Loading...
The Herald, 1904-07-29, Page 2ASSAU TIIE RUSSIAN AT MOTIENf t ASS. TACK FAILED: ea: der precarious the position of the whole Japanese right wing It might niso com- pel the left to. fall back on Siuyen. Desperate Attack on Jap Position Was at Last Repulsep, That the plan failed Sunday isnot .fp.:• and Russians Driven Back, ' ;The Retreat Was Orderly and Well Planned but the Russians Lost a Thousand Men in the Fight, held to exclude the probability of its being atteriipted again. Indeed, it is ex- pected that it will soon be repeated with vigor unless in .the meantime Gen. Ku- roki Makes the initiative instead of con- tinsa ng tp await the fall..ga kort Arthur, as he appears .to $e doing, - . One critic enthusiastically remarks that real interest in .the game slow be- gins, and =the abilities •of the contending leaders will be put to roof. ai i JaT Reports come from Shangh that theese Have established 'themselves in The Overhauling of British Vessels by the Russians in the positions west of Port Arthur that were recently held by the Russians. One of Red Sea Questioned in the Commons. these is' tut Tisuang-Talo. No • details A London cable says: The earre- spondents with Gen. Kuroki's army send brief despatches concerning an attack by Gen. Kouropatkin on Sunday on the Japanese positions on the 'western slopes of Motien-Ling. They put the Russian force at 20,000 seen. At first the Russians carried everything before them, and drove in all the Japanese out- posts. They reached the head of the dross and occupied the temple, from whieh .they shelled the Japanese. The 'latter, however, held on grimly. Rein- forcements were rapiaiy ,n:irriea Tor - award, and. Dy dayiigait. wnen vne fog ,which favored the steamers, cleared, the Japanese took the offensive. They slow - ay pushed the Russians back into the ;valley. Their retreat was marked by a stream of dead and dying. It was not, however, a rout. The retreat was well covered and orderly, and the resistance was desperate. It was not until 3 o'clock in the afternoon that the Japan- ese held their khardly-won -.round, and desultory firing weds then progressing. The Times' correspondent with Gen. Zudoki's army describes , the Russian attempt to occupy the pass at a otien- lLing as badly executed, but the retire - !went was admirably conducted. He puts tithe Russian casualties at several hun- dred, The Japanese losses were trifling. .A Japanese battery posted on the heights to the right of the pass did great execution. The Russian guns were not 'employed, except to cover the re- treat. The correspondent says that Gen. Kuroki concludes hie report of the en - 'go -gement at Motien-Ling by saying that a.m., Gen. Keller, who 'was directing 'the troops fought bravely and did their the fight, deemed it necessary to duty well. The correspondent adds that lend. assistance to Gen. Kashtalinsky's Wafantawan Pass. The right column, one battalion strong, was occupying points where • the roads leading to Singia and Lakho Pass cross in order to cover the right flank of Gen. Kash- talinsky's column. The general re- seeye was left at Aldiavuen, and a por- tion of the force . oeeupied a position at that place. "At 10 a. in., July 16, the head of the column advanced from Akhavuan. At 11 o'clock a battalion dislodged a Jap- anese outpost at the point of the bayo- net at the crossing of the Lakho and the Sinkia roads. The details of the engagement have not yet been verified, but its general course, according to the telegraphic re- ports sent in by Gen. Keller was as fol- lows: "During the .right the Japanese had evacuated Siaokao Pass and the heights surmounted by the temple leav- ing only outposts. At dawn Gen. Kash- talinsky's column occupied these passes, driving back the Japanese advance posts. "At about 5.30 o'clock on the morn- ing of July 1r, the Japanese in con- siderable force and with numerous guns occupied Wafantawan passes and the mountainous bluffs to the south on the flank of Gen. Kashtalinsky's :column. From this position and from the crest of he mountains to the east the heights surmounted : by the temple the enemy directed a heavy artillery and rifle fire. "Gen. Kashtalinsky advanced to oc- cupy the bluffs, sending forward at first one and then three battalions, but the attempt failed, notwithstanding the support given by the horse mountain battery, as our field guns could not be brought into action on account of the nature of the ground. At about 8 the aecounts received suggest that the Russians ane paying too much attention ,to Gen. Kuroki's right, whieh is advanc- in-- by the northern road from Jaimathe, menacing a point north of Liao -Yang. ,In addition to the skirmish on July 14 at Hsimating, already reported, 'there was one on July 13, in the .Lalumling de - ,file, five miles east of Klautan, which is 20 miles north of Lien -Shan -Kwan, on 'the north bank of the Taitsze River. A ;Japanese battalion dislodged. 400 of the enem in the Laluming defile. The fight column by bringing up from the general reserve three battalions to the heights surmounted by the temple. In order to maintain the position we had al- ready occupied it was necessary, owing to the enemy's pressure, to reinforce immediately with other reserves, the troops in cue fighting line, but these positions, owing to their situation, were untenable. Gen. Keller found the strength of the,. enemy so great, com- pared with ours, that he decided not to y continue the fight, and not to bring up :fasted aome hours. The Japanese casu- alties were trifling. From this it . ap- serves, especially in view of the fact 'pears that Gen. Kurolci's centre is more that in case of his ultimately taking the 'advanced than the right flank, though ,the Russian force confronting the latter :seems to be too weak to neck its reso- i lute forward movement . It is observed that the Russians in this region offer 'feeble resistance to the Japanese ad- vance, and while expending much labor on defensive works, they r - not display corresponding tenacity in holding .them, so that the works benefit the Japanese. x,000 RUSSIANS SLAIN. Kouropatkin Admits Heavy Losses Were Sustained. St. Petersburg cable: Gen. Kouro- patkin reports that Lieut. -Gen. Count Keller lost over 1,000 in killed or wounded in the attack on Motien Pass July 17. The despatch, which is dated "July 17, on our eastern front" reads: "Af- ter the occupation by Gen. Kuroki's army of passes in the Fenshui mount- ! ain chain, our information concerning !his forces and dispositions was in gen- eral inadequate. According to some re- ports, his army has been reinforced, and he had even extended his forces towards Sainatsza. Other reports stated that a displacement of his troops had been made in the direction of Ta Pass and Siuyen. There were even in- :dications that Kuroki had transferred his headquarters from Tskhakhegan to Tovinpu. On the strength of informa- tion received and on the basis of re- connaissances which had been made, the hypothesis was formed that the , principal forces of the enmy were con- centrated around Lianshankwan, and that their advanced guards had been strengthened in the pisses of Siaokao, Wafankan, Sinkia, Lakho, and Papau, as well as at Sybey Pass, two and a half miles north of road and half the height of Siaicao Pass. "On July 17, in order to determine the strength of the enemy, it was de- cided to advance against his position in the direction of Lianshankwan. Lieut. -Gee, Count Heller 'hall been in- structed not to start with the object of capturing the pass, bast(.to get-ae cording to the strength bf =force •that he' would find opposed to him. "The left column of this expedi- tionary force, consisting of three bat- talions, was despatched towards .Sybey Pass. The centre column, commanded by Major -Gen, Kashtalinsky, consisting of 14 battalions, with 12 guns, was des- tined to attack Siaokao Pass, the beights surmounted by the temple. and offensive it would be necessary to at- tack without support of field artillery. "In consequence of this, Gen. Keller decided about 10.30 to withdraw his troops to the positions originally oc- cupied in the Yansee Pass. The troops retired slowly, step by step, and in per- fect order, covered by the fire of a field battery, which had been brought into action. "Toward midday an offensive move- ment by the enemy in the direction of the right flank of Yansee Pass position developed, and at • the same time a Jap- anese mountain battery was brought into position in the village of Tsoudia- putse, two and a half miles south of Ikhavuan. "After 34 shots had been fired from the third battery of the third brigade which held the saddle to the south of Yansee Pass, the Japanese battery was finally reduced to silence. "The figac ceased at 3 p.m., and the troops returned to.Ikhavuan. "The Japanese advance was stopped above the valley of the Iantakhe River at a position occupied and maintained by us. "In consequence of a sleepless night and the heat of the day our troops were greatly fatigued, having beer. over 15 hours on foot and fighting. "Our losses have not yet been ex- actly ascertained, but Gen. Keller re- ports that they exceed one thousand. The gallant 24th Regiment suffered most. Gen. Keller especially mentions the activity, courage and coolness shown by. its commanding officers. Col. Koschitz was severely wounded in the leg, but remained in the ranks until the end of the action." Gen. Kouropatikn precedes his re- port with a lengthy statement of skir- mishes by patrols, which brings events up to July 16. He does not mention any important engagement, with the possible exception of the occupation of the heights north of :Yaolintzza by 'Cossacks, before a detachment of which the Japanese fell back.. Attempt to Break Japanese Centre. • A London cable.says: - The action at Motien-Ling, which Gen. Kouropatkin seems to regard as zt reconnaissance in force, is treated by the weightiest critics here as an attempt to break the Japan- ese Centre, which in view of the fact that their front is 120 miles . long, ie regarded as good. tactics. A vigorous Russian •offensive along the main road would. if successful. ren - pare given, and the reports are riot cor- roborated. IN THE BRITISH COMMONS. Announcement Made That the Govern- ment it Taking Action. A London gable says: In the House of Commons to -day Earl Percy, Under: - Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, was asked whether it was a fact that the Russian e volunteer steamer St. Petersburg had overhauled a British. steamship in the Red Sea; whether the St. Petersburg had not passedthrough the Bosphorus under a commercial flag; whether, in conformity with com- mercial law, the same vessel could at one time fly a commercial flag and at another 'assert authority as a warship; whether such a transformation can take place on the high seas, or whether it is not obligatorg that a vessel hold- ing a commission in a port of the na- tion to which she belongs. The Under-Secretary replied that the subject was one of the utmost import- ance,'and was"engaging the earnest at- tention of the•Governmcnt. More Ships for Red Sea. London cable: The St. Petersburg correspondent of the Daily Mail says that two more steamers of the Russian volunteer fleet, which are now at Odes- sa, have received confidential orders to start during the current week for the Red Sea to make further seizures of English ships a carrying conttraband of war. This action was taken on the reports of Russian agents in England, who state that several .etre about to sail for the Far East. RANK AS CRUISERS. Russian Vessels . Are Equipped With 'Quick -Firing Guns. London cable: A despatch to the Times from Cronstadt says that the volunteer steamers Smolensk and St. Petersburg were' designated six weeks ago for Government service outside the Black Sea. When they reached Con- stantinople their officers were informed that they 'were destined for the Last, and to consider themselves on active service. They were also informed that quick -firing guns had been, taken to equip their vessels in certain eventuali- ties as combatants, and that the ves- sels had been raised in rank to second- class cruisers. The cargoes of both are mainly steam coal. Will Not Send Troops. A recent Pekin cable says: The rumors that the French have threatened to send troops to lawangsi. in connection with the disurbances are unfounded. . The French legation emphatically repudiates the idea. The trouble, though serious from the Chinese point of view, causes no uneasiness to the French, the dis- turbance being in the northern portion tions of Port Arthur, making diem of the Province, and not near French stronger daily. On hills previously con - territory. sideral impossible to fortify, batteries and entrenchments have now been con- structed, and guns of both large and small calibre have been mounted. The co-operation of the generals has made Port Arthur an inaccessible fortress." tions, it can compel the c'letaebment of part of the Japanese fleet. This is why the appearance of the volunteer fleet; in the Red Sea is hailed with so much. satisfaction. Besides the Smolensk, St Petersburg and Orel (the latter now being fitted out as a hospital ship) only the Kherson, Saratoff and Moskva have a speed of nineteen to twenty knots. The other eleven vessels of the fleet register about 13 knots, Some of the recently pur - chased trans-Atlantic liners might,. how- ever, be outfitted as commerce destroy- ers, and six weeks ago the Associated Press was informed that such was the purpose of the Admiralty. ' BRITAIN FEARS - j `ti: i "a .antikatte • — That the Red Sea Doings May Cause International Complications. London cable: In official Circles trong comment is made in regard to the Russian policy ,in .this matter. It is re- garded as impossible that the cominancl- ers of the Smolensk and St, Petersburg were given full power, and the officials therefore are inclined to the grave con- clusion that the Russfan ' Goverment gave implicit instructions to the two commanders. The effect on the Stock Exohange to -day was seen in a. heavy fall in consols and other gilt-edged se- curities on fears of internwational compli-. Cations. The dangers and difficulties of the situation are much' commented upon in the newspapers, which sare practically unanimous in denouncing the dubious and irregular abstracter of the volunteer fleet vessels. ' "If their actions are proved, as we be- lieve, to be those of vulgar filibusters," says the St. James Gazette, "they must be recalled by Russia or the skull and eross bones must be run up, and they will be fired upon whenever sighted." Another element aad4ing to the dan- gers of the situation is the attitude Japan may assume. The Pall Mall Ga- zette points out that if,.as stated in des- patches from Constantinople, the Rus- sian guardship Chernomeretz, traversed the straits fully armed, "it would seem to justify the Japanese in regarding Turkey as an ally of Russia and invok- ing the terms,. of the Anglo -Japanese treaty." • Prize of War. London cable: In British official circles the recent 'seizures and overhaul- ing of British ships in the Red Sea by the Russian volunteer fleet steamers Smolensk and St. Petersburg are regard- ed as very grave international incidents. The seizure of the peninsular and orien- tal steamer Malacca by the St. Peters- burg, and her arrival in the Suez canal as a prize of war on her way to Libau, on the Baltic has come as a climese ant the cabinet to -day is considering the course to pursue. The British law of- ficers acknowledge the right of the Rus- sians to seize and detain mails, provided that only official communications be taken, but they take the most serious view of the statue of the two Russian ships patroling the Red Sea, and if any official action or protest ensues it will be chiefly in regard to the passage of the erstwhile merchant drips through the Dardanelles and their subsequent transformation into ships of war. PORT ARTHUR'S DEFENCE. Gtn. Stoessel Believes He Can Keep Out the Japs. - Mullen cable: A leteir received berefrom Port Arthur shows that the be- sieged have confidence in the ability of Lieut. -Gen. Stoessel to keep out the Japanese. The writer says: Lieut. -Gen Stoessel's 'certainty of victory has im- parted equal confidence to all the troops and inhabitants. Major -Gen. rock is now engaged in resisting the pressure of the Japanese at all advance positions and the siege will drag on for a long time. Gen. Kondratieff is adding to the fertifica-, CLEVER JAP INFANTRY. Russians Lost 2,000 Men and the Japs goo in the Iliao Tien Pass Fight. Gen. Kuroki's Headquarters, in the Field, via l+usan, cable, (delayed. in transmission.)— More Russian troops were engaged in yesterday's battle at Moa Tien Pass than in previous engagements. There were probably double the number of those who took part in the fight at Yalu River, while opposed to them were only one brigade and one battalion of owners of the Pei Ping that the ship and the Japanese forces. The Russian loss is cargo bed been captured by the Japanese estimated at 2,000. The burial of the cruiser Hong Kong, and that the vessel was proceeding to Japan with a prize crew on board. The news of the capture of the Pei Ping was communicated to the British admiral, whose squadron is an- chored in Yung Ching Bay. Ship Captured by Japs. Shanghai cable: The British steam- er Lienshing, which arrived here from Wei Hai Wei to -clay reports that she was signalled by the steamer Pei Ping (own- ed by the Chinese Engineering and Min- ing Company, of Shanghai), whose com- mander asked the Lienshing to advise the dead continues. The Japanese casualties aggregated 300. The engagement has conspicuously de- monstrated the wonderful efficiency of the Japanese infantry. They proved in- comparably the better marksmen with more initiative, and they out -fought and out-generaled the Russians on every point. RUSSIANS REJOICING. Over the Exploits of the Volunteer Fleet Steamers in the Red Sea. St. Petersburg cable: Without dis- cussing in any way the international questions involved, the newspapers here are all rejoicing over theexploits of the volunteer fleet steamers in the Red Sen. The Novo Vremya says the work they are doing vindicates,, the, wisdoln of :establishing the •fleet 'whiclisevas'.be-' gun by National " subscription when the country was too impoverished to build the vessels after the Turko-Itussian war. It was • the pioneer subsidized line of auxiliary cruisers which most cottntries have seen imitated: The Novoe Vre- myaadds that there is plenty of scope fir file fleet ie 1'„1.rme tn. At:lentic ural Pacific waters. By threatetsing to de. nrii•e the Jauanese a?f arms and amunii RAISES $42,000. Christian Alliance reader and Foreign Missions. Lancaster, Pa., July 25.—At the an- nual missionary services of the Christian and Missionary Alliance for the districts comprising Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and the District of Columbia, at Rocky Springs Park, on Sunday, mor, t than $42,000 was raised for foreign mis- sions. Dr. A. B. Simpson delivered the an- nual sermon. in the morningand in the afternoon the offerings were:.;•received; The Convention of the Altianee was- one of the most successful in its history., There were many conversions and bap- tisms. Several persons testified to hav- ing been cured of bodily ills through the power of the healing services. During the year ending on February 20 last the street railway lines of New York city carried 1,036,834,773 passen- aers. This breaks all records. SOME CANADIANS SCOREB VIELL. Goldie, Smith and McGregor Made 49 in Prince of Wales. First Stage:of That Important Event Shot. Individual Winners in Other Matches Yesterday. Braley Camp cable: Colonials were on the alert yesterday when the Duke of Connaught visited. 'the Canadian hut and inspected the Canadians,-Natalians and New Zealanders, who were drawn up in open square in front. After the parade his royal highness visited the quarters and remarked to the com- mandant . on their comfortable' appear- ance. It ie announced the Prince and Princess of Wales will visit the hut on Saturday. The principal events yesterday were the first stages of the Alexandra and Prince of Wales competitions. The Alex- andra is competed for by individuals, at two distances, 200 and 600 yards, seven shots at each, the first prize being £30 ' and the total number of prizes 350. Fol- lowing are the Canadian scores at 200 yards: Pte. A. Baynton, 48th, Toronto .... 30 Capt. IL C. Blair, 7Sth, Truro .... 30• Capt. J. Crowe, 30th, Guelph 23 Staff-Sergt. C. R. Crowe, Guelph ..... 34 Color-Sergt. Davidson, Montreal .... 30 Capt. R. Dillon, 34th, Whitby .... 34 Lance-Sergt.. Fowler, 12th, Toronto.. 32 Color-Sergt. Gardner, Sherbrooke .. 23 Sergt. W. Gould, 30th, Guelph . - - 28 Pte J. G. Gouldie, 8th Quebec .... 35 Corp. McGregor, G.G.F.G., Ottawa .. 32 Major Moore, 20th, Georgetown .... 33: Sergt. G. Mortimer, 10th, Toronto .. 31 Pte. J. Perry, ath, Vancouver 31 Pte. C. S. Scott, 43rd, Ottawa- .. 34t Pte. Neil Smith, 21st, Stewart 34 Pte. H. Tyers, 10th, Toronto 31 Pte. T. Westman, 43rd, Ottawa 30 Color-Sergt. W. Will, 13th, Hamilton 30 Color-Sergt. Youhill, 90th, Winnipeg 32 At boo Yards. The following were the scores of Can- adians in the Alexandra at G00 yards: Baynton .... .... .... . .. .. 30• Blair .. .. .. .. .... .. .. 28 Capt. J. Crowe ... . - - . - - - . 32 Davidson ...... .. .. .. 32 Dillon .... .. 20 Fowler .. ... .. .. .. 24 Gardner .... .. .. .. .. .... 24 Gouldie ... .. .. .. .... .. .. 33' McGregor .... .... .. .. .... 30 Moore...... .. . ... .. .. . .. 31 Mortimer .. .. 29 Perry ...... .. .. .. .... . .. 25 Scott .... .. .. .. 30 Smith .. .. .. .. ... .. .. 26 Will .. .... .. ... 2I Youhill .. , .. . 29• One competitor made 33 at the 200 yard range, and then a possible at 600• yards, so beating Gouldie. Prince of Wales—First Range. This is a squadded competition open only to winners of N. R. A. gold, silver or bronze, affiliated associations oa counties medals (not recruits or revel• ver medals). Distances are 200 and 6011 yards; ten shots at each. There are 64 prizes, aggregating £300, the 'tvinnet receiving the Prince of Wales prize of £100 and the badge. At 200 yards the Canadian competitors made the follow- ing scores . Baynton ...... .... ........ 41 13lair .. ...... .. .... .. ........ 44 Captain J. Crowe .. .... ..... ...43 Staff Sergt. Crowe .. .... ...... 40 Dillon.... .. .... .... .... ...... 46, Gould .... ... ... ..... 45 Goudie......................49 Mcregor .... ...... ..... 49 Moore ...... .... . 44 Mortimer .... .... .. .... . 48 Scott 42t Smith... ... .. .. .. ... .... .... 40 Tyers .... ...... .. ...... .... .. 45 ..... 43' Youhill ... . .. .... 38• Other competitors made five possibles and fourteen forty -nines. Captain John Crowe and Staff-Sergt.. C. R. Crowe are so disgusted with their scores in the Prince of Wales' at 200 yards that they will not shoot over. the 600 yards range in the came match.. Other Results: In the Daily Telegraph match, seven, shots at 600 yards, the following places, and prizes were taken by Canadians: Pte. Neil Smith, Stewart, 34th place,. £3. Sergt. W. Gould, Guelph,. 74th place;. £2. In the Graphic, seven, shots at 500. yards, Lance-Sergt. Fowler of the 12th York Rangers, took 60th place, winning: £2. • Captain Crowe, ofGuelph, was 109th, winning £2. In the 600 yards, sweepstakes, Captti lEt.:;Dillgn, ,of ,Whitby, was second, win ning £2 lOs. In the Stock Exchange; a match over 200, 500 and. 600 yard' ranges, Corp. R. McGregor, of Ottawa, took 21at gl4eo win.ning £2. Pte. Neil Smith was, 27th, winnins £2 Pte. A. Baynton et the -48th Higblas4 err was 78th, winning £1: Capt. Crowe, 81'st place and Lame. Ser tt. ,Fowler, 84th, each wt s_ Eli