The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-06
Fighting Is Desperate Along
Almost Entire Line.
LOSSES ARE HEAVY.
Russians Place Theirs at 800
and Japanese at 10000.
Gen. NOgi's Men Have Not Eaten
for Two Days.

m.=The Associated Press has just
learned that General Kuropatkin has
launched a blow at Field Marshal
Oyama's left center just east of the
railroad. The lighting is desperate
along almost the entire line.
Kuropatlin's losses in killed and
wounded uD to last night are placed
at 23.5OO- Oyama is believed to have
already lost fully 0.OOO men.
The japanese army. according to
the prisoners. is greatly exhausted.
They repeat the statement that some
of General Nogi's men have not had
any food for two days.
KurODatISin ShOrtens His line.
Mukden, Sunday March 5.-An Of
fetal report in the Arnx Messenger
says:
''The southern position is unchanged
as far as the Shakhe.''
After acknowledging that the CEN
tral army had fallen back from Sin
chiupu in order to contract the length
Of the line of battle, connecting the
inner positions the Army Messenger
adds.
1.-THE spirits of the men are excel
lent. Marvellous composure is being
displayed considering the approaching
crisis"
The paper admits the Russian
Is going on successfully
All the roads leading from Machpu
and the western plain which has sud-
denly been invaded by the battle are
crowded with Chinese refugees.
Opposite Poutiloff hill the Russians
are reported to have captured two ma
chine guns.
Fought All Day Sunday.
Nukden, Sunday. March SIS D. m
All day long the battle ragged cease
lessly. The japanese have been con-
centratlng their energies on MaChia pu
for the possession of which they have
with all their gallantry the japanese
were unable to dislodge the Russians
who are clinging to their works with
bulldog tenacity- Japanese shrapnel
has been bursting within a mile and
half of the Hun railway bridge,
which evidently is the japanese OBJ
3ective- The capture OF that position
would render the occupation of the
Hun river position south of Mukden
untenable.
A fierce and continuous artillery en-
gagement is taking place about four
miles north of Machiapu-
From the Hun bridge along the line
of battle stretches in both directions
SO far as the eye can see. Northwest
toward Tatchekiao and eastward along
the Shakhe river is marked by a line
of bursting shells. The Russian
losses are not excessive considering
the severity of the five days fighting
The japanese as the attackers have
suffered more heavily than the Rus
slams.
A decision in the battle should be
reached tomorrow or Tuesday.
At 4:3O this afternoon guns began
to roar west and northwest of NIukden
railroad station, where General Kuro-
patkin is launching an attack against
the japanese extreme left.
During last night the japanese re-
peatedly assaulted Pienchiapudgu
kacu pass and Kantayen farther east,
but all their efforts were unavailing.
The bombardment of Erda dou,
NovgorOd and POutilOff hills continues
unsuccessfully.
Japanese Good Winter Fighters.
General Okus Headquarters in the
Field via F'usan, March 5.-The Rus
slams are today using 6 guns placed
In position opposite Witosan. and are
shelling the japanese artillery posi-
uonS. the villages on the plain oc-
eupied by troops and the roads
thereon the supply trains are passing
10 the front. but with no results.
Among the telling work of the Jap
Rnese army. done by its infantry in
tights. no episode of the war sur
passes the achievement of the force
which on the night of March ,. gained
footing across the Shakhe river. and
IS now holding two miles of the front
above. crawling up bare, stony hills
like leeches-
The Russian trenches are now
plainly visible, the soldiers moving
about freely. Both sides suspend hos
tlities for three or four hours at mid
day and from midnight to morning.
a terrific uprOaT is caused by the
sounds Of the cannonading and rifle
FIRE.
The japanese are proving as good
winter campaigners in every respect
as the Russians. a question upon
which there was formerly consider
able doubt
Greatest Battle of the War
Mukden. Saturday. March 4.-The
eastern Russian army is reported to be
conrenoing aggressively for the ground
lost at Ia mountain.
There are renewed rumors that Jap
anese cavalry has been sighted north
of Fushun and moving west
The turning of the Russian right to
complete right angle hinging on Sin
chinpu has furnished the most remark
able strategic situation of the whole
war.
All day the Japanese batteries have
been breaking shrapnel over the swamp
land running southwest from the inn
perial tOmbs in full view of the popu-
lace crowding the railroad station, the
roofs of the adjoining hO@ses and every
elevation The japanese have been en-
cOuraged to renewed endeaVors by the
sight of putting engines and a long line
of trains and carts going northwards
Nine miles north of Sinchinpu the Jap
anese reached the old railway embanlx-
ment facing Nfachiapu. their line thence
circling north to Tatchekiao on the
Sinmintin road.
Although the greatest battle of the
war is being fought around Mulxden,
the Chinese are strangely Indifferent.
General Kuropatlzin has reassured the
army that he relies on the men to hold
their present positions
The heaviest fighting today was on
the north bank of the Hun river. but