The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-12-20

I. , apanese trained their pieces within
three minutes two shells struck the
lilas exactls ana Tor Eredt gaps in it.
Instantly cry flag dropped and the
1 Cinnamon took to their heels, but in
/ a few moments they Reformed and
lpreDared To receive the Japanese in
Ifantry, hurrying down under the shell
/ ter CT the batteries.
I Just behind the heroic band of Chin
csc Was another Chinese line on a knoll
/ wit three Held guns, which checked
the Japanese advance and enabled the
broken line to make safe retreat.
The Guns Began to Play.
At 6:45 the following morning the
mountain batteries began to play upon
Isuiyana and the guns of the triple
forts covered the hillside with flame
ana smoke. The Chinese had b-inch
i krupp rifles and 9-inch nortars with
auxiliary batteries of revolving and
quick firing guns.
Shells began to drop upon us from
all sides, the Moro forts, the giant guns
of Ogunsan and the Chinese field bat
teries turned fire against US, for Isui-
yama. was the key, and once it fell The
whole left flank of the Chinese would
be exposed The taking of Isuiyama
was the signal for HassalSawa to at
tack the forts on the right wing
AS the batteries spiintered 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
I'D a steady volley for ten or twelve
minutes. General Nishi was below di-
recting the attack. Suddenly the men
stood up and advanced in the teeth
of the guns, firing continuously as
they marched. On, on, pressed the
Slender black line. Then the battalion
lin the ravine moved forward on the
right to attack the side of the first
fort.
AS the line reached the foot of the
rsteep scarp in front of the walls, it
suddenly swung around and Joined the
column on the right and the united
battaIions rushed up the steep bank
towards the side wall, while the Chin
Iese shell tore gaps in their ranks.
Sealing the Ramparts.
BY this time a mountain battery had
lbeen hauled up a. dizzy ridge, where
/ Yanaji stood, and five minutes after
wards these guns were in position. We
were dropping shells inside on the first
fort. Withsa ringing yell the japanese
parts, shooting and bayoneting the
flying garrison and chasing the enemy
along the connecting walls.
| A cheer vert up from the hills and
/ the valleys as the victorious troops
pushed on to the second fort and finally
drove the fugitiveS out of the redOubt
down into the Port Arthur valley.
Isuiyama fell at $50. after an hour
and 20 minutes fighting. The Japan
csc field and siege guns were pounding
away at the seven forts and Yannajfs
mountain batteries Joined them. 1t
was a colossal duel. From Shoju
there shot out sprays of fire. The ar
senal in Port Arthur had caught fire
and was ripping. roaring and vomiting
fame and smoke like a volcano, as an
acre of massed shells and cartridges
exploded.
The Shoju and Merle forts were the
prey Of HasSagaWa, and as the cannon
battered the garrisons, he charged up
from the eastern valley, taking the
advantage of earth seams and small
ridges.
Japnn's Finest Fighting Blood.
Hassagawa had about 5000 men, the
finest fighting blood in Japan. The
northern fort of Shoju was a most
active factor on the Chinese side. Two
Luz peuO HllIeS were GSpICGGQ Ill IIOllL
of the invaders, but the key was
touched too soon. All over the valley
were sunken mines, connected by wires
with the walled camps.and forts. But
in the heat of the fight the Chinese
failed to use them. Just as the front
rank of HasSagawa's brigade was clos
ing in upon Shoju, a Japanese shell
exploded inside the northern fort, and
with a groan and shock that stopped
the battle for a moment, the shells for
the heavy guns which were piled on
the floor of the fort blew up.
The garrison scrambled out over the
hill tops and Hassagawa's men came
sweeping around the rough mountain
to find the fort a mass of flames. That
ended all hope of defending the seven
forts. The Chinese fled along the
ridges and down the valley roads. Has
sagaWa's troops were in possession of
Shoju and Nero thills. In order to take
the town the troops had to cross the
bridge or wade in the river, but on
the other side of it was a road leading
Between two small hills and on either
side of the road were rifle pits filed
with Chinese infantry. On the hill to
the right of the road was battery
of three field guns manned by the only
good gunners on the Chinese side.
Every time the Japanese attempted to
move out OF the cover of the camp,
the Chinese riflemen swept the parade
ground with continuous volleys.
Away to the right could be heard
the sound of Noghis flying column
trying to force its way across the neck
of the little peninsula where a small
force of Chinese had made a stand
and were defending the way to the
three forts.
Stretched in a line parallel with the
coast in front Of the harbor were eight
or nine Japanese war ships and the
peninsula forts were Smelling them
clumsily and without effect.
Work of the Torpedo Boats.
Torpedo boats were going through
the waves and Sinking junks loaded
with men, women and children endeav-
oring to escape. The water was filed
with drowning people. The massacre
had begun as the last of the troops
moved from behind the walls of the
camp and under shelter Of the eastern
wall of the drilling grounds. Then they
opened fire on the Chinese pits, guard
ing the entrance to Port Arthur, send
ing volley upon volley across the
stream against the rifle pits. For 10
minutes the three skirTnish lines kept
up a fire, and the plucky, Chinese were
driven from the position. Finally a
small column covered by the skirmish-
ers advanced across the bridge and
marched along the road leading to the
town. AT the same time Marshal Oyama
ordered the reserve centre TO move
down the valley, and thousands of
them came pouring along the road be-
hind the troops already on their way
to the town.
Not shot was fired in reply. The
battle was over as far as Port Arthur
was concerned. Even Ogunsan was 81
lent and deserted. The soldiers had
made their escape and the frightened