Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-03-14
Russians Defeated by the Japanese
With Terrible Loss.

Curate appTOAiiiidlioHo PiaSc HNeAoPeNS
kin's army at 3OO,s00 infantry 2S,70o
cavalry and 1858 guns. The total
Japanese force is not given with 80
much definiteness; but 1t seems that
zoe, 900 men is not an unfair estima-
ton.
The disposition of the forces was
along the Hun river, the Russians be-
ing along the north bank with their
centre at Mukden and the Japanese on
the south bank with sufficient force to
confront the Russians in equal force
wherever they were massed and men
to spare to overlap the extreme ends
in formidable fianking movements.
The Japanese plan Of battle included
direct front attack on Mukden across
the Hun river, and efforts also to throw
considerable forces across the river at
as many points as possible along the
whole line Of battle. The Russians
sought to prevent the enemy crossing
the river at any point and this was the
main object Of the fighting during the
first ten days Of the battle.
Another point Of all absorbing i'm
portance was the effort on the part OF
the Japanese to push their turning
movements around the extreme ends
of the Russian lines. The immediate
purpose was to crumple the Russian
lines back on Mukden from either side,
and the secondary purpose, Of no less
moment to the Russians, was to get
considerable forces to the north Of
Mukden in a position to tear up the
railroad track leading to Tie Pass,
at which is located the important wall
city Of Telling, where it was UNDER
stood the Russians intended to retreat
and reform in case Of defeat.
The battle progressed fiercely from
its beginning, both sides fighting with
heroic courage. Although outnumber-
ed nearly everywhere the Russians
held their ground with admirable te-
nacity. The Japs hurled themselves
forward without faltering, and the
most that can be said Is that 1t was
matter of numbers and endurance.
This condition Of affairs continued for
nearly ten days, with the advantage
for the most part on the side OF the
Japs, largely because Of their superior
numbers, which were discounted to
some extent by the better positions
held by the Russians.
During the eleventh day the Hun
river froze over and ceased to be the
barrier on which the Russians had
been relying. The Japs were able to
hurl themselves across at all points
along the line, and this fact marked
the beginning Of the end. Another
natural phenomenon came to their re-
lief. There arose terrible dust storm
peculiar to that region. The wind
blew a hurricane from the south car
rying great clouds Of yellow dust
against the backs of the Japanese and
into the faces Of the Russians, and
making 1t impossible for the Russians
to see their advancing foe further than
few yards, while the view Of the Jap
anese was practically unobscured. Un-
der these conditions whole regiments
of Russians were literally moved
down by infantry fire and machine
guns until flesh and blood could no
longer stand the slaughter.
General Kuropatkin Is said to have
exposed himself in a most fearless
manner. He seemed to be everywhere
exhorting and directing his troops, and
the soldiers did their utmost to stand
their ground. But 1t was no use. In
the face Of the storm and such over
whelming numbers there was nothing
left but to die to no purpose or flee,
and they chose the latter.
Arrangements for retreat had been
perfected beforehand, and while the
infantry was still engaged along the
lines to the east and west Of Mukden
the artillery was hushed up and load
ed on the trains. Then the Russians
gathered up as many Of their wounded
as possible, set fire to their stores in
Mukden and commenced a retreat to
the north.
Large forces of Japanese had sue
ceeded in getting behind the city al
most to the railroad, and the depart
ing trains had to run a gauntlet Of ar
| tillery fire. Disorganized detachments
of retreating Russians. unable to get
out of the way Of the swiftly following
Japanese were literally moved off the
earth or compelled to surrender. One
report has 1t that two whole Russian
army corps were annihilated to the
southwest of Mukden, and in the case
of two or three corps there is yet no
| fate.
While some reports have 1t that Ku-
ropatkin has gotten to Telling with
about half Of his army or perhaps 200,-
It Is known that the Japanese were
north of Mukden in large force as
early as last Friday, and 1t Is not i'm
probable that they have cut off and
captured or annihilated whole divis-
ions that were supposed to have es-
capped.
The understanding Is that the Rus
slams will try to make another stand
at Tie Pass or Telling If they can mus
ter sufficient strength. Otherwise they
will continue on to Harbin. The Jap
anese are now around Tie Pass In
large numbers and are prepared to
push on to Hardin and Vladivostok,
while the Russians are waiting for the
second big army that is being prom
ised from home.