The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-05-05


position. and in the battle yesterday
they swept away the new front inter
posed by the Russians to check their
onward movement
The japanese losses were about 700
Killed and wounded. The Russians lost
over 800 men. The Japanese captured
% quicl,-hre guns. 20 officers and many
men. The Russians made two stands
General KurOk began the movement
on Tuesday by ordering a detachment
Of the imperial guards division 20
seize the Island of Kurito, which is in
the Yalu above Win. and a detach'
ment OF the second division to seize
the Island OF Kinteito. which is sit
uated below Win. The detachment OF
the imperial guard met with some re-
sistance. but it succeeded in clearing
the enemy out and occupied Kurito
island. The Russians abandoned the
Island OF Kinteito when attacked by
the detachment Of the second division.
Russians Shelled WiJu.
During these movements on the
islands the Russians opened fire on
the japanese with eight 9Is-centlmetre
guns from a hill behind Chiu Tien
Cheng and two Hotchkiss guns, which
were mounted on the bank Of the river
at Kosan. where the Russians seemed
10 have established their headquarters.
one battery OF japanese artillery,
which had taken a position on a hill
60 the east of Win. fired three vol
leys NJ Kosan. and at noon Of Tues
day the Russian batteries behind Chiu
Tien Cheng shelled Win. wounding
oro japanese soldier with shrapnel.
On Wednesday the Russians resumed
the bombardment of VIII firing at in
tervals throughout the day.
The Russians resumed their bonn
bardment on Thursday, but 1t was
generally ineffective. Subsequently
General KuroN ordered two companies
Of the imperial guards to cross the
Yalu and make a reconnaissance along
the left bank OF the Tho, for the pur-
pose OF discovering the character OF
the Russian Notifications along the
heights on the right bank OF the river.
The japanese force advanced toward
Kosan and then dispatched a small
detachment to the village, where a
party Of Russians was encountered. In
the engagement which followed five
Russians were killed. The Russians
shelled the accommodating party from
an emplacement in the hills in the
southeast part of Yoshoko This fire
was without effect
The Russian artillery on the hill be
hind Chiu Tien Cheng, firing at high
angle opened on Win. the Island Of
Kurito and Sekodo. to the south Of
Win, where some Japanese batteries
had taken position. This firing con.
tinued into Thursday night, and Gen
eral Kuroh reports that while II was
ineffective, Il disturbed his prepare
lions for an attack. The Russians re-
sumed the Smelling of Wiiu on Friday.
but the Japanese guns did not reply.
Japs Force Way Across River.
The 18th division Of the Japanese
army was chosen TO make the first
crossing OF the Yalu. IL began its
preparations on Friday by driving the
Russians from their position on the
bank of the river opposite Suikochin,
which is eight miles above Wiju. and
the point selected for the crossing.
This division constructed a pontoon
bridge over the river, and at 3 o'clock
Saturday morning It began crossing
The entire division passed over the
river during the day. and by 8 o'clock
Saturday evening 1t was in the posi-
ton assigned TO 1t for the battle OF
Sunday.
The movement of the 18th Japanese
division was covered by the second
regiment of field artillery and another
artillery regiment Of heavy guns
An Artillery Duel.
At 90 minutes to IL O'Clock Saturday
morning the Russian artillery posted
on the north and to the east OF Gnu
Tien Cheng began Smelling the patrols
of Japanese infantry which had been
dispatched from Kinteito island to
Chukodai. another island north OF Kin
telto and under Chiu Tien Cheng. The
japanese batteries replied to this
Smelling and sllenced the Russian fire
Later eight Russian guns posted on
hill TO the east OF Nakao. village
opened up on the imperial guards. To
this Smelling the Japanese artillery tc
the east Of Win responded and the
Russians ceased firing. Then both the
Chlu Tien Cheng and the MakaO bat !
teries reOpened, and this flre brought
a vigorous response from the chain OF
Japanese batteries on the Korean side
of the river. The Russian guns fired
for two hours before they were
silenced. In his report General Kuroh |
expresses the belief that his Smelling
was very effective against the Rus
SLAMS.
The Japanese losses in the lombard
ments OF Saturday were two men killed
and FIVE officers and % men wounded.
A fotllla Of gunboats from the squad
ron OF Admiral Hosoya participated In
the fighting OF Saturday. II encoun-
tered a mixed force OF Russian infan-
try. cavalry and artillery on the Man
churian bank of the Yalu below An
tung. and after sharp fight scattered
than tn tho hiile
A. B. Bolts & co.