An Eye Witness In Manchuria PDF Download

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1905 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XXXVI THE BATTLE OF SANDEPU The Russian position in the third week of January this year presented a very long front. On the east it extended for many miles along the Sha-ho, so as to protect Fushun from flank attack. Going west it followed practically the river as far as the railway, which cut the centre of the Russian lines. A little west of the railway, at Lin-shin-pu, the Sha-ho, which is a small stream, takes a decided bend south-west, eventually joining the Tai-tze-ho. Leaving the Sha-ho at this bend the Russian lines struck across country to the Hun-ho, the large affluent of the Liao-ho, which after passing Mukden flows south and west. Crossing the Hun-ho the Russians had a position at Zifonti, their outposts extending north and west to the Liao-ho at Sinminting. Thus the Russian lines were in the shape of a bow, with Mukden behind and equidistant from the two ends. On the right or western flank were Mischenko and Kosagovsky with their cavalry. Between them and the railway was Grippenberg's Second Manchurian Army, with its headquarters at Zifonti; Kaulbars held the centre, and Linievitch the east. From Linievitch's or the First Manchurian Army the well-tried 1st Siberian Army Corps under Baron Stackelberg had been sent to strengthen Grippenberg's army, which consisted largely of European corps. At this period the force under General Kuropatkin's command was some 400,000 strong, and had about 2000 guns. All stores had been amply replenished, and the branch railway lines from Mukden to the Sha-ho were finished. In short, the Russian preparations for battle were complete, and the only deterrent to fighting was the hard weather. On the other hand, the position of the Japanese was extremely strong. They held no fewer than three...