New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-15
A REVIEW OF THE BATTLE.

Japanese along the Shakhe River about twenty-five
miles south OF Moukden. The last ana greatest
battle In the year OF 1904 began on OCTOBER an"
ended on October 20 Il was an indecisive engage
mant though the Russians suffered losses OF o''V.V
men. Burrowed In winter quarters on . SEM
circular 'front.' of nearly one hundred miles. ths
forces OF MARQUIS Oyama ard General kuropatAih
passed four long months, whose monotony Wa
broken only by Miscellaneous raid southwark clip-
enbergs disastrous attack, sllirmishes and inslee
tive cannonades AS long as the weather perniietso
the work Of trenching was unreaxed, ana al many
points only few hundred yards separated the OPP
posing lines.
The Japanese armies retained their relative POSI-
lions in which they had fought their way from fil
Cnehg northumberland on the east, Noazu on
the south and oku on the west Moukden lies IN
the plain of the Hun River and offers few facilities
for defence but eastward rise the hills OF the Maoz
ten range. which extend along the line OF the FORT
Arthur and Hardin Railway. West and SOUTHWEST
OF Moukden is the great valley Of the Hun ana Lao
rivers. The former stream bends sharply south
short distance from the town. and is joined by the
5chili at Chang-Tan. about thirty miles distant
The Russian and Japanese lines before the engage
ment began formed huge crescent over a hunafeo
miles of plains and hills from Chang Tan, when
was held by the Russians eastward across the rail-
way to Lone Tree Hill, the commanding position on
the south Thence the Entertainments were carried
southeast toward Pensihu. Kurokis base on the
Tai-Tse the TIA and Gaotu passes, TO the north
ward, being strongly held by tho Russians
The first ntmation of engagement was re-
ceived in dispatch dated February ., from
Tsinkhetchen. Sing-King, sixty miles due east
Of Moukden. Eight battalions of japanese had
attacked the extreme r issian northern positions
which guarded the Fu-Shun coal mines and the
approach to Moukden the east along the Hun.
Kuroki brought large force into action on the
following day driving the Russians from Beresneh
Hill and taking Tsinkhetchen, after hard action.
on February 20 In the time the japanese
siege guns had opened a heavy bombardment on
the centre. On February IS a division OF the
Japanese right crossed the Shakhe and attacked
the passes on the southeastern Russian positions.
The weight of the japanese, reinforced from the
centre compelled the Russians to give ground, and
Ia Pass taken the following day. opening
the road to Fu-shun from the south. Cannonades.
attacks and counter attacks Continued in the Lone
Tree Hill section, south of the Shakhe.
1t was now plain to Kuropatl1in that his left
flank seriously menaced, and he began 10
transfer troops from the and right to check
Kuroki's determined rushes.' Oku, commanding the
japanese left. moved into action the right bank
of the Hun. near Chang-Tan and Sandepas. where
General Gripenbergs offensive movement few
weeks previous had met defeat On March 1 the
Japanese captured Chang-Tan. The troops pressed
steadily northward taking village after village,
and by March the Russian right had been nat
tened against the centre. the japanese holding
line parallel with and close 70 the railroad from
point twelve miles south of Moukden
Nogi's army had been masked well to the west
ward on the Lao River, south of -Mn-Tun.
which. though in the neutral zone. had been used
by the Russians a base to forward coal and
supplies to the army. On March Kuropatkin re-
ceived word that the town was threatened and
sent thither two divisions, which met an army
corps instead of the expected detachment. The
veterans from Port Arthur rolled up the Russians
In disorderly flight March 3, and the japanese
advance not checked until Nogts right wing
was in touch with Oku's left, about eight miles
from Meukden. Nogi's eft was hurried northward
along the Lao toward Tie Pass and his centre
attacked Moukden the northwest, where, &C
cording to reports, not even temporary defences
had been raised General Ksulbars and all avail
able reserves were hastily brought up, and for six
days desperate battle joined in a plain
broken only by Chinese mud-walled houses. The
japanese attack apparently Irresistible. and on
March Q. after succession OF bloody actions,
Oyasna reported that the railroad north of Mouk-
den had been destroyed and San-Tai-Tse and
U-Shun-T villages which were the keys to the
positions on the north and northwest, had been
taken and held
On March the Russian commander in chief.
seeing that his line of retreat northward was
menaced gave orders TO evacuate the south and
southwest positions on the Shakhe, where PoutiloR
GLone Tree) and Novogorod hills had proved
stumbling blocks to the advance of the japanese
centre The Russians since the opening Of the
battle had successfully defended these strong
holds against rain OF shells from the japanese
siege guns, and many desperate assaults mad re-
suited only In heavy losses. kurokl, IN the mean
time had pressed forward on the west and south
west Part of his forces crossed the Hun on March
4 driving in the troops OF General Linevitch and
moving toward Fu-Shun, the strategic point in this
region.
While Nodzu's troops pressed the Russians under
Bilder!ng retreating porthward to the Hum Oku,
Nogi and Kuroki hammered at Kuropatkn's TANKS,
each day of battle drawing tighter the Gordon OF
men and STEEL Ma-Chia-Pu, southwest of Mouk-
den and east of the Hun where for days Oku's left
centre had been trying drive wedge into the
Russian centre became untenable soon as the
Shakhe position was abandoned Kuroki took Ma
Chun-Tan fifteen miles south of Fu-Shun.
March g. and Tita, north Of the Hun and fifteen
miles east of Fu-Shun. in Japanese hands on
the following day. These two points determined the
mastery OF the situation on the east, while
Oyama's left all the district west Of the railway
and south Of the Hun held by Oku's troops.
On March 10 the Japanese commander reported
that Moukden and Fu-Shun had been occupied, and
that many prisoners guns and great quantities Of
stores had been taken. The eRveloping movement
the Field Marshal added, complete Kuropat-
kin, however, though beaten, not yet trapped
The remnant of army made its way to Tie Pass,
forty miles northward. both banks coming under
the fire of Japanese shrapne and suffering severely
Tie Pass was strongly fortified by the Russians be-
fore the battle of Liao-Yang, Kuropatkn believing
that If driven from the Tai-Tse the Japanese would
not allow him TO halt Aloukien. Tie Pass Is well
suited defence. The Lao River there guards its
entrance. through which the stream ana railroad
The retreat on Tie Pass and the Japanese puF-
suit of the suffering army lasted until Marcn IA
| a temporal refuge. and a semoiance OF o.der
among panic STRICKEN troops nad been
| the Japanese either unable unwnnng 70
press me vi tory 70 an enureiy successful con-
ciusIon hoping perhaps, TO SUR Ound
| columns Dy VIDE EanAIng movements nortnward
The forces engaged ana the losses proDaoiy maze
kuropatkins army, which, the Russians confidently
| ~ laH Efaf oman