Evening journal., 1905-03-06
Noars Veterans Fighting Near Mukdsn


Pass, abandoning their wounded.
Nogrs Veterans Fighting Near Mukden
Mukden. March 6.--The rumble Of
carts in the strets Of Mukden is
drowned by the roar OF battle, which
is raging northwest, west and south
west Of the city, few miles away, be-
tween General Nogfs Port Arthur vet
erans and the hastily assembled army
interposed by General Kuropatkin to
defend the city and railroads. The
stroke came like lightning out OF a
clear sky. II is reported that the situa-
ton has somewhat improved, but It
still is extremely critical. It is report
ed that the Japanese have been thrown
back in the district of hunfanshan and
are retiring along the Sinmintin road;
but heavy fighting continues there. The
Japanese vanguard posts are about five
miles west Of Mukdeng where the
bursting of shrapnel is plainly visible.
A fight also is raging at suchudsiapu
and Lanschanpu, which on Saturday
we're captured by the Japanese after a
terrific combat, the villages several
times changing hands
The Japanese on Friday advanced on
the Russian position at Shakhe village,
but were driven off. Twice they at
tackled Putiloff Hill, but both attacks
we're repulsed. At .Oubenepusa a Japa-
nese guard OF over 20 battalions made
13 attacks the night of March 3 and
the morning of March 4, storming the
redoubts most furiously. All these at
tacks were repulsed with heavy loss.
The ground In eont of the redoubts
was fairly strewn with heaps Of Japa-
nese corpses.
The Japanese and Russian artillery
are engaged in the heaviest duel of the
war. Russian mortars are fired at the
Shakhe bridge. and Japanese 11-inch
guns are in full play, but the Russian
fortihcations, on which the Russians
had been WORKING all winter, offer
fairly secure protection for their de-
tenders.
There Is little news Of General Kuro-
patkin's operations on the extreme
east Of the line. The Russians are hold
ing their ground and even advancing,
but Il Is reported that Japanese cav
airy division with IL quick-fire guns is
sweeping far to the eastward on
rapid turning movement
The carnage at the center and on
both fanks has been enormous. The
Japanese at many places simply threw
away their lives. beating against the
Russians powerful fortifications In at
tacks which. in the center, apparently
we're intended chiefly as a demonstra-
ton to cover the driving home OF Gen
eral Nogi's blow. II is believed now
that the operation to the eastward was
in part In the nature OF a feint, with
the design to draw reinforcements
thither. II this was the design II was
successful, General Kuropatgin having
sent the First Corps to the assistance
of General Linevich.
AS the result of the weeks operations
the Russian right is bent sharply back
ward, instead of paralleling the Shakhe
river, and now runs northwest and
southwest, passing eight miles from
Mukden, covering and crossing the Sim
mintin road.
According TO prisoners, the Japanese
force on the Lao river includes the
first seventh and ninth divisions from
Port Arthur Part OF the turning force
is probably made up Of reserves which
came from Yinkow by rail on seven
trains. The Port Arthur veterans ad-
vanced to the attack shouting in Rus
sian: "Out Of the way for us; we are
from Port Arthur" They offered their
lives with the same fanatical bravery
and were as unshaken by heavy losses
as at the siege OF Port Arthur.