FIFTEEN HOURS HEAVY FIGHTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 169, 21 July 1904, Page 3

FIFTEEN HOURS HEAVY FIGHTING.

THE BATTLE AT MO-TIEN-LING. A SANGUINARY ENCOUNTER. LONDON, July 19. General Kuropatkin reports that after General Kuroki's occupation of the passes of Fen-chi-ling chain, there was very inadequate information respecting his dispositions on the Russian eastern front, and General Keller was directed to make a reconnaissance in force irk the direction of L/ian-san-kwang, where it was believed the principal Japanese forces were concentrated, with their advanced guards at Wa-fan-kwan Sin-kia-ling, La-kho-ling, Pa-pan-ling, and Ty-toey-ling. General Keller despatchwl three battalions agaist the Ty-bey-ling Pass, and the central column of fourteen battalions and twelve guns, under General Kashtalinsky, moved against Siao-ko-ling temple and the Wa-fang-kwan Passes, the general reserve being lefti at Ikhavung. Aboutf midnight on the Kith a battalion of the 22nd Regiment at the bayonet point dislodged a Japanese outpost at the crossing of the Lak-ho-ling and Sin-kia : liljg roads, and occupied a position covering General Kashtalinsky's right flank. At dawn General Kashtalinsky occupied the temple at Sia-kho-ling, expelling the Japaneso advanced posts. The Japanese soon came in considerable strength, with numerous guns, and occupied and a mountainous bluff sou|th of General Kashtalinsky's flank, directing a heavy rifle and artillery lire against the Russians.

General Kashtalinsky sent four battalions to occupy the 'bluffs, but failed, because he was unable to bring his field guns into action.

General Keller at 8 o'clock sent three battalions to Ikhavung and a reserve to the heights above the temple pass. It was also necessary to reinforce the firing line in order to retain the positions already won, since the pressure of the Japanese was rendering the situation untenable. Finding the Japanese overpoweringly superior, he retired in perfect order at noon.

The Japanese then took the offensive on the Russian right flank, but after the Russian artillery had. silenced a mountain battery south of Ikhavung, the fight ceased about 3 o'clock, the Japanese advance stopping in a valley aibovfe the Lantakhl River.

The Russian troops were very fatigued after the -fifteen hours' fight. Renter's correspondent with General KuroWa force states that twice ■aa many Russians fought atMo-tien-ling as at tho Ya-lu, while the Japanese had one brigadi and one battalion. He places the Russian loss at two thousand. General Kuroki's scouts have reached the Russian outworks, 15 versts east of Liao-yang.. JAPANESE TENACITY. BOGGED STANDS AGAINST LARGE NUMBERS. (Received July 20, 9.43 p.m.) LONDON, July 20. The Japanese infantry at Mo-tien-ling showed remarkable efficiency, initiative, and marksmanship. The Russians w era out-generalled and outrfought at all points. Though the Japanese outposts were greatly outnumbered they fought stubbornly until reinforced-. One company resisted three •battalions, and another fought doggedly against a regiment, even after all its officers were disabled, and being finally reinforced compelled the Russians to retreat. Four Japanese officers and 39 men were killed, and 15 officers and 241 men wounded —all belonging to the second division. The Grand Duke Boris fought with the Ru®ian reserves.

A Three Yeara War. HUSSrA'S ASTONISHING PRO- - TO END WITH THE INVASION OF JAPAN. ROME, July 20. •I The Russian Embassy here ha? learnt that the Government is preparing a three year campaign, 'the ~ first year to be devoted to the retaking of Port Arthur, which is expected to fall hourly, the second for the re-establishment of Russian pres--t tigv in Manchuria, and the third for invading Japan. Various Items. JAPANESE REINFORCEMENTS. (Received July 20, 10.8 p.m.) LONDON, July 20. Japanese reinforcements are landing at) K&yiptag, and aljso north of Fort Arthur. JAPANESE CLOSING ON NIUCHWANG. LONDON, July 20. Fifteen hundred Russians have returned to Niu-chwang. The Japanese are six milea away. WARSHIP SUNK AT VLADIVOSTOK. (Received July 20, 10.8 p.m.) LONDON, July 20. French newspapers state that a German ship purchased by Russia, and also a Russian torpedo boat, Struck mines at the entrance to Vladivostok harbour, and were destroyed. WARSHIPS IMPRISONED. LONDON, July 20. ; Three Japanese torpedo-boat destroyers have sealed up the Liao-ho River, where the gunboat Sivoutch and a Russiaa destroyer are anchored.