The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-30

IStaIlOn6Q themselves on the n1SHeS
point, the center one, which they nat
an uninterrupted view of the surround
ing country. The general had placed
batteries on the plain behind thest
/ by lofty Chinese corn. The Japanese
tried vainly the whole day to locate
| them and the Russian losses therefore
were slight. The men suffered more
from the scorching heat of the sun thar
| from the Japanese projectiles-
1t was essentially an artillery bat
| tie, but 1t was remarkable and ever
uncanny that during Is hours it LASTED
| the Russians could not make out a sin
gle Japanese soldier even w>sh the
most powerful glasses. From the posi-
| lions occupied by General Zaroubaieff s
| troops not a single rifle shot was fired
but the gunners on both sides worked
1 like madmen. The air split and torn
| by the deafening and crashing reports
of the guns. the dull booming of the
distant shots furnishing a background
of deep base for the vicious kissing of
the hurrying messengers OF death. Elk
ploding Shrapnel shells formed clouds
overhead into which were thrown 1oun-
tainS of dust and sand when the shells
burst on the ground, upon impact,
Showering bullets and splinterS around.
The Japanese fire was at first concern
trated upon the eastward hill, held by
a small force of Russians and by II
clock this part of the position was
literally afiame, enough to try the cour-
age of the bravest soldier When TINS
had lasted four or five hours one after
another of the Russian positions be-
came untenable.
In the meantime the gunners serving
the Russian batteries behind the hills
redoubled their energies and the Jap
aneSe were evidently nOnpluSSed by the
fierceness of the fire from the unlo-
catable batteries. They even directed
their attention to the Russian right,
Showering prOjectileS on a small hill
which was quite unoccupied. Then the
Ia Rus
sian center, but not a single man was
withdrawn therefrom. The fire from
the Japanese diminished about hve
o'clock and ceased altogether half an
hour later whereas the Russian bat
teries continued to fire When the Jap
aneSe gunners reopened the artillery
duel later they had changed their posi-
ton to the westward, whence they OBJ
tanned an uninterrupted range of the
plain behind the Russian position and
their projectileS began falling danger
ously near the Russian batteries. Two
Chinese villages in the vicinity suffered
terribly. The whole plain was plough
ed and pitted by the explosion of the
shells.
With the approach of evening the
Russians had a little relief from the
heat but none from the japanese, the
only difference being that the flashes OF
the Japanese guns were distingu1shaoie
on the slopes of hte hills facing the
Russians, revealing their exact position
by the red sparks of each lannon's
mouth against the sonbre shadow, fol-
lowed by the bursting of shells over the
Russians.
The wild beauty of the scene had now
reached its zenith. The bombardment
slowly diminished in intensity and half
an hour later profound silence re1gned.
broken only now and then by the rat
tie of infantry, volleyS from the distant
portions of the field where the battle
was still dragging on.
Upon reaching Sinmintin the same
evening the correspondent found that
the place had already been abandoned
by the Russian troops, though he was
for a time under the impression that
they had merely gone out to take up
positions at the front.
In fact he was convinced that the
fight must have been Russian victory
since over the great extent of field
which had come under his observation
for IS hours the japanese at no point
seemed able to advance. Therefore
great was his surprise on Monday
when he awoke to find the
Russian army retreatinS. Jumping INTO
the saddle the correspondent rode out
of the village and encountered large
force of Russian cavalry covering an
infantry regiment which was moving
toward Ia Tche KiaO. On reaching
that town the correspondent Iouno eV-
erything prepared for it's evacuation
The last train left Ia Tche kiao at
about IL o'clock at which time the Jap
anese were already bombarding the
place. Notwithstanding, the FIRE ana
even the rapid approach of the Japa- !
nese the Russian retreat was carried
put in perfect order. although the men
and animals suffered terribly from the
sitting heat
The Russian stores of flour and other
provisions at Ia Tache Kiao were
burned and as the correspondent rode
northward immense columns of black
smoke We're rising along the horizon |
behind him and until he approached
Hal Cheng at 8 O'Clock that night he |
could hear the distant rumbling of the |
Japanese guns.