The San Francisco call., 1905-03-02
OYANK'S SIEGE Guns POUNDING
THE RUSSIAN FORT|F|CAT|ONS
Fast Rendering IJntenable the Positions
Held by KurOpatkin'S Army.
StOppage Of News From the
Front Is Regarded as
a Bad Omen.

ST. PETERSBURG, March 2-The
curtain of a rigid censorship has set
tied down over events in Manchuria.
There is no news of the results of yes
terday's fighting. Dispatches describ-
ing the picturesque events Of the night
retreat from Dapass and the all
night combat at the railroad bridge
across the Shakhe River have been al
lowed to come through, but nothing to
show whether General Kuropatkin is
Withdrawing or is determined to stand
his ground. 1t is significant that no
news has been received from the
threatened left flank, the last dis
patches leaving the Russians clinging
desperately to Oubenpusa against
strong forces of General Kuroki's vet
Grams.
Although 1t is not admitted at the
War Office. the general impression in
military circles is that General Kuro-
patkn may be forced to withdraw.
Not only is General Kuroki threatening
his communications, but the. redoubts
at Putilon and Novgorod hills and even
the hills themselves, keys to the posi-
ton of the Russian center, appear to
be crumbling away under the impact
OF Inc Snc1lS- as lie f6kSQ
the Notifications of Port Arthur and
rendered the fortress untenable No
troops will be able to retain the posi-
ton long If the bombardment con-
tinues -. = !. =:
Ii develops that the Russians were
unable to hold permanently the south
ern end of the railroad bridge across
the Shakhe River. The advance of the
right wing seems for the moment to
spring weather set in to-day.
Two brief dispatches from General
Kuropatkin, dated February 81 and
February %, confirm the capture Of the
head of the Shakhe. River bridge. At
tacks by the japanese on *Gauto Pass
were repulsed on February q and
again on February IS. The Russian
advance guards still hold their position
at Kudaza. The sharpshooters con-
tinue to harass the whole Japanese
front and, IT is confirmed, caused con-
siderable alarm by the use of hand
grenades at Sandiapu during the night
Of February q.
SIEGE GUNS HAMMER PUTILOFF.
SAKHETUN, Manchuria, March Il
The japanese to-day opened a tremen-
against Putiloff Clone Tree Hill. Cof-
umns of white smoke envelope the hill
on two sides. The bombaFdment of the
right flank continues. =.
The artillery fighting continues along
the whole front of about 100 miles: The
Eastern detachment near gKonda.yu has
repulsed the japanese attack. The Jap
anese also have been driven in from
Tunsilai Pass and from the vicinity Of
Gauto. ...a @:.....*>
At the bridge over the Shakhe River
a furious struggle continues. A small
wood nearby has continually changed
hands, but II is now definitely occupied
by the Japanese. r.: -. .:--..
1t is rumored that division OF the
Japanese on the extreme right is
marching north and has reached Ka-
lama -..---.
RUSSIANS FIRING BLINDLY.
GENERAL" OKU'S HEADQUAR-
TIERS, Tuesday, Feb. 28.-The japanese
left wing is driving back the Russian
oVtposts. The Japanese have occupied
a line from Shatzemun, two miles west
of the Hun River, in a northwest di-
rection TO Kalita, on the east bank of
the Lao River. A heavy bombardment
along the entire line west of the rail-
road is in progress night and day. The
Russians are firing bIindly with field
and heavy guns. The Japanese remain
in their positions and make no serious
response to the Russian fire.
Last night five companies of Russian
infantry attacked Dantin, aided by q
terrible artillery fire After desperate
hand-to-hand fighting, which lasted for
an hour and a half, the Russians were
repulsed leaving sixty dead. Many
trophies were taken, as well as some
prisoners. The Japanese loss did not
exceed fifty.
Small detachments of Russians also
attacked at many other points, but in
every case they were repulsed.
SIlAV ATTACKS REFUSED.
TOXIC, March 1.-The headquarters
OF the japanese army on the Shakhe
River. telegraphing yesterday, says:
The enemy's batteries at Tungyou
Mountain and the northern height OF
Tangchiatun commenced bombarding
at four o'clock to-day. We did not
reply.
''On Monday night the enemy's field
guns at Shupangtai and heavy guns at
Wenchengpao concentrated their fire
on our outDosts in the vicinity Of the
railroad bridge. At L o'clock in the
morning five companies of infantry ad-
vanced on either side of the railroad
and surrounded our outposts. Finally
part Of the enemy charged into our
to-hand fight. Our posts had repulsed
the enemy entirely at o'clock In the
morning. The enemy left sixty dead,
some prisoners and some spoils.
Small bodies Of the enemy at Wan
chiayuantzu, Sanchiatzu and Lapatai
have been repulsed-"