The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-06-17

Gromoboi and Rossia to return to
their home port in 8. badly damaged
condition. In July the Russian steam
ers Petersburg and Smolensk of their
volunteer fleet made a raid on British
and other merchantmen in the Indian
ocean, but vigorous protests to the
Russian government compelled their
retirement and the release of the cap
tured vessels.
North Sea Incident.
In October the Baltic sea feet. on
its way to the far east, Tnistook a. feet
of English fishing boats in the North
sea for Japanese torpedo boats and
fred on them, sinking one vessel and
killing two men. The AFFAIR caused
a. great commotion, but the matter
was referred to The Hague arbitration
tribunal, which returned a verdict
against the Russians, who made the
restitution awarded by the members
of the court.
The armed Russian vessel Lena ar
rived in San Francisco September II
and was interned until the close of the
war In the course OF the year the
japanese lost the battle ships Hutsuse
and Yashima, both being sunk by mines,
and the cruiser YoShino sunk in col
lision. They also lost the gunboat
Kaimon, the dispatch boat Miyalko, five
transports, and number Of torpedo
boats.
From August IS to September 4 &C.
CURED the battle of 1iaoyang, which up
TO that time was by far the most i'm
portant engagement Of the war Some
200, 900 men were engaged on each side.
and the combined loss in killed and
wounded was about 10000. General
Kuropatlzin was forced to evacuate the
town and the series of forts he had
constructed around it and retreat to the
Sha river. a short distance south of the
large walled city of Mul1den.
Armies Fight Near Mukden.
Here. from October u to 10. took place
the second great land battle of the war.
Both armies had been REINFORCED by
about 90 600 men. The Russians in this
case assumed the offensive, but their
advance was checked by the Japanese
after a desperate struggle. Some $4,000
men were killed or wounded the Rus
sian losses being much the greater. At
the conclusion OF this battle the con-
tending armies went into winter quar-
ters and operations were confined to the
vicinity of Port Arthur, where, as has
been told. fighting continued almost
without cessation until the opening of
the new year.
On February IS, 1905, the japanese be-
gan the second battle of the Sha river,
also known as the battle of Mukden.
This proved to be one of the greatest,
if not the greatest, contest in the an
nails of history in respect to the num-
Der of men engaged, time consumed,
territory covered, and losses suffered.
Great Fight at Nfukden.
mand of the combined japanese armies
under Nogi, Kuroki, Oku. Nodzu, and
Kawamura, numbering, all told, about
$50, 900 men. The Russian forces under
General Kuropatlzin, were estimated at
40, 600 less, or 100000; so that a total of
86G, 900 men were engaged. The line OF
battle was 10 miles long, but the ferc-
est fighting occurred in the immediate
vicinity of Mukden. General Nogi, with
his Port Arthur veterans, rapidly en-
circled the Russians right and attack
ed from the vicinity of Sinmintin, while
Kawamura and Kurolli assaiied the left
and threatened the communications
with the north.
Kuropatl1in, after losing 100000 or
more men, gave the order for retreat.
The japanese pursued him to Telling
and beyond, and then, both sides being
exhausted, this series of titanic COM
bats came to an end. Kuropatl1in was
recalled to St. Petersburg in disgrace,
but was finally permitted to remain
with the army, the leadership of which
was intrusted to General Linevitch.
The Russian headquarters were removed
to Gunshu pass, on the railroad line to
Hardin. Skirmishing on a small scale
took place during the ensuing months,
but the necessity of getting new sup
plies of food and ammunition and of
recruits to fill up the depleted ranks
prevented battles Of Importance.