Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1905-03-23
STORY OF BATTLE OF NUKDEN
GREATEST OF MODERN TIMES

confusion incident to the evacuation of
Mukden and the forced retreat to Tie
Pass.
On February "a all was ready for an
attack on the westward. Suddenly, in
the evening, the order to advance was
Cancelled and a second order was given
for the transfer of General Rennen-
kampffs' First Siberian Corps and sew
eral other organizations to the left or
eastern flank, which was being pressed
heavily by large force.
From that time the japanese, who
who were we'll informed as to all the
Russian movements, began heavy at
tacks along the whole front. The Rus
slams generally held their ground, doing
well until February %, when an unex-
pected attack developed in the south
west, before which the Russian right,
weakened by the withdrawal of almost
two corps, yielded.
JAPs BEGAN TO TURN RIGHT FLANK.
By March it became evident that
the Japanese were moving around the
Russian right in five heavy columns,
and it became imperative to withdraw
the thin line from the southwest and
form a new line from the bridge across
the Shakhe River parallel with the rail-
way. The change of front was accom-
plished with remarkable CELEBRITY, but
the various organizations became badly
mixed.
The Russians on March a occupied
their former positions on the Shakhe
River as far as the bridge, thence to
Madyapu, on the Hun River, and thence
parallel with the railway, six miles dis
tant, the right resting on the Sin Min
Ting Road. The japanese on March 5
beginning to turn even this position
with view to cutting off the retreat,
the Russian right was extended east
ward from the Sin Min Ting road to the
railway.
BOTH SIDES TOOK THE OFFENSIVE AT
VARIOUS POINTS.
On March both sides began most
vigorous offensive Operations, the
japanese attacking with especial en-
ergy the forces of General Tserpitsky,
which were holding the position from
Madyapu as far as the heights east of
Mukden Station, while the Russians,
under General Gerngross, assumed an
attack in the direction of Tatchekiao,
and on the northern front General
Launitz's command beat back all at
tacks. On the whole the outcome of
the fighting on March was favorable
to the Russians, who repulsed several
attacks on their southern front and as
sumed the offensive on the left, where
General Linevitch's army, occupying
eastern hill positions, repulsed numer-
GUS attacks and took several hundred
prisoners and several'machine guns.
RUSSIANS HAD TO CONTRACT THEIR
LINES.
The continued extension, however, Of
the Japanese lines northward and the
concentration WHICH their superiority
in numbers enabled them to effect
against the northern and northwestern
fronts, rendered advisable contrac-
ton of the Russian lines, and with=
drawal ffom the Shakhe River to posi-
tions on the Hun River, was determined
upon.
This was In no sense the beginning OF
the general retreat, and Kuropatkin
and the generals commanding the arm
les were far from regarding the battle
as lost. The first army to retire for
the fortified positions east and south
east of Mukden was the third army,
which fell back to positions similarly
fortified in advance on the north bank
of the Hun River. The burning Of
abandoned stores, provisions and forage
disclosed the Russian retirement, and
the Japanese followed closely.
A confusion in orders and retirement
in impenetrable darkness across the
country were responsible for the failure
of some organizations to occupy the
positions to which they had been ass
signed, and a remarkable dust storm
the following day made impossible to
verify the alignment and fill the breach
es, which the japanese, however, were
lucky enough to find and skillful enough |
to turn to their advantage.
POSITION IN FORM OF A BOOT,
The Russian positions now formed a
boot, the toe at Madyapu and the heel
on the Hun River at Fushan, about five
miles wide, and to meet the apparent
danger the Japanese might plug the
top Of the boot, Kuropatlxin sent
thither forty battalions from the COM
mand of General Mylof, which were
rendered available by the shortening of
the line,
The Russians began slowly to force
the Japanese back at this critical point
but the japanese In turn were Fein=
forced on their extreme right, and Gem
eral Kuropatkin, seeing all apparently
going well at the other positions and
to stake all on decisive
blow, collected the remainder of the
strategic mining reserves, strengthened
by several other units, and led them
on March to the north front
and threw them on the flank Of the
Ionanaoa xuho xvera attacking Santaitse |