Details of the Fighting

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12448, 9 March 1905, Page 5

Details of the Fighting

Positions Carried at the Bayonet

Point

LONDON, March 7. Generials Kuroki and Nodzu are holding tho Russian left rank, while General Nogi rolls uip the night and gets to the Russian rear to the north-west.

The chief fighting on Monday was at Tashichias, near ih.e> Imperial tombs (about five miles north-east of Mukden). It was renewed to-day in the form of a fierce artillery duel.

The positions south of Mukden, especially iat Kandolisan and ICaotuling, were es scene of the bloodiest fighting. The Russians claim tbny repulsed 32 night attacks in two days at Kandolisan, and annihilated the Japanese Guards. General Kmropatkin is straining every ■nerve to keep an open line of retreat ■from Fushian to Tieling. The second line at Chantan was defended obstinately at first. Generals Oku and Nogi thereafter advanced rapidly in face of enormous difficulties. They carried position after position, often at the point of the bayonet against superior numbers, to a point 15 miles north-west of Mukden on Saturday, when they were still advancing, except at Pataitse and Machiapu. The Russian resistance was spiritless. Many threw away their arms and clothing.

The Russian centre near the railway began retiring on Saturday night, the Jiaipanese capturing some six-inch Howitzer and miachine guns. • The Russians claim that during the counter attacks at Sha-ho they captured two machine gunis land a hundred prisoners.

Eastwards of Putiloff and Hiu, Ku■roki's troops 'and the Russians, despite the terrible hardship®, of cOld_, display equal obstinacy and daring. In one instance the Russians reached tho Japanese trenches and ibayonetted one another. The Japanese charged a battery at the top of a hill, and .almost reached the guns, the Russiansl skilfully saving them.