Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-02-04
HAVING RETIRED ACROSS THE
HUN, THEY ARE CONSTRUCT
ING DEFENsEs.
JAPANESE LINE Is FIRM

JAPANESE LINE Is FIRM
Russians Believe Either Nodzu or
Nos Was With the Japs at sandi-
apu Because Of Methods Used in
Flshting-BeIated Reports Tell Of
Fierce Battle.
St. Petersburg, Feb. s.-An un- J.
confirmed runnor is In circulation
that Lieutenant General Gripen-
berg has asked to be relieved Of
his command because Of the al
legged failure of kuropatkin to af-
ford him proper support In the
operations against Sandepas.
The latest official dispatches
show that the Russians are appar-
emily still near Sandepas and that
the attempt Of the Japanese to out
flank them to, the westward along
the Hun river has been repulsed.
Toxic, Feb. 3-Field Marshal
Oyama. telegraphing yesterday, re-
ports the extreme Japanese left holds
line along the Hun river with Its
extreme left established on the right
bank. Tho main body of the Russians
after their defeat at Heikoutai retired
across the Hun river and occupied
Niuyupao, Shufangtai aid a portion OF
Changtan.
Are Building Defenses.
Wednesday the Russians began the
construction of defensive works in the
neighEorhood of those towns. The
Russians made series Of small at
tacks on the right army and the left
flank of the left army but were re-
pulsed in each instance.
ssssa isaazu or Npst here. S
Mukdeas The Impression
is. general ass slesEe Russian troops
on the right flank, that either Nodzu or
Nogi was present at Sandiapli, where
the Russians ascribe their greatest
losses to cleverly concealed batteries
behind the main works.
Russians at sandiapu.
The Japanese withdrew from their
outworks at Sandiapu, which at one
time the Russians occupied. General
Mistchenko is still advancing. carrying
out the .fanking movement intending
to cut the railway north of Lao Yang
and was taking outpost after outpost
prisoners when the order come to re-
tire.
[. Japs Driven From Position.
st. Petersburg. Feb. 8. - The en-
peror received the following today
from General Kuropatkin: "The jap
anese during the night of January 81,
attacked and captured Diantanchenan,
on the left bank of the Hun river, but
subsequently were driven off with
great loss. The Russian casualties
were 100.
'The japanese after a severe can
nonade re-attacked our forces at Dian
tanehenan at noon on February 1. The
Russians first retired but ultimately
reoccupied the village although some
outlying parts are still in the hands Of
the enemy.
Attempt to Turn Flank Falls.
Oku's Headquarters, Jan. 30.-(De-
layed. 1.-THE Russian attempt to turn
Oku's left flank has proved COM
plete failure. The Japanese were at
Heikoutai but withdrew their small
force from there and allowed the Rus
slams to occupy positions until they
could move over enough men to make
its recaDture certain. The reoccupa-
tion Of this position was easily accom-
plished although the loss was heavy.
The casualties have not yet been re-
ported but it is believed they will
amount to fully 5000.
The Russians had five divisions en-
gagged at Heikoutai. They were driven
back by less than two japanese divi-
sions
Russian Force Large.
Over 100000 men were engaged in
the Russian demonstration against the
Japanese positions Immediately east of
Heikoutai, force strong enough to
have been successful, as only about
one Japanese division was sent against
them.
Russian Loss Heavy.
The Russian loss is estimated at
over 1000 although. the prisoners say
one regiment was pTdctlcafly annlnll-
ated. The Japanese loss is placed at
200 due to the fact that they remained
intrenched while the Russians were
forced to cross open ground, solidly
frozen and thus rendering the construc-
tion Of shelter trenches impossible
The Japanese suffered some disadvan-
tages in the recapture of IIeikoutai.
The weather was very cold during the
fighting. The Russians retired well out
of range with no sign of further activ.
ity.
Russians Leave Jibutil
Jibutil, Feb. 81 A division of the
second Russian Pacific squadron com.
manded by Admiral Botrovsky and com.
sisting of four cruisers and three tor.
nedn boat destroYers. sailed from here