Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 July 1904 — RUSS RECONNOITERS [ARTICLE]

RUSS RECONNOITERS

Kuropatkin Starts Out to Find Some Japs and Finds Them Without Difficulty. THE TROUBLE IS TO LOSE THEM

Costs the Russians 1,000 Men for the Information They Gist.

Fight Takes Place at Motien Pass, Being Begun at Night and Continuing Fifteen Hours.

Bt. Petersburg, July 21.—The Associated Press has an excellent reason for stating that Russia will yield In the steamer Malacca case, release the vessel in accordance with the British demand, and express regret at her detention.

London, July 10.—Th s correspondent of The Times at General Kurokl’s headquarters says that the Japanese losses during the fighting at Motien pass 'on July 17 were trifling.

London, July 10. The Morning Post’s correspondent at General Kurokl’s headquarters, telegraphing nnder date of July 17, says: “A Russian force, apparently about 20,000 strong, attacked the front, left and right of the Japanese positions on the western slope of Motien pass at 2 a. m. today under cover of a dense fog. The sudden onslaught drove In the Japanese posts, but ns soon as reinforcements arrived the Japanese gallantly advanced to the attack, and after severe fighting drove off the Russians and reoecupled the position. The Russians retired, their retreat being well covered."

Kuropatkin Reports the Fight.

St. Petersburg, July 19. —A dispatch from General Kuropatkin to the emperor, dated “July 17, on our eastern front,” is given out. After explaining that the attack on Motien pass was merely a reconnaissance in force, and that General Count Keller was in charge, he says: “The left column of the expeditionary force, consisting of three battalions, was dispatched towards Sybey pass. The center column, commanded by Major General Kashtalinsky, consisting of fourteen battalions with twelve guns, was destined to attack Siaokao pass,the heights surmounted by the temple and Wafankan pa Bs.

First Contact at 11 at Night.

“The right column, one battalion strong, Was occupying points where the roads leading to Sinkia and Lakho passes cross in order to cover the right flank of General Ivashtalinsky's column. The general reserve was left at Ikhavnen and a portion of the foree Occupied a position at that place.” The Column began its advance at 10 p. m. of the night of July 1(5, and at 11 p. ru, the first Japanese outpost was dislodged. JAPS lIEOIN TO GET REST

WhrrtnpM the Russians Coiielnd* to Withdraw to Their OM* Positions. Kuropatkin says that Kashtalinsky occupied Sloakao pass and the heights surmounted by the temple during the night, the Japs making no fight for them, but evacuating. But at 5:39 a. m. July T 7 Kashtalinsky found the Japs in considerable strength on Hafankwan pass and the- bluffs to the south and also on his own flank. Kasbtalinsky tried to take this Jap position but failed. Kellea then ordered up reinforcements to Kashtalinsky’s aid and to retain the- positions captured by Kashtalinsky, but found, that the positions were untenable. He-also found the enemy so strong that he decided not to continue-the light Keller decided about 10:30 a. a*, to withdraw his troops to the positions origlnaQy occupied in the Yanze- pass. The troops retired slowly, step by step, and in perfect order, covered by the tire of a field battery which had. been brought into action. At midday the Japs got a mountain battery into posltLoncbut the Russian battery silenced it. Kuropatkin concludes as follows: “Tfce fight ceased at 3 p. and the troops returned Us Ikhavuam Tike Japanese advance was stopped above the valley of the lantakhe 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 been over fifteen hours on foot and fighting. Our looses have not yet been exactly ascertained, but General Keller reports that they exceed 1,000. The gallant Twenty-fourth regiment suffered most. General Keller especially mentions the activity, courage and coolness shown by Its commanding officers. Colonel Koschitz was severely wounded in the leg, but remained In the ranks until the end of the action.”

GREAT BRITAIN MAKES PROTEST Objects to Balsnra by Rawls or the Steamer Malacca. St Petersburg, July 31.—Sir Charles Hard Inge, the British ambassador to Russia, 1b behalf of his government, baa just presented a strong protest to Russia against the seisnre In the Red sea and detention of the Peninsular and Oriental steamer Malacca, which was carrying 800 tons of British government stores for the naval establishment at Hong Kong, each case of which waa marked with the broad arrow, which la the government stamp.

Tbs ambassador also presented a general protest against the action of the Russian volunteer fleet steamers in the Red sea.

Russia seems prepared for any representations Great Britain may make on the stopping of ships in the Red s&a. It Is understood that before sending cruisers the Russian authorities became convinced through an elaborate system of espionage that an immense amount of contraband was going from England through the Red sea to Japan and they decided to stop the traffic. It is understood that if this traffic is diverted to the cape route the Russian admiralty Is prepared to send ships to the Cape of Good Hope. If Great Britain objects to the passage of the Dardanelles by more vessels of the volunteer fleet, the ships intended for cruising off the cape may be sent from the Baltic. In this connection Important developments are believed to be imminent.

RUSS SQUADRON GETS BUSY Begins Its ,Jol> of Making Trouble for the Japanese Merchant Marine. Washington, July 21.—The Japanese legation has received the following cablegram from the foreign office at Toklo: "At 9:30 a. m. July 20th the Vladivostok squadron fired on and sank a Japanese steamboat of 318 tons off the coast of Isoya, about twen-ty-fire miles from Hakodate. All of the crew were landed safely at Cape Yesan.”

A Tokio dispatch says a Japanese torpedo flotilla Is pursuing the Russians, and that several small vessels have been captured by the raiders. Tokio, July 21.—News from the seat of war has become scarce again. About the only thing interesting is Kuroki’s report of casualties at Motien pass. He says the Japs lost four officers and thirty-nine men killed, and fifteen officers and 241 men wonnded.

Kurski’s Report of the Fight.

Fusan, July 20.—The following is from General Kourki’s headquarters the field: “More Russian troops were engaged in yesterday’s battle at Motien pass than in previous engagements. There were probably double the number of those which took part in the fight at the Yalu river, while opposed to them were only one brigade and one batallion of the Japanese forces. The Russian loss is estimated at 2,000. The burial of tbe dead continues. The Japanese casualties aggregated 300. The engagement has conspicuously demonstrated the wonderful efficiency of the Japanese infantry. They proved incomparably the better marksmen, more initiative and they out-fought and out-geueraled the Russians on every point.”

Russia’s Preliminary Reply.

London, July 21.—The Associated Press learns that Count Benekendorff* the Rassian ambassador, at a conference with Foreign Secretary Lansdowne, made what may be considered to be a preliminary reply to the British protest against the seizure of the steamer Malacca. He assured the foreign secretary that his government had no intention of infringing.on the rights of Great Britain or any other neutral power, and that if a mistake had been made in tbe seizure of the Malacca unquestionably the steamer will immediately be restored and damages would be paid.

Ruslans Seise Japanese Mail.

Aden, July 18.—Tbe North German Lloyd steamer Prinz Heinrich, which has arrived here from Hamburg June 23 and Southampton June 28, for Yokohama. reports that she was stopped by the Russian volunteer fleet steamer Smolensk and compelled to give up thirty-one sacks of letters and twentyfour sacks and boxes of parcels, all intended for Japan.

It is reported that the Peninsular and Oriental companies steamer Malaecafi from Antwerp for Japan, has been seized in the- Red aea by the Russian volunteer fleet stamer St. Petersburg.

;. Story Told byrthe Chinan*. Chefoo, July 20.—A junk with eight Russians and fifty Chinese on board has arrived here, tfve days-from Port Arthur. The Russians refused to talk, but the Chinese say that en July 11 and 12 the Japanese captured and occupied with 4,000 men one of the eastern forts, near Tort Arthur. Before reinforcements arrived tbe Russians cut off the 4.000 troops in the fort and exploded mines,, which resulted in thekillitog of every Japanese soldier there.

RaoUn Cruiser Possos the Dardanelles.

London, July 20.—The Constntinopte correspondent of The Daily Mail* 1m a dispatch dated July 18, says: “A Russian cruiser has just passed through fro an Odessa with several guns covered with canvas on her deek. She also carried torpedr tubes.” The Sues correspondent of The Daily Mail, under date of July 19, says; “The German steamer Sambia, it Is stated, bas been seized by the Russians and is expected here tomorrow.”

Rmluu Delate British Steamer. Aden, Arabia, July 19. —The British steamer Persia was forcibly detained for an hour in the Red sea by the Russian volunteer fleet steamer Smolensk, which transferred to the Persia a portion of the Japanese mall aeixed on the North German Llyod steamer Prlns Heinrich July 15. The Smolensk confiscated two bags of the Prlns Heinrichs mall destined for Nagasaki. Fairbanks to Take • Rest. Indianapolis, July IK—Senator Fairbanks has left for Mackinac, where he will rest for a fortnight The senator would not dlscnss his vacation. LifkUUf Strike* Mexican Pbtllloo. St Louis, July ®o.—The Mexican national pavilion was struck by lightning during a severe storm at the world’s fair grounds. ' ~ u ~ . X eftloiti *•» ■<*-*