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The Herald, 1904-08-19, Page 2A TIIEIR LF 111 AN Gen. Stoessel's Despatch Tells the Tale. Story of the Great Battle Fought Near Liao Yang. +-P o -awe -mac. A DOUBLE ASSASSINATION. New York, Aug. ro.—A special 'cablegram to the Sun from Berlin says: The V•ossische Zeitung says that Tregubenko, head of the forest department, and Chief of Police Kuzensoff have been murdered openly in the streets of Nakhehivan, Russia. Chefoo cable despatch. —(Bulletin.)— From a source hitherto reliable it is said there is good reason to believe that the Japanese are renewing their attack on the remaining outer positions at Port Arthur. The officers of the German cruiser Fuerst Bismarck, lying at the outer edge, of this harbor, express the opinion that the firing heard last night was an encounter between detachments of war- ships, twenty miles northwest of Chefoo. From. the cruiser the flashes of the guns could be seen. Stoessel's Report. St. Petersburg cable: The following despatch from Viceroy Alexieff, dated Aug. 7, has been received by the Czar: "Gen. Stoessel's report says in part: 'At 4 in the morning of July 30, about five divisions of Japanese took -the offensive against our positions on the Wolf hills. In view of the enormous superiority of the enemy's forces, and the weakenss of the position, our troops were ordered to retire to the next position without fight- ing. The movement was effeeted'in com- plete order, under the protection of ar- tillery, which by acourate fire at short ranges completely stopped. the Japanese advance. "Our losses have not yet been ascer- tained, but they were not great. The losses of the Japanese were very consid- erable. in the engagements of July 26 and July 27-, the Japanese had about 70,- 000 men and a considerable number of siege guns.. `The morale of the Russian troops is excellent and their health good.'" Japs Take Wolf Hill. St. Petersburg cable: A despatch received here from Lieut. -Gen. Stoessel, • commander ofthe Russian military forces at Port Arthur, reports that the Japan- ese before Port Arthur are in possession of Wolf Hill. The General says that on July 30, the Russians withdrew from their positions on Wolf Hill before the numerically superiority of the Japanese. Gen. Stoessel estimates the number of Japanese attacking Port Arthur at 70,- 000. The fourth line of the Russian de- fences, it has been generally understood. ran from the southern end of Sun Hill to White Wolf Hill. White Wolf Hill and a hill to the westward of here r re strongly fortified. It would appc tr from the maps available that the long range guns of the Japanese should com- mand the harbor of Port Arthur from White Wolf Hill. The capture of this hill means that the Javanese now occupy a position within the perimeter of the fortress of Port Arthur. JAPANESE DARING. How it Was Shown in Charging .the En- trenchments. Gen. Kuroki's •Headouartcrs in the field, via Seoul, cable.—(Delayed in transmission.)—Yesterday's battle was the most important which Gen. Kuroki's army has fought since crossing the Yalu. IVhether the Russians retreated is not known yet. but only one strong strategic and defensive position inter- venes between Gen. Kuroki's army and Liao Yang, that being situated eight miles south of that city. While the Russians and Japanese on the frontier stretched over a long line of country, the Russians are known to .have four divisions in the field between Gen. Kuroki and Liao Yang, and between that point and Mulcden,. a large por- tion of the hien being Poles from Eu- rope. The tneatre of this part of the battle witnessed by the correspondent of the 'Associated Press was a valley, being nearly three miles from the Yaggse Pass. This • valley, which is about ten rniles long, nowhere' more than • a mile wide, and running from north to south, is level, covered with high corn, giving the troops fine..cover.. . An Artillery Duel. In the morning the two armies were confronting each other across the val- ley. The Japanese army was stationed bn ranges of hills fronting the pass. while the Russians held a higher range .west of the valley. An artillery' .en- gagement began in tiro morning and lasted until 5 lit the afternoon, during Which neither side appeared to gain any advantage so afar as spectators could • nage. The ltussians had. batteries In the hign hills beyond the village of Towan, commanding the Liao Yang road, which the Japanese shelled heav- ily all day from the front and left without silencing. The Japanese artil- lery was handicapped in action by soft ‘roads, which forced them to bring up ammunition by hand. The Russians used twenty-four guns from Motion Pass. The Japanese had two or more batteries in the hills, and one or two batteries in the valley on the p lain without any cover except the high corn, which the Russians never dis- covered, for using all their fire on the batteries in the hills. A Brilliant Charge. A spectacular and daring feature of the day was the advance of the Japan- ese infantry across the valley, which began at 5 p.in., and resulted in the occupation of all the Russian positions and their infantry entrenchments in the space of two hours: The Russians, as usual, could not withstand the charges of the Japanese infantry and fled through the Bills. The appearance of the field this morn- , ing indicates a complete route, the Rus- sians leaving much clothing and camp paraphernalia behind. them. As a battery stationed just to the right of a tower in the village of Towan, from which Lieut. -Gen. Sakhar- off, commander of the first -Siberian army corps, witnessed the engagement, dashed down a hill in, retreat, one gun was' overturned and left at the foot of the declivity where it fell. THIS IS FUNNY. St. Petersburg Planned Their Retreats From the First. St. Petersburg cable: No fresh news - of fighting or army movements come from the front, and opinion. is still di- vided as to whether -the next big news of which the public is expecting to hear hourly will be a general engagement or only another rein guard action. All the newspapers to -day express great relief over the reports from Port Arthur. The army organ says that, al- though Gen. Stoessel's report gives no details, it is evident the Japanese have suffered a very severe reverse. The pa- per also pays a tribute to the navy's share in the defence of the besieged fort- ress.,Reviewing Gen. Kouropatkin's moveent, it continues: To Fire the Japs Out! "The retreat is in 'accordance with a plan laid down for the first period of the campaign, which is to weaken the forces of the enemy by contesting strongly the defensive positions, thus im- peding Japanese progress and compelling the enemy to waste large numbers of men and much war material on the ad- vances. The results have, been that in three and one,half months the Japanese have only covered a few score of versts." The Russ.estinnatee that the Japanese loss thus far as a result of the siege of Port Arthur aggregates 23,000 men, and says the Mikado's injunction not to waste lives must have been ironical. ACTING IN CONCERT. Great Britain and the U. S. Agree on Contraband. London cable: The Associated Press learns that absolute accord exists be- tween the United States and Great Bri- tain in respect to the rights of neutral commerce, and when the declaration of Secretary Hay was published .yesterday (it is communicated at the time of its is- suance in June by Ambassador Choate to Foreign Secretary Lansdowne), the State Department was informed that it was in entire accord with the attitude of Great Britain. In order that Russia might understand the similarity of the British and Ameri- can views, Lord Lansdowne directed the British Ambassador at St. Petersburg to protest against the Russian definition el contraband along .the same lines as the eltrclaration transmitted through the American Ambassador. Great Britain would like the United States to take steps toobtain an inter-' national declaration, defining the tights of neutrals, but it is not thou3.ht at the Foreign Office here that Secretary Hay will do so, it being understood there that he proposes to retain complete liberty of action. icor all political purposes,. ac- cord exists between two governments by the communication, especially on the part of Great Britain to the United ORTS States, of the action of their respective governments in specific' incidents. Look for Reversal. With reference to the construction of a special admiralty prize court at the Russian capital, to reconsider the case of the British steamer Knight Command- er, announced in the Associated Press despatches, from St. Petersburg, last night, the from officials are confident that it will reverse the decision of the prize court at Vladivostock. They maintain that the decision de - claring the steamer to be a lawful prize was not justified by international law and whatever the vessel carried Admiral Jesson had no right to sink her. Great Britain will not accept a settlement by the payment of a monetary indem- nity, but insists that a broad principle shall be established. This, Russia can- not admit at this moment, in view of the decision of the Vladivostock court, but if the new court declares, as the British Government anticipates, that international law did not justify the sinking of a neutral ship, then the ques- tion will be capable of easier of adjust- ment. The foreign offices bere deny there will be any reference of the Knight Com- mander to the Hague arbitration court and says it is a matter far direct ne- gotiations between the two governments and that in ,1'iew of the earnest desire of both to reach a peaceful agreement it is believed that a satisfactory settle- ment will be achieved. Germany Not Hurrying. Berlin cable: Germany is pursuing leisurely her investigation into the sink- ing of the German steamer Thea by the Vladivostock squadron. It is pointed out here that the U. 3. developments in connection with the ease have been ex- cluded, since it is now known that her cargo was not American but belonged to Japanese merchants. Germany is less exasperated over the sinking of the vessel since Russia al- ready ]las reversed her rigorous course in the Red Sea and the German Govern- ment assumes that she will do likewise in the far east. Russia. of course, will continue to exercise the right of search and capture, but in such a manner as not to give occasion for complaint on the part of other powers. THE OTHER VERSION. Says Food is Plentiful, But Ammunition Short. Chefoo cable: anagen Sterling, of the East Asiatic Co., arrived here to- day with bags of mail and tons of lug- gage. He left Port Arthur last Friday He says the exodus from that place is due to the military position, which is regarded as likely to afford grave con- sequences for civilians. The Japanese are before the rammer line of the main fortifications, but it is believed that their advance has been checked. The Rusians purposely retired to make their last stand. A band plays daily and the newspapers issue special edi- tions. The shops and offices are open. A 12 -inch shell recently killed sixteen Chinamen, women and a lawyer. Food is plentiful, but 'coal and ammu- nition are diminishing. If the Japan- ese are reinforced the speedy capture of the fortress is inevitable. Owing to the Japanese picking off Russian officers, al badges have been. abolished. • The troops are wearing khaki. A naval brigade of 260 men, with two officers from each. ship, was formed, but all the officers have been killed or wounded in the recent land fights. • The official price list of food is as fol- lows : For meat,.25 kopecks (18 cents) per pound:• flour, three roubles, fifty kopecks (21.751; potatoes; four roubles, 3 kopecks ($2.27); and rice, four. rou- bles, 36 koepecks $2.27); All alcoholic liquore have been eommandred by the Govenment, Gen. Stoussel is unpopular. There is friction between him and Gen. Smer- noff, the commander of the forts. The action of the fleet in remaining in the harbor was severely criticized. The ships now leave frequently. Thirty-four hundred men, working day and night, have repaired all the ships. Twenty torpedo boats are available at present. The German, American and French military attaches in. Port Arthur desire it to be made known thatthey are well. MORE RUSSIAN CLAIMS. Say They Damaged Two Japanese Crui- sers at Port Arthur. St. Petersburg cable: A despatch from Admiral Alexieff,, dated Mukden, clay from Port Arthur states that the cruisers Bayan, Askold, Pallada and Novi.r and seine gunboats steamed from the harbor on July 26 for the purpose of bombarding the enemy's position. They were attacked by the battleship .lv Chin Ytn, the armored cruiser Che- yeda, the protected cruisers Itsukush- ima and. Matsushima, two second-class cruisers and thirty torpedo boats. An 8 -inch shell from the Bayan hit the stern of the Itsukushima, placing her of action. Thereupon all the Jap- anese' steered for the open sea. At the sante time the CheYeda was dam= aired by a Russian mine. As she was sinking by the bead she was steered towards Talienwan Bay. A shot from batlary 22 also damaged a Japanese gunboat. On ,,uly 27, in view of the Japanese against .our land positions, the ,Bayan,. Retvisan, Pallada, ,Askold and l\rovilc; the coast defence ships Crenniastchy and Otvjug, the gunboat Giljak and twelve gunboats were ordered to sup`-' port our ri lit flank. Our ships, pre- ceded by rine dredgers, steamed to- war'ds Lungantan, whence they bom- barded the Japanese position until 3 p.m. On their return, which was ef- fected with the same precautions, a mine exploded underneatth one of the dredgers. "Admiral Witsoeft estimated the enemy's„ naval forces off Port Arthur on July 30 at five battleships, four ar- mored cruisers, ten other cruisers and forty light torpedo craft" . A despatch from Mukden, dated Ang. 8, says the fighting at Port Arthur from July 26 to July 28 occurred at least seven miles from the fortress and that not all the guns of the batteries facing inland were engaged. ROAD STREWN WITH DEAD. Russian Batteries Did Terrible Execu- tion at Simouching. Liao Yang cable; A correspondent of the Associated Press, who was pres- ent with the third battery throughout the fighting at Sirnocheng on July 31, says a Japanese battery in an early morning battle forced two of the Russia i centre companies to retire, but the !:*'a'u', artillery fire of the Russians, togaer with a terrific cross fire fro a the Irt kutsk and Yenisei battalions, ure»euted the enemy from occupying the yacated position. The Japanese with several columns again tried to force the Russian centre at 10 o'clock, but the Russian batteries drove them back in confusion. At noon the Kosloff battalion attaok- ed the Japanese positions in the hills on the Russian left under cover of a heavy fire from the third and fifth batteries. The Japanese met tire -attack with shrap- nel, but the Russian artillery temporar- ily silenced the Japanese fire and en- abled the Kosloff battalion to carry the position. The Japanese Commander -in - Chief's headquarters flag appeared on the left, but the Japanese were driven back by the fierce fire of the third bat tery and Sevitaki battery, the command- er of which received a message of thanks for his services. ) In the meantime the Kosloff battalion lost 50 per cent. of its men and called for reinforcements, which were sent from the Irkutsk and Yenisei battalions, who fought their way to the support of their comrades -over aa road which the soldiers say was literally paved with Ja- panese corpses. The fifth battery then became an object of interest. A battery of heavy calibre Japanese guns was brought up from the rear and sustained an equal action for some time, but lost two-thirds of its mna eand was forced to retire, with six of its guns shot to pieces. These were left on the position useless. The Russians managed to disable four other Japanese guns in the course of the day. The Voronech battalion was thrown against the Japanese position in the af- ternoon and got within a 20 -yard range under a fierce fire and then took the bayonet and carried the Japanese posi- tion, but lost half its men and was sur- rounded and forced to retire. Later in the afternoon the remnants of the same battalion ambushed and almost wiped out a whole Japanese battalion. The Jap- anese made a final attempt to break through the Russian line at 7 o'clock in the evening, but were repulsed, and the Russians held all their positions until nightfall, when they retired on Hai - Cheng,' STORIES OF SLAUGHTER. They Were Brought to Chefoo by the Usual "Refugees." A refugee who witnessed the Battle of Wolf's Hill, states that 4,000 Rus- sians defended the position. All the approaches had been terraced at angles of 45 degrees. The Russins in many in- stances dropped their rifles and hurled rocks upon the Japanese, the effect of which was more fatal than bullets. The Russian mines were cleverly concealed in an open field. The first layer con- sisted of pyroxoline and the second of rocks. Over these was sod. The explo- sion threw rocks to a distance of one or two versts. It is alleged that two squadrons of cavalry, with the exception of four men, who were captured, were wiped out by a mine. Witnesses confirm the reports that the Japanese losses were severe. They obtained possession of Wolf's Hill r w ground thickly strewnith dead. The Russian vehicles used for car- rying the wounded included bioyeles in pairs, with litters slung between. Six cabs employed in bringing in the wounded on July 20, found the next day, when attempting to return by the same road, that it Was occupied by Japanese, who captured them. On July 27 two detachments of ma- rines and sailors, numbering 260, lost every commissioned officer at the first volley from the Japanese. The Japanese fought continuously from July 26 to July 28 before they captured Wolf's Hill and Green Hill. Some waded beneath the cliffs to avoid crossing the intervening valley. They ere nearly annihilated by a gunboat off Takushan. A company of Japanese recklessly advanced towards the head- quarters staff between two fires and charged bayonets.' Seven survived. As the Japanese scaled the heights the Rus- sians lining the forts pelted them with stones with sickening effect.- Hundreds were crushed in the debris. The Rus - sians were unable to remove the wound- ed. They lay on the hills all night and died without attention, The Japanese artillery made deadly practice. Their rifle fire way indifferent. The fighting was renewed before the, dead were buried. It is estimated that 40,000 Japanese and 15,000 Russians having taken the general offensive were in action. Many Japanese spies have been executed. AT PORT ARTHUR. Newspaper Description of the Recent Heavy Fighting There. 9A newspaper published at Port ,Aa- �thur, and whielh was brought in here to- day, gives fragmentary details of the re- cent heavy fighting there. The Japanese artillery opened a de- sultory fire on the afternoon of July 25.. That night the Russians slept on their arms in the -trenches: They occupied a. line sixteen miles long. The next morn- ing, July 26, the fog cleared. awarat 6 o'clock, and the Japanese then began to fire along the entire line. This fire was kept up until dark. The. Japanese marksmanship was most accu-• rate, showing that they had derived ben- efit from the practice of the preceding' day. Their heaviest fire was directed against the naval batteries, which in- cluded the 12 -inch naval guns command- ed by Prince Tseheidse and Capt. Skryd- loff. A perfect shower of shells bit the earthworks or went screeching into the valley behind, doing •considerable damage to the artillerymen. The hottest fighting began at day- break of July 27. The battle commenced under the rays of a scorching sun. The Russian right wing was commanded by Major-General Kondratenko, who was compelled to undergo the brunt of the terrific cannonading. To this fierce fire the Russians replied with deliberation. The naval battery was again made the target for the heaviest fire, and it was evident that the Japanese weretrying to silence the most dangerous Russian posi- tion. A perfect shower of shrapnel was thrown into the valley behind the Rus- sian batteries, when Major-General Kon- dratenko remarked that the Japanese evidently believed tha the Russian re- serves were in the 'valley. From the naval guns observers occasionally saw shells bursting near -the other batteries. As the day wore on the activity of the Japanese army increased. Infantry in Trenches. In the meantime the Russian in- fantry, passive witnesses of the artil- lery duel, lay in their trenches, await- ing an attack. They were well protect- ed, and but a few shells fell among them. At 9 o'clock volley firing gave warn- ing of the Japanese assault, which followed swiftly. As the Japanese in- fantry advanced, the Japanese artillery fire slackened somewhat, but the Rus- sian batteries replied with increased vigor. while the Russian riflemen vol- leyed rapidly, and with great anima- tion. For an hour the Japanese ad- vanced intrepidly in the face of a fire which is described as a thousand vol- canoes in simultaneous eruption. The Japanese advance against the Russian right wing ceased, nad the Russians cheered, but at this moment news arrived front Gen. Stoessel, the commander-in:chief at Port Arthur, announcing that the terrific pounding to which the Russian right wing had been subjected was nothing more than a mask to cover the concentration of the Japanese troops preparatory to an attack upon the Russian left wing, of which Wolf's Mountain was the key. Gen. Stoessel commanded the pres- ence of Major -Gen. Kondratenko, who, with his staff, mounted his horse and at once started to join the commander- in-chief. After having ridden a short distance, Go». Kondrateno was com- pelled to' choose between two roads, one long and safe from the fire of the enemy, the other short and leading] through a shell -swept valley. "God favors the brave," remarked the general, and he and his staff gal- loped safely over the dangerous ground At noon on July 27th, the Japanese, who had been attacking, suddenly ceased firing, and observers with the aid of field glasses, could see the en- emy quietly eating rice. After this the right 'wing was occasionally reminded of the presence of the Japanese by the• descent of a huge shell, but the worst• was over. In the meantime the main• attack, which resulted in the capture. of Wolf's Mountain, had been de- veloped. During the fighting of these three - days, the Russians used telephones for communicating with all parts of the field. Kouropatkin Will Command. Paris cable: The St. Petersburg, correspondent of ,the Matin learns that a fight is in progress before Liao -Yang between the armies of General Kuroki' and General Kouropatkin. The Echo de Paris hears from St. Petersburg that General Kouropatkin,, has decided to commend in person they southern array, which is facing Generals. Nodzu and Oku, instructing Generals, Kutchenski and Bilderling to keep Gen- eral Kuroki engaged. This desicion is, due to a telegram from -the Czar asking. General Kouropatkin why he continually• fought only to retreat. General Kouro- patkin mulled that his men were ex- hausted by fatigue and the treat. the, Siberian soldiers, he said,,. were heavy anon, and unused to mountain work, ands the reservists were too old. He said hes wanted younger men in their stead, ass men of 35 and 40 years of age were un- able to march. Getting ab the Real Facts: (Cincinnati Commercial -Tribune.) Doctor," queried the inquisitive person • "do not believe that the cigarette habit - causes weak minds?" "Hot necessarily," replied' the M. D. "As:, a rule it merely indicates them." ;tees Burns, Scalds, Soros of al finds, Outs, l:lotls, Skirt Disease Wood Polson. Etc. Testtnn ntal. tram In OR pronrtnent People in . Canaria. L trge sample and book of dime. tions f^ 1dclr•eas FO5TC11. MV(l, CO., Toronto,..0.nt,..