The herald., 1894-12-20

main r0aQ tnrouRn tne lines OF Tossing
red and white standards.
There were at least 500 Chinese in
the three columns. Suddenly the en-
envy caught sight Of our flank move-
ment and began to retreat. The Jap
anese had lost eight men and AZ
wounded. No man can cay how many
the enemy lost. saw the Japanese
dead on the road with their heads
gone and their bodies mutilated. Sew
eral corpses were without hands, two
had been butchered like sheep and
their hearts and livers torn out.
As the Japanese reinforcements be-
gan to double quick the enemy disap!
peared through the ravines into the
Suisysh valley and returned to Port
Arthur.
On the morning OF the goth, after the
armies had been placed in straight line
on the east of Port Arthur, with range
of low mountains between, and a mass
of forts beyond, council of war was
held. The field marshal and his staff
met Generals Ysmajsi, Nishi, Noghi
and Hassagawa with their stats. 1t
was decided that part of 1amajaIs
division should make a great turn
ing movement on the flank OF the
Chinese and attacking the lelt
while Hassagaws's brigade should fol-
low with an attack on the east OF the
forts, forming the Chinese right The
reat OF Ysmsjai's troops were to move
straight down the Suishyeh valley, and
with field and siege batteries to attack
the Chidese front from the north and
move into Port Arthur.
THE BATTLE.
Meanwhile the independent column,
marching along the east under Lieuten,
ant Mstsumitsu, would simultaneously
move against the eassern forts. But
while the council Of war was proceeding
the Chinese began to realize that the
Japanese had established their noun
tain batteries on the hills COM
manding the left center OF the
Chinese position and decided to advance
put OF Port Arthur and disodge them.
Then began tremendous artillery fight.
Within a few minutes regiment after
regiment could be seen running in
clouds of dust across the head of the
valley into the ravine leading to the
Iupport of the Japanese artillery posi-
tion. The air was filled with shells,
and the Chinese gradually concentrated
their fire until the trees began to disaps
pear from the western slope. The Chi
nese marched out of Port Arthur in
three columns. One descended from
the two dragon forts and the other two
came out of the Port Arthur valley.
The ground was torn with shells as
they marched forward, but they never
faltsred for a moment. Within quars
ter of mile of the Japenese artillery,
the Chinese line spread itself out and
wheeling to the left went straight for
the hills to carry the batteries bv
charge. The fire became too hot and
they lay down on their faces with their
banner poles stuck in the ground,
magnificent target upon which the jap.
snse trained their pieces. Within three
minutes two shells struck the line ex-
actly and tore great gaps. instantly
every flag dropped and the Cinnamon
took to their heels, but in q few minutes
they reformed and prepared to receive
the Japanese infantry burrying down
under the shelter OF the batteries.
HEROIC CHINESE.
Just behind the heroic band OF Chinese
was another Chinese line on a knoll
with three field guns. which checked
the Japanese advance and enabled the
broken line to make = safe retreat.
At 6: 40 the following morning the
mountain batteries began to play upon
lsuiyama, and the guns of the triple
forts covered the hillside with flame and
smoke. The Chinese had 5-inch Krupp
rifles and 9.inch mortsrs, with auxiliary
hu fny nf iuin anly- Er;,,
guns.
Shells began to drop upon us from all
sides, the Nero forts, the giant guns of
Ogunsan and the Chinese field batteries |
turned ire against US, for Isuiyuma was
the key aud once it fell. the whole left |
flank OF the Chinese would be exposed |
The taking of lsuiyama WAS the signal |
for Hasssgawa to attack the forts ON
the right wing.
A BRAVE ADVANCE.
As the batteries splntered the hill. /
sides and sent clouds OF earth up out Of !
the plowed ground the infantry line
kneeling at the base OF the slope in
front OF Isuiyama opened fire and kept
up steady volleys ten or twelve minutes.
Gen. Nishi was below directing the at.
tack. Suddenly the men stood up and
advanced to the teeth of the guns firing
continuously as they marched. On, on
pressed the slender black line. Then
The battalion in the ravine moved for.
ward on the right to attack the side OF
the first fort.
AS the line reached the foot OF steep
IcaIp in front Of the walls, it suddenly
Iwung around and joined the column on
The right and the united battsions
rushed up the steep bank toward the
iide wall, while the Chinese shells tore
Eaps in their rsnks.
INTO PORT ARTHUR VALLEY.
BY this time a mountain battery had
been hauled up dizzy ridge, where
Ysmajai stood. and five minutes later
these guns we're in position. We were
dropping shells inside on the irst fort.
With ringing yell the Japanese dashed
10 the fort and scaled the ramparts,
thooting and bayonetting the flying gar
r,son and chasing tho enemy along the
connecting walls.
A cheer went up from the hills and
the valleys as the victorious troops
pushed on to the second fort and finally
afove the fugitives out OF the redoubt
lowu into the Fort Arthur valley.
Isuiyama fell ut $3.50, after an hour
md 20 minutes fighting.
The japanese. field and siege guns
we're pounding away at the seven forts,
md Yamsjsi's mountain batteries Joined
hem. 1t was colossal duel from Shoju.
II.