The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1905-03-07
RUSSIAN ARMY IN RETREAT
General Kuropatkin Gradually Forced
Northwards BY General Oyama.
BAYoHET CHARGES FREQUENT

General NOsi, Cooperating With General
Oku, smashes the Russian Defense on
the sinmfntun Road West Of MuIkden
and Imperils The Retrens Of All the
Cars Soldiers.
Toxic, Japan. Marshal Oyama sent
complete report of the Japanese opera
tons. His army on the west was re-
ported in firm position Of Sinmintun,
about twenty -four miles west by north
west of Mukden, and the forward di-
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, af-
ter hard fighting, has captured Lang
toushan, parallel with Shah0tsu, and
two other columns were respectively
at Fanthiatai and northwest of the
Sha River, five miles from the railroad.
Thus there were five columns of the
western army marching on Mukden. /
The centre army, Marshal Oyama
said, was bombarding Putiloff Fill and
all the territory west of the railroad,
but no advance had been made. The
right army, under General Kuroki, had
one column fifteen miles north Of Ia
Pass and the same distance west of
Chuchiatun. Another column had
crossed the Lokuyu River north Of
Cato Pass, and the extreme right
column has captured Chienh0tsu and
was marching on the village of Tlta,
ten miles south of Sheling. He reports
f5orhR 11r<F fov in taR
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 di-
visions Of their army are concentrating
directly south of the Sinmintun and
Mukden road. Field Marshal Oyama
further says:
''Our right army has forced the en-
envy from Wulungkow and Chfenhotsu.
Severe night fighting gave US possess
sion of both sides of the Irdeng River,
and our column, fifteen miles west, CO.
operating with artillery, drove the en-
envy north. These divisions of our
army then began marching on Tita,
the enemy stubbornly resisting our
progress. Their army has been rein
forced from Mukden and has strong
positions.
ION our front the engagement con-
tinued along the Sha River, the enemy
counter attacking four times in at
tempts to retake Tsiuketchen and
Kangningying, south of Ia Pass. All
their efforts We're 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 enga cement
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 dislodged the enemy at Lin
chiatai, at Chahotsu and across the
Lao River at Yipantai. 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 was in possession of
Sinmintun and has crossed the Mukden
road at that point"
A Japanese army which was 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 AIukden several wounded Japanese
were captured. They were found to be
Port Arthur veterans. They had
marched for two days without food
and were in pitiably weak 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 main
road All one night small detach-
ments of General Nogi's troops at
tackled the Russian outposts in the
several villages lying east of Sinmin-
tun. Counter attacks were made by
the Second Usuri Regiment and by the
| East Siberian Fusileers. At the close
of the engagement the. Japanese had
gained two miles.
The sudden arrival Of General Nogis
army west of this point came like
lightning out of clear sky. The oper-
ating division was not believed to be
more than 10000 strong, but they have
been pouring north from Taimintun
ana from Yitantai This japanese di-
vision was evidently well prepared
with light artillery, and 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 enemy's second
column moving east of the Liam River
would break the centre of the Russian
defenses on the right wing.