperial
military headquarters. The last one,
deciphered Sunday evening, states that
the enemy is in full retreat and has
abandoned his attempt to turn our left
flank.
The first advance of the enemy's
lines toward Liutiako on Friday was
met with a counter advance upon the
village itself. which we occupied Dur
ing the night of Friday the enemy
made two attacks upon the position.
japanese reinforcements had been
brought forward and both of the Rus
sian assaults we're repulsed with heavy
losses. The fighting was continued in
a desultory manner at various places
throughout Saturday until late in the
evening, when the Russians executed
a counter attack upon Heikantai,
which had been occupied by our
forces during the day.
The attack by the Russians was one
Of the most determined ever attempt
ed by them. 1t was repulsed and the
Japanese detachments holding the po-
sitions spread over the vicinity occu-
pied Peitsaihotsu and fortified their
position in and around Heikantai. Be-
sides this many minor strongholds
were established and we'll fortified in
the neighborhood. Our victories at
these points checked the entire right
flank of the enemy, part of which had
crossed the Hun river and had driven
small parties of the Japanese occupy
ing force toward the southwest on
Thursday and Friday. The japanese
victories at Heikantai and at Liutiako
implied the retaking of these positions,
and before our advance the Russians
retreated across the Hun river to it's
right bank and Field Marshal Oyama
Immediately ordered several large de-
tachments to the pursuit.
Another unsuccessful attack made
by the enemy occurred on Saturday
night at Chenchiepao and Litajenton.
The battle, which was fought along
considerable distance in the direction
of Chenchiepao, ragged for several
hours. Large forces were engaged and
the casualties on both sides were
great The fighting lasted for several
hours, but early Sunday morning the
Russians were REFUSED all along the
line, leaving many killed and wounded
on the battlefield. 1t is impossible to
state the number of losses on either
side as Field Marshal Oyama reports
that he is now investigating the casual
ties. The rout of the Russians was so
complete that about 500 officers and
men were made prisoners.
Russian RepuIse at sandepu.
The fighting in the vicinity Of Sand
epu ended on Friday night with the
capture of that village by the Russians,
and was resumed Saturday. The Rus
slams threw strong force against the
redoubt located to the northeast Of the
village. but were repulsed with terrible
loss. They repeated the attack with
the same result, and then desisted,
sending some of their attacking force
toward Somopu, where concentrated
force of Japanese was attacked by
several columns of Russians. The
battle at this point ragged throughout
Saturday. and on the evening of that
day it came to a close with crushing
Russian defeat.