THE BATTLE OF MUKDEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12834, 6 April 1905, Page 7

THE BATTLE OF MUKDEN.

THE STORY BY MAIL.

MANY INTERESTING DETAILS.

Mukden. Monday, March 7. A FIERCE and continuous artillery engagement is taking place about four miles north of Machiapu. From the Hun bridge a long line of battle stretches in both directions as far as the eye can see. North-west, towards Tatehekiao, and eastward along the Shakhe River, it is marked by a line of bursting shells. Tho Russian losses are not excessive, considering the severity of the five days' fighting. The Japanese, as attackers, have suffered mure, heavily than the Russians'. AGAINST JAPANESE LEFT. At half-past four o'clock en Sunday afternoon gnus began k roar west and northwest of the Mukden railroad station here, while General Kuropatkin launched an attack against the. Japanese extreme left. During Monday night tho Japanese repeatedly assaulted Pienchiaptidgu, Kaoiou Pass, arid Kanpayeu, furthei cast, but all their "efforts were unavailing. The bombardment ol Erdagou, Novgorod, feund Pontile!!' hills continued unsuccessfully. The vast plain of the Liao and Hun River valleys presented a brilliant panoramic scene. '1 he day being clear and sunny, the movements on both sides were distinctly visible, except when clouds oi yellow dust swirled down and hid the shifting lines of infantry. Charge followed charge, attack, repulse, and counter-attack, Russians and Japanese lighting viciously for even,- toot of ground, and clinging like grim death to every Chinese cottage and mud wall, the only covers in the rich bottom land. Every village was the. scene of struggles, rivalling the famous L? Have Saints at Waterloo. One regiment of Siberian sharpshooters was led to the attack by Colonel Koukorin, who was wounded in the foot on February 28, and directed the operations from a litter. The villages of Sahoudypau ami Lansdianpu were taken and retaken several times, Lanshanpu finally passing into the hands of the Japanese on March 4. The Japanese used baud grenades, emitting a tune/eating gas. LOSSES AT LONE TREE HILL. From the front and left think the reports are of an encouraging nature. A desperate attack of the Japanese ou Sunday on Poutiloff Hill resulted most tragically to them, the Russian artillery turning lines of Japanese into heaps of bodies, which the survivors quickly converted into breastworks, from which thqy were driven by a bayonet charge and the murderous lire of the artillery. Tho attack of the Japanese Imperial Guards divisions, according to reports from General Zassaliteh, crumbled before tho brilliant defence of the Siberian sharpshooters. On the left General Linevitch held the hills stubbornly. All day Saturday the Japanese batteries broke sluapnel over the swamp land running south-west from the Imperial tombs, in full view of the populace crowding the railroad station, the roofs of the adjoining houses, and every elevation. The Japanese were encouraged to renewed endeavours by the sight of puffing engines mid tho long line of trains and carts going northward. Although the greatest battle of the war is being fought around Mukden the Chinese are strangely indifferent. The Japanese artillery is pounding away fiercely in the region of Ulinpu. Some shells from Bin field guns, charged with Shimoso powder, also are exploding not far away, and shrapnel is roaring. The attack by one regiment yesterday morning was a spectacular sight. Tho regiment advanced us if on parade, supported by two batteries, and attacked and captured two villages successively. Japanese prisoners are filing past toward tlio rear. They are ravenous with hunger. They'say they started with provisions for three days, and were then ordered to make them last for six days. They had not eaten since Sunday morning. General Kuropatkin has ordered that they be fed, and they are eating as they march in. Between the villages of Sandepas and Shakhe the Japanese seized the opportunity, while two Russian corps were changing front, to furiously endeavour to break the line. The Japanese succeeded in thrusting a wedge into the interval, but Russian artillery concentrated a. terrible lire of Bin guns upon the attacking forces, and the Japanese were finally driven out with heavy loss. To-day's" artillery duel lasted until sunset. The firing was fiercest at the village of Fautziatuu, which was set on fire by shells, Shrapnel was responsible for nearly all the j wounded. To-day's fighting was only preliminary shelling" Night attacks on. the centre and left flanks were repulsed. The Japanese left 2000 dead in front of Cauto : Pass. THROUGH A SNOWSTORM. j The Japanese left continued its advance despite a heavy snowstorm, and attacked Kujawz and Ertaitaz. The Russian second line of defences north of the villages was i captured during the night of March 1. The attacking and bombarding was of a furious nature and the Russians defended their positions stubbornly. The capture of Huande was one of tho sensational events of the battle. Small detachments of Japanese troops sent to reconnoitre the Russian positions approached them ruder cover of a heavy snowstorm., and suddenly charged, driving a superior force from the trenches at the point of the bayonet, and occupying them. The Japanese operations during the night of March I were extremely difficult. The Russian work-; were very strongly defended by entanglements and many machine guns, and the Russians used searchlights and star shells, but in spite of these the Japanese under cover of a heavy bombardment rushed the works at the point ol the bayonet, killing many of the Russians and imprisoning ftcme in the trenches. THE TEN DAYS' STRUGGLE. Fighting of the fiercest nature, which is i'kely to decide the fate of the battle winch has been in progress for 10 days, began at (Own to-day, and hat continued uuinteriupted!y up to tho present time on a front 14 miles long, west, of the railroad, and on a line with the Shakhe River. The Japanese have ako made a desperate attack on Rentsiuput/.0, and reports are arriving here that fighting was renewed this morning on the extreme left of (he Russian army. Roth sides are lighting with desperation to the westward, though the troops; are well nigh exhausted. The issue of the battle may depend largely tin the relative physical condition of the rank and file. In its main features the combat is very much like that at. Liao-yang. and if the Russians should be able to crush l lie flanking force victory may be regarded as won. TSERPITSKY'S BRAVERY. Beginning ;,t two o'clock a.m., the Japanese made a succession of desperate attacks on General Tserpitzky's division on the west front south of Mukden, repeating the assault at intervals of two hours with constant reinforcements. Abo it 50,000 Japanese, with 200 pieces of artillery, participated. All he attacks were relced, there being enormous losses on both sides. One extremely important position changed hands several times. Fina'.lv General Ttscrpitzky. on horseback, placed himself at tho head if hi. troops and led his regiments to the attack with colours flying and music playing. The attack was successful. After it was over the victorious soldiers crowded around General Tserpitzky, shouting his praises and even kissing his hands and feet. The Russians ctptured several qttickfire guns and many Japanese prisoners, including officers. "SAVE OUR DINNER. BROTHERS." MfKDF.v. Tuesday, March 7.. The Japanese on Monday night attacked Yenhsitun, Alanpu, and "Ertbtaitzu, and also made four furious attacks on the village of luhuantan early this morning. On the fourth attack the" Japanese were temporarily successful in driving out the Russians, and rushed directly toward the'field kitchens, where the morning meal was being prepared, and commenced to bolt the food. The. Russian troops, however, with a shout

of ' Save our dinner, brothers!" fell upon the Japanese like a hurricane and drove them out of th? village at the point of the baronet. . A captured Japanese said they hud had nothing to eat since Sunday, and that they had been told this morning either to capture the Russians' dinner or starve.