KUROPATKIN UNDER FIRE.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 130, 29 November 1904, Page 5

KUROPATKIN UNDER FIRE.

A SPEECH IN BATTLE. The following account of the great battle was received in St. Petersburg from Mukden : — "On the night of the 12th the Japanese overwhelmingly assailed the Kosloff and Voronezh. Regiments, whicli retreated, leaving the eecond division of the 9th. Artillery Brigade to check the enemy's advance. The Russian guns did not cease firing until the Japanese were within 700 yards. "itie Russian officers gave a grand example to then- men. General Rialinki was mortally wounded, and Divisional General Smolensky was killed. The commanders of the 4th and 6th Batteries were killed at their posts, and tho commander of the sth Battery was wounded. "It was at length realised that no human effort could save the guns, therefore the caissons and vital parts of the guns were removed, and the Russians retired. "On the following morning the Japanese renewed the attack, crushed the left flank of the Korslofl Regiment, and drove ifc back two versts. The Voronezh Regiment, which lost most of its officers, nevertheless continued fighting with undfminished fury. Guns were posted at 9 o'-clock in the morning on the light bank of the Shaho, and the Russians were able to receive the Japanese with a decimating crossfire. The Japanese fell in scores. "General Kuropatkin himself directed operations, and was dangerously exposed ' to the Japanese artillery. "At the critical moment of the battle General Kuropatkin addressed the troops. He said: 'I salute you, my brave fellows. I know that you are weary; and that you have neither slept nor eaten, but we must all serve the Tsar and country.' . "Projectiles fell all round him, while, with ringing cheers, fhe Willmanstraad Regiment dislodged the Japanese by means of a bayonet charge, the Neuschlatz Regiment nobly supporting. The Japanese artillery was finally silenced, and the day rested with the Russious."