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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Herald, 1904-09-16, Page 6IE) PE P Oyama's Men Still Vigor + usly Pursuing it. Next Fight at Harbin or Tieling--Kouropatkin Wires the Czar That His Army Has Extricated Itself From its Dangerous Position --(creat Bayonet Fight Last Month Supplies Reach Port Arthur--Stoescel Lives in a Cave. St. Petersburg cable, 2.10 a m. — L1here has been no news from Gen. Kauro- ppatkin since Monday afternoon. This is attributed to the interruption of direct communication with the Con-enander-in- Chief, owing to the transfer of the tele- graph office to Mukden, whither mes- sages have to be sent by courier.• The utmost confidence prevails at the War Office that the Russian -army is slowly but sorely effecting the retreat without t serious risk of being cut off. Never- theless intense anxiety is felt through- out the whole nation, and this feeling is shared by the Emperor. His Majesty is unwilling at such a juncture to absent himself from Peterhof, and has counter- intanded all proposed journeys. He will not go to Warsaw or Liba.u, and remains closeted for hours with his military ad- visers. It is believed that the outcome of these deliberations will be an order to mobilize several more army corps. Late Tuesday evening the following statement was made by the War Office: "No telegrams whatever were received to -day (Tuesday). It is inferred that the only Russian troops remaining at Yentai, Sept. 6, are the rear guard, whose mission is solely to retard the en- emy's movement. "It is quite consistent from the posi- tion of affairs to suppose that, a por- tion of the Japanese forces entered Yentai, there being no intention to hold this point, as at is of no intrinsic importance. "The stores there have already been removed, and whatever was not remov- ed was burned. "An official telegram will probably arrive to -morrow (Wednesday) morning. "Ilhe transfer of the telegraph office to Mukden Inas caused delay in the di- rect transmission of messages." NEXT FIGHT AT HARBIN. Kouropatkin I'Tot Likely To Offer Battle This Side. Paris cable: An official of the Jap - elms Legation, in the course of an interview oto -clay, said that he expected the battle deciding the future of Man- churia would occur at Harbin, as Gen. Kouropatkin's flight ]pad been too hur- ried to permit hint to entrench at Muk- den. Owing to the distance of Harbin from Mukden (about 325 miles), and the approach of winter, the battle, the official added, would probably not occur before spring. In the meantime if Russia desired peace, she should be able to -open • negatiations, but the Japanese Govern - anent would never make the first propo- sitions for peace. The reported Japanese peace terms were mere individual specu- httien, as Japanese Government officials are not considering peace. They are cal- culating that the war will last three years, and are snaking preparations -ac- cordingly, leaving Russia to make the first overtures for peace. The Temps quotes an "Eminent Rus- sian," which is understood .to mean the Russian Embassy here, as follows: "Russia will never make the first pro- position for peace. Furthermore, she will entertain no proposition for inter- vention, even if it comes from the powers having the greatest sympathy for her, and which she considers her friends. This is the unalterable deter- mination of our Emperor and Govern- ment" HARBIN OR TIELING. Where the Next Battle is Likely to be Fought. St. Petersburg cable. — —Nobody supposes that the fresh concentration of the' Russian army will, occur at Mukden. Opinion varies between Har- bin and Tieling. There is much criti- cism in military circles of the con- duct of the battle, but all allow that the retreat was carried out skilfully. Disappointment is expressed at the failure of the Russian cavalry to mod- ify the issues of the battle. It is stated that out of nearly five cavalry divisions under Gen. Kouropatkin's command, only Gen. Samsonoff's bri- gade, consisting of two regiments, distinguished itself. Some declare that the Cossacks proved themselves an antiquated institution, altogether un- fitted for modern warfare. The Government is preparing to send immense reinforcements to the rar ,East. Orders will bo • issued to imme- diately sunnnon great numbers of the reserves to the colors, it is stated that the Fourth, Eighth. and Thirteenth :..army Corps will have reached the front by the enol of Oetober, adding 192,000 men to Gen. Kouropatkin's army. It is stated in military quarters that 3115,000 men already have been sent to Manchuria since the beginning of the war, exclusive of those guard• ing the railway, but all have not yet reachod the 'font. It is iu,uossible ""to estimate the number to be deducted owing to casualties and sickness. «'Bile some newspapers, continue to profess confidence that all will be well in the end, 'other comment upon the sit- uation in terms that are quite unusual for the Russian press. The Novoe Vrem- ya, greatly daring, even goes to the length of ,attributing the reverses to in- adequate preparations, and thinly veils an attack on the bureaucracy as beuig responsible therefor. Such language in a newspaper causes the hair of the offi- cials to stand on end, and the censor has threatened to suspend the publication of the Novoe Vremya. The Bass has also been warned for expressing similar views in an article, which concluded: 'The facts must be resolutely faced. Silence produces fog; that inevitably ends in panic." MET WITH COLD STEEL. The Clash of Weapons and Shouts Audi- ble for Miles. London cable: A correspondent at Sinminting setae the following report of the fighting to Aug. 31: Russian cavalry reported to headquar- ters on Aug 22 that the Japanese were advancing from the east. Gen. Kouto- paatkin and his staff also left town and proceeded to the Tang River, through a mountainous country, with 50,000 troops and 70 guns. Large forces, with a num- ber of guns, were in the roads leading to the Russian positions, which were of im- mense strength. During the next two days the Russians prepared for attack. the bands played to cheer the anen, who were in high spirits. Early on the morning of Aug. 2a" the battle commenced with a terrific artil- lery fire, which continued throughout the day, and only ceased when dark- ness set iu. Great damage was done to the Russian batteries. Earthworks were smashed and guns thrown out of position. Despite the terrific slaughter, however, the Russians did not retreat, and reinforcements arrived. Under the cover of darkness the Japanese infantry crept close, and when the moon shone out euE riled the Russians with a furi- ous charge. For an hour thousands of men were locked together in a struggle with swords and bayonets. The clash of weapons and the shouts of the combat- ants were audible for miles. While this encounter, which placed Kouchanlun in possession of the Japanese, was pro ceedin_, an advance on the right was checked by a heavy fire from Anping and Anshanshan. Daylight disclosed the fact that the only Russian position captured was Iouchanlun. The ground for miles was strewn with the dead and dying. The cries of the wounded was awful. .again there was a general advance from all sides. The Japanese fought more fiercely than the previous day. Their losses were more numerous than those of the Russians, who were screened from their fire. Nothing, however, could resist the ten- acity and courage of the Javanese. Time after time whole masses of them went down before the Russian fire, but their places were quickly taken by oth- ers. More guns were dragged into posi- tion, and .in the afternoon the back- bone of the defence was broken, and the Russians retired to their inner line of fortifications. The battle was re- sumed the next day. It resulted in the Russians evacuating every position, af- ter another tremendous hand-to-hand conflict. The Japanese. who were as active as eats, climbed mountains with sides as steep as a house, and engaged the Russians on their tops. • Hundreds were thrown into ravines and smashed to pieces., presenting sickening sights. Heads, arms, and legs were scattered in all directions. The streams and pools of water with which the country, flooded after the rain, was covered, were of the color of blood. The whole scene was one of the utmost desolation after the battle. The natives flied, with the ex- ception of some who.robbed the dead. •SUBMARINE BOATS. American Steamer Reaches Cronstadt With Three on Board. London cable: The Standard's cor- respondent at St. Petersburg transmits the following, received from Cronstadt: "An American steamer has just arrived here with three submarine boats on board. These are being offered to the naval authorities on the follott+ang con- ditions: The owners wish to sell the boats outright to the Russian Govern- ment overnment for a lump sum, or they will undertake to pian the boats with their own crews and act as a kind of char- tered pirates to sink the enemy's vessels. In the latter case they would require only one Russian officer on board of each boat as supervisor, while for every Japanese vessel sunk they would n- ature 25 per cent. of the registered value. The agents, however, have boldly as- sured the authorities that the 13altie fleet, with which they are anxious to 9 co-operate, will be at a serious disadvan- tage, because they have sent another steamer with three submarines of the same kind to the Japanese, who twill certaiaily take them." A special meeting of the .Admiralty was held Tuesday evening to -decide upon the proposal. c , SUPPLIES REACH GARRISON. A Large Steamer With Flour Enters Port Arthur. Chefoo cable: Firing at Port Arthur was heard here to -night. Two Chinese interpreters belonging to: the official household of Lieut. -Gen. Stoes- sel, commander of the military forces at Port Arthur, have been caught spy- ing at Shushiyen and Palungshan. They were executed by the Japanese. Two Chinamen, who arrived here to- day from Port Arthur, declare that the Russian garrison expects a general land and sea attack on Sept. 7. On. Sept. 2 and 3 the Japanese bom- barded the fortifications severely, and • two Russian guns on a fort near Rih- lungshan were dismounted. The recent entrance into Port Arthur of a large steamship carrying provisions, chiefly flour, has resulted in the re- duction of the price of flour from $6 to $2 a bag. KUROPATKIN'S RETREAT. • The Japanese Hanging on His Flank— Oyama Heading for Mukden. Mukden cable, 1.40 p. m.— The re- treat of Gen. Kouropaticin's army is be- ing carried out in good order, despite the terrible condition of the Toads, rendered sodden by the rains which fell yesterday and to -day, which mire the lumbering guns and heavy transport trains. Long lines of commissariat wagons, drawn by steaming anuses, horses and even bul- locks, are straining their way north over the soaking. out up main road from Yen - tai. Behind them come long trains of artillery, and back of them still Kouro- petkin's army. The Japanese are -hanging on Kouropatkin's flanks, keeping the Russians engaged in a continuous rear :e"Ard action. The progress of the re - r eating army has been slow, owing to the necessity of first getting through the baggage and guns; but the heads of the commissariat trains have already passed through Mukden. and are continuing their way towards the north. The main Japanese army. is marching up along the roads eastward of the Res - sten lines of retreat, which converge at Mukden. Another Japanese force is also heading for Mukden from the westward, coming from the direction of the Liao River. Marshal Oyama seems to be making a race for Mukden. IIe evidently has great superiority in numbers, especially in ar- tillery. As this despatch. is filed the cor- respondent of the Associated Press can bear the booming ,of the Japanese can- non, which are in place fourteen miles from Mukden. The skies are black and the air is stifling with the sense of suffo- cation, which is felt here before a storm breaks—strange harmony between the elements and the menacing attitude of the contending armies. WITH. STAKELBERG. Russian Correspondent Shot Through the Lungs, Tells the Story. Mukden cable: The following mes- sage describes the earlier events of the Japanese attacks on Gen. Stakelberg's corps southwest of Liao -Yang, Aug. 30, on the battlefield, by M. Keriloff, one of the Associated Press Russian correspond- ents, just before he was shot through the lungs, and was stint to Mukden: "This morning around Liao -Yang guns thun- dered unceasingly. The heights forming a semi-earele 'wound the city were dotted with jets of flame and litttle black and white clouds. The spectacle was clearly visible from the wtaer tower of Liao - Yang. The Russian left, alone, was not engaged. "At 7 a. in. the correspondent rode to the Russian centre, where the Japanese were ooncentratiing in an attempt to break through, and climbed the neigbor- ing heights, following a detachment sent to relieve the skirmishers who had been covering the battery commanded by Pko- lieff, one of tate heroes of Kiuliencheng. The Japanese, according to custom, were shelling places where they believed the Russian reserves wer`h located. Before the correspondent could reach the bat- tery he lead to cross a danger zone of one hundred and fifty yards, -projectiles falling and bursting on it until the very ground seemed to quiver with wrath. "There was a touching scene when the skirmishers were reached. A Russian sol- dier met a brother whom he had last seen in their native village. There were joyous greetings, and a quick exchange of news from home. Then each went his way and settled down to the work of fir- ing coolly and deliberately. The Japan- ese fire was sp<msmodie.. "Teo hours later the correspondent reached the liattexy and foun4 that Pok- oliloff and another officer, Costriff, had been killed. Out of 60 gunners 40 were killed or wounded Captain Tarasoff was in charge of the battery. • "The Russian officers had not eaten anything since the previous day, and the correspondent shared with them what provisions he had. The taste of food caused them to realize the intensity of their hunger. Prudence urged the corre- spondent to leave the spot, but he was fascinated. Here the message ended - The officer who sent' forward that (Nerile•ff's'last) de§patelt added: "X Keriloff, ware was an enthtteiast in his work, had a,ined universal resatteet 4' and sympathy. Re was shot through the right lung while standing by our battery and fell back suffering intense agony, the blood spurting from his mouth. Yet, his devotion to duty enabled him to over- come his sufferings. 13e insisted upon be- ing placed on a horse, so that he could get to Liao -Yang and file his despatch. It took hint five hours to cover the five and a half miles to Liao Yang. When he reached there M. Keriloff was so ex- hausted' and weak from loss of blood that by got him into the hospital, al- though against his protest, He asked me to complete his message for him. I. am a soldier and no writer, but I will say that after the awful fight to -day eve are still holding our positions. Japanese bod- ies bestrew all the heights. Their losses must run into the tens of thousands. We have lost five thousand thus far. A shrapnel shell burst two paces from Gen. Stakelberg, who remained for fifteen hours under fire, killing two officers. The general was slightly wounded in the leg. OYAMA TRYING TO Cut the Russian Line of Retreat Below Mukden. St. Petersburg cable, 3.08 p. m. — Ap- parently the War Office is not greatly disturbed by fear that Field Marshal Oyama will cut aff Gen. Kouropatkin before he reaches Mukden. According to the latest advices the Russian retreat is being effected in good order. The heads of transport trains passed through Muk- den yesterday at noon, and the fact that the baggage trains continued on their way northward. of Mukden, the War OOice explains, does not mean that Kouropatkin is bound further north, but is taking a natural precautionary meas- ure, even if he intended to hold Mukden, the Russian formation during the opera- tions of an army locating the baggage train fourteen miles and the ambulance corps four miles in the rear of the main body of troops. The news from the front indicates that Oyama, having failed to surround Kouropatkin at Liao Yang, is pressing Kouropatkin's rear with all the power of his tired. troops, while hurrying forward a column which crossed the Taitse River at Benshu, thirty miles northeast of Liao Yang and five miles due east of Yentai station, in the hope of cutting the Russian line of retreat below Mukden. This colunm may con- sist of fresh troops in light marching order. 'lr,e ilensihu road joins the main road from Rental, where the latter is intersected by the Hun River, three utiles below Mukden. Once this point is pass- ed Kuropatkin's army will have the Hun River between it and Oyama. The only uneasiness is due to the possibility that Japanese light draft gunboats, which ac- cording to reports are earning up from New Chwang, might suddenly make their appearance, the river being navigable to this point. As Kouropatkin was just north of Yentai, when the heads of transport en- tered Mukden yesterday, it is evident that the retreating column is over fif- teen miles long. RUSSIA TO YIELD To Great Britain in the Matter of Contraband of War. London cable: The preliminary rep- resentations trade by Count Benken- dorff, the Russian Ambassador, to the Foreign Office indicate that Russia is on the point of making substantial con- cessions to the United States and Great Britain regarding the question of contra- band of war, as a result of the submis- sion by Foreign Minister Lamsdorff of the report of the general commission to Emperor Nicholas to -day, together with information transmitted by Ambassador Benkendorff showing the views of the British Government. The Russian For- eign Minister is expected to present to the British Government through Sir Charles I•Iardinge, the British Ambassa- dor to Russia, to -morrow the formal reply of the Russian Government. It is understood in official circles here that Russia, while not acknowledging herself at fault for the captures made by her ships in the past, will more specifically describe the conditions under tvhieh cer- tain goods, such as foodstuffs and cot- ton, become in her view contraband. The British Foreign Office is satisfied from the representations made to it that such substantial concessions will be made by Russia as will lead to an easy settlement of the vexations question. WILL JAPS REAP PRIZE? The Belief that Another Battle Is Cer- tain Immediately. London cable: The position south of Mukden to -day is viewed here with an interest equal to that awakened when the victory of Liao -Yang hung in the balance. Will Gem Kouropatkin's ad- mirable skill, Shown in extricating his defeated army, suffice to place the latter where it will be able to defy the victore sous enemy, or will the splendid courage and daring of the Japanese army and th-e ability of its leaders yet reap the great prize so nearly won at Liao -Yang? Reports from St. Petersburg show that the rulers there ,are filled with anxiety,. and their dejection gives point to the rumors of the further disaster which are current. Nothing can be said at the mo- ment in confirmation of the latest mid- night rumor. Nothing is given out by the Japanese, end the English corre- spondents at the front are only allowed to contribute brief telegrams of the op- erations from Aug. 30 to Sept. 2, tvhieh farm the dullest part of the morning. pa?perrs' news. , Vtrar 'rides here point out the prob- ability, almost amounting to a certainty, that the Russians will not reach Mukden without another battle. It is surmised that the Japanese troops which Gen. Kouropatkin reports as crossing the Tai- tse River at Pensihi are fresh force sent to reinforce Gen. Kuroki, as they could hardly leave reached there if they lead•been engaged at Liao -Yang'. If the difficulties of supplying this ttpparently rapidly adaaneing body can -be overcome,. the Russian danger must be regarded as being gravely increased. Consideration of :the mere space oceutpied.by an army of the size cif that commanded. by Gen. Kouropatkin shows the, immense diffi- culties of the retreat. On the other head, there are reports that Gen. L' inevit;eb,, with fresh Russian troops, is moving south from the neighborhood of Mulcden to support Gen. Kouropatkin, whose - flanking screen and rear guard also have arlready shown the toughest mettle. So the predictions and rumors of disaster- may isastermay well await acceptance pending fur- ther information. WHAT 1.1 MEANS. The. Abandonment of the Whole of of Southern Manchuria. St. Petersburg cable, 3.20 a. m. — It is impossible at this hour to obtain any statement from the authorities regard- ing the reported preparations for the abandonment of Mukden. This is the first intimation that such a course is contemplated. 1f it turns, out to be true, it means the abandon- ment of the whole of Southern Man- churia and the winding up of the pres- ent campaign. In fact, should Mukden be evacuated, there would be no •point for wintering the army of a quarter of a million, with its many wounded, short of Harbin. On the other ]land, the evacuation of Mukden would give Field Marshal Oya- ma commodious winter quarters and the practical control of two lines of railway. The Kincliau-Sinmintin line, tapping rich Chinese territory, stops little short of Mukden, with which it is connected by a good wagon road. Tho report of the prospective evacuation of alukdena if well founded, would indicate that the crippling effects of the Liao Yang fight on Kouropatkin's army is more serious than has as yet been intimated. A despatch from Moji reports, on the authority of a returned officer, that the defencesthere. of Mukden are weak, and that the Russians cannot make a stand A telegram from Shankaikwan states that the Russians are constructing at Harbin a defensive wall 35 miles long. HarManybins.ick and wounded Japanese are at RUSSIAN LOSSES r6,000. Rough Estimate of the Death Bill at Liao -Yang. St. Petersburg cable: The Rus- sian losses during the fighting at Liao - Yang are estimated at 16,000. There is no doubt here that a number of guns, especially siege artillery, have been abandoned.. Gen. Kouropatkin says that the re- treat is being conducted in perfect or- der. Gen. Kouropatkin's despatches read as follows: "The retreat of our troops from Liao Yang on the right bank of the Taitse River, on the night of Sept. 4, was carried out in good order. "The enemy's insignificant attempts at pursuit were stopped by our rear guard. "During Sept. 4the Japanese strengthened their forces operating against our left flank, extending their Iine from the Y ental mines northward, "Japanese also on Sept. 4 crossed from Liao Yang and its environments." It is stated that the Japanese had 12.000 men killed and wounded in the fighting around Liao Yang. They had 200,000 anon engaged. A procession of trains carrying wounded Russians passed north on Sept. 4. The wounded said the fighting at Liao Yang was ter- rible, surpassing anything hitherto. Whole regiments were cut to pieces. The Japanese suffered the most. • FLAGS ARE INTERTWINED. International Honor to England's Knight of Old. Toronto, Sept. 12. --The Stars and Stripes draped in the shape of a shield and flanked by the Union Jack and the reel cross of the patron saint of old Eng- land formed the central decoration at St. George's Hall last night, when the To- ronto society tendered a complimentary banquet to the delegates attending the convention of the North America St - George's Union. There were over a hun- dred present, including a sprinkling of ladies, and the banquet was a decide& success. Roast beef was the feature of the menu. That important institution of the tight little isle, the plum pudding, was duly honored with a musical an& military escort. Mr. W. H. Tippet, Pre- sident of the St. George's Society, of To- ronto, mailed the chair. After the royal toast, which was drunk with enthusiasm, the Chairman propose& the health of the President of the Unit- ed States. "Tine Land We Left and the Land We - Live In" was proposed by Mr. G. F. Har- man, of Toronto. Mr. E. B. Osler, M. P., in reply, said we owed more perhaps to the old land than we realized. Whets would Canadians be without the tradi- tions of that great land 1 Mr. Wiliam Moss proposed "'Our Visit- ors," Mr. W. P. Co; of Philadelphia, in responding, said that on this, his firsts visit. to Canada he had found that there was the sante progressive spirit that they claimed to have on the other side of the line. Mr. J. B. Cox,of London, and Mr. Tin - ling, of Hamilton, also spolte to- the toast. Mr. Byron E. \Valker, who was next called upon, said the question of war between the British Empire and the Un- ited States was almost too absund to talk about. There were a thousand reasons why it was impossible, and these reasons would grow stranger. A number of interesting reports on the work of local societies were presented at the morning session, Mr. James Hewer spoke for the Guelph society, Mr. F. W. Gates, jun,, for Hamilton and Mr. J. B. Cox for London. Verbal reports from the Philadelphia anl` Boston delegates were also heard. All were of a satisfac- tory nature. A discussion occurred• as to the next dace of meeting- but nothing was defin- itely decided, alt is probabl'ey however, '"that Boston will: be- the choices.