Desperate Fighting.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 778, 22 March 1905, Page 3

Desperate Fighting.

THE WORST DDRISfi THE WAR. THOU3ABDS sacrificed. HIGH PRAISE FOR THE JAPANESE. LONDON, March 20. General Okn's comparatively small frlvc opposed a very strong iiil.-sian army iatemled to cover the main body's ivtreat, while Genual Xogi hail I'CCii Cjiu|icllcd to (I.ml with the main body. General Oku meantime had been fighting a desperately superior force which wns entrenched in a village in the angle north of the Hunho tiiver and west of the railway. The most critical moment was on the night oi' the Bth. General Xogt asked for reinfurc,-mcnts. General Oku, taking desperate chances, detached a division and se;.t it to General Nogi. Hie fighting in this part ivcs the bloodist of the entire- war. General Oku'h losses were fifteen thousand, and the Russians heavier. General Oku sacrificed thousands to secure a position essential to prevent. a terrible disaster, and his ariny has been awardeJ the highest honours in the Japanese service,

nunicly, Field-Marshal Oyama's written praise. The stubborn way the Japanese Second Army hvM the line primarily forced the Russians to retreat, inasmuch as it gave General Xod/.u an opportunity to attack and expel the Russians from the stronghold south of the Hunho, necessitating a general hurried retirement.