The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-06-09

L
pursue the retreating army with celer-
ity, and the Russians crossed the Sha
River and proceeded toward Mukden.
Kouropatkin announced Oct. that ne
was able to succor Port Arthur and be-
gan the advance at once. Terrific bat
ties followed on the Shakhe or Sha
River, along front of fifty miles. Men
fought without sleep for days Kuro-
patkin was turned back by Japanese
endurance Oct. 10, and retreated again.
The relief expedition had failed.
The Russian casualties in these terri
fc fights were estimated at 10000 and
the Japanese at 10000. During the
winter the two armies watched eacn
other along the Sha River, men perish
ing of cold in great numbers. Sentries
were frozen stiff at their posts. In
February Oyama began activities again.
General Gripenberg was vanquished at
Sandiapu and retired in disgust to st.
Petersburg Haba Pass was won Feb.
"a and the movement for the capture
of Mukden was well under way.
Nogi Turns Scale.
For days the fight ragged along sew
enty mile front. Nogi stole up on the
west and Kouropatkin was routed. The
Japanese captured $4,000 prisoners and
took possession of Mukden March 10.
The fugitive Russian army, being pur-
used, made stand at the Fan River,
south of Tie Pass, but was forced to
Weld and March IL the battle of NIuk-
den, one of the fiercest of all history,
was ended. The opposing armies num-
bered nearly 100000 men and the
fighting had been continuous for six
teen days. The Japanese loss was 81
600, while the Russians lost 10000
killed, $4,000 wounded and $4,000 TAX
en- prisoners.
Kuropatkin resigned March IL, and
General Linevitch was made commander
in chief of the Russians. The Russians
kept on retreating, with Oyama at their
heels, and bloody engagement took
place at Gunshu Pass.
While the Japanese were winning the
remarkable series of victories Admiral
Togo continued to lombard Port Ar
thur. The Yenesei tried to lay mines
Feb. IL, but was blown up by her own
explosives. The Boyarin was torpedoed
Feb. Ia, and by April four destroyers
were either sunk or blown up. The Rus
sian feet was decoyed from the pro-
lection of the forts April Is.
Markaroff Is Lost.
In trying to return to harbor the bat
tie ship Petropavlovsk was blown up
and seventy five men were lost, includ-
ing the Russian admiral Makaroff, who
bore the grim title "Cossack of the
Sea-" Verestchagin, the painter, also
al disaster was suffered by the Russians
Aug. 10, when Admiral Withoeft tried
to escape from the doomed fortress, but
encountered the japanese fotilla. With
oeft was killed, and three of his ves-
sells, the Czarevitch, Oskold and Diana,
took refuge in foreign ports. The Nor
vik was sunk, and the gunboat Rye
shitelni was captured and added to the
Japanese feet.
Admiral Kamimura's squadron trap
ped the Vladivostok squadron Aug. Ia
in the Korean straits. The Rurik was
was sunk, but the Rossia and Gromoboi
escaped, though with severe damage
While the reduction of Port Arthur
was being carried on theoretically by
fleet, Nogi was active on the land By
July l Kinshan and Hsitaushan were
occupied. Miaotsin fort and fort No. lG
were captured July and July 6. Aug
8 Takushan and Shakushan were cap
tured, and here the first siege guns were
mounted.
Advance Is Steady.
Bombardments by artillery and ma
val batteries became of daily occur
renee, and summons to surrender was
sent to General Stoessel Aug. Is. 1t
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