The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-02-16

the Hun River.
Hopes that fighting In the Orient
might cease soon seem 10 have been
scattered to the winds. Ten days ago
II was reported that Gen. Kuropatkin
bad been ordered to open negotiations
with Field Marshal Oyama. IL orders
were sent him, they were to attack In
force. and Ntn II he could the victory
OF which Russia is In such need. A
signal success would have done some
thing 70 restore the prestige Of the
government nj home and abroad.
Two weeks ago the japanese noticed
Q concentration OF forces on the Rus
sian right flank. and made their prep
arations 10 meet IL. Gen. Kuropatkin's
plan soon became apparent IL was to
capture strongly fortified positions
held by the japanese on the left bank
Of the Hun River. TO turn their left
flank. and force them to a general en-
gagement The Russians began tho
attack on the 25th OF last month and
met ut frst with considerable success
They showed that they as well rs the
japanese could drive an enemy out OF
his Notifications. A number OF villages
which the japanese had surrounded
with strong works were captured.
Then the japanese rallied. and. after
desperate lighting. succeeded. accord
ing 20 their account. In rccapturing the
positions they had lost and driving
the Russians back across the Hun
River at the end OF weeks sanguin-
airy fighting.
The fighting Mt Heikoutni and along
the Hun River fIom the 18th 10 the
10Th OF January proves 10 have been
one Of the great battles Of the war.
A hundred thousand men were In &C
ton on the Russian side and doubtless
at least that many on the japanese
Tide. Significant OF the vastncss OF
these later operations OF the war In
the fact that the Russian casualties
some l3,0Oo-alone outnumbcr the en-
tire army Russia had engaged ut the
battle OF the Yalu.
There are no Trustworthy reports OF
the loses, but both sides must have
suffered severely. The Russians admit
that over 1000 officers and men wcro
killed or wounded during the lighting
OF the FIRST two days. Probably not
less than 10000 Russians aud Japan
csc are dead or disabled as the result
OF the weeks furious fighting. During
most Of the time the thermometer was
below zero, but Gen. Kuropatkin says
his soldiers did not suffer much from
the cold.
Tho victory was emphatically with
the japanese. Gen. Kuropatkin's plan,
lntrusted to Gen. Grippenberg for exc
cuton, was to turn the japanese left
nank. In the earlier stages OF the war
the Russians had apparently neter
heard or imagined that such a thing
NJ n thanking operation was possible.
Now having by bitter experience
learned what IL Is 10 be outhanked.
they seem to think that IL Is ns simple
10 crumple up one wing OF compactly
posted army OF 100000 men as Il
would be 20 treat similarly n single
division OF the enemy. Once more
they are wiser.
Far more unfortunate for Russia,
however. thnn the mere failure 20 win
n success on the Hun Is the fact that
the battle has proved concluslvcly
that the new army organization from
which 30 much was hoped Is not EN-
cient. II will be remembered that
after the battle OF the Shakhe Gen.
Kuropatkin imltnted the Japanese or
ganization by dividing his force into
three armies. under the commands, re-
spectively. OF Generals Grippenberg.
Kaulbars and Linievitch.
Now, with the first test OF the new
organization, Gen. Grippenberg resigns
his command. The rumorcd reason for
his resignation Is his complaint that
Kuropatkin did not send him re-en-
forcements during his attack and did
not engage the japanese elsewhere
along the line. Whether the resigna.
ton In voluntary or involuntary.
whether the fault il Kuropatkin's or
Grippenberg's. is indifferent. The main
thing r. that the organization has
broken down. and that the Russian
generals once again show themselves
too small for their great task.
The Russians retain their original
lines and are strengthening their for
tincations. As oyama has been re-en-
| forced by the Port Arthur army, IL Is
not unlikely that he will take the OF
fensive I'm his turn. A direct attack
on the Russian position would be haz-
ardous. lie could turn the Russian
right flank by moving troops through
the territory west or the Lao River,
but that would be n violation OF Chi
nese neutrality. which the japanese
say they desire 90 respect. Perhaps
Gen. Kuroki. the commander OF the
right wing OF the japanese army. who
made so many Attempts last fall to out
flank the Russians. Will try Il again.