The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1904-05-11
STORY Of THE W|JU
BATTLE
Hundreds of Spectators View
ed the Struggle From
Points of Vantage


When the early mists drifted from the
Yalu river this morning the Japanese
infantry was disclosed lined up for
battle on the low, sandy island of
K.nteito. which is in front of .,u.
The walls and towers of the city on
the hill. rising abruptly from the
south bank of the river and the near
est of the three channels. were crowd
ed with Japanese and Corean specta-
tors of the forthcoming attack.
Kinetito Island is hardly anything
more than the dry bed of the river.
1t is a low. sandy plain only few
feet above the level of the water, ard
without shrubery or cover except on
It's southern half.
The infantry lay with stacked arms
across the island. awaiting their
work. The soldiers we.e spread out
in their black lines three miles long.
from a point on the island opposite
the village of Chiu Lien cheng on the
west to a point opposite the extremity
of the Tigers Head on the east. The
division of the imperial guards occu-
pied the center OF the line. another
division was on the west, and third
on the east line.
Four field batteries were behind
the infantry on its extreme fianks,
concealed by the shrubbery.
Two batteries began the action BY
throwing shells to the Manchurian side
OF the river for half an hour. while
the sun was rising. They sprinkled
with shells the embankments whence
the Russians guns had been firing foi
the past week, but no response to
tne!r fire was forthcoming ana !,
looked as If the Russians had re-
moved their batteries during the night.
1t seemed as If the enemy had with
drawn entiieiy as no signs of life
could be seen on their works.
eSoon after O'Clock the Japanese
began to advance. The distance fron
the Corean to the ManchuIian banh
of the Yalu is about two miles. The
Japanese troops spread out in extend
ed formation as they went forward.
When they were lew hund. ed yards
from the Mills on the Mancl,ui IAN siaS
they lnIew themselves prone on tne
ground and began volley.ng.
In tie meantime the Japanese bat
tie. les sea- lcned the hiils with snfapnei.
The kussians now could be seen d.
intervals wne.e Tie road was exposed,
huIrying in small squads along the
miis.- These exposed tastches or the
road MADE fine targets for the Japan
ese gunne.s. A ne.ce hre was concen'
tralea on one open space. half the
sni apnel th.own Dui sting over a small
Il. ca with wonderful precision. There
white smoke at TINS place, and the
observers could see the work OF al.
occasional smell as it dug a great hole
In the eartn and scattered quantities
OF rock.
Still the Russians remained silent.
Thee was no answering fire from them
until the first Japanese line was with
In a few hund. ed ya.ds of the rive.
bank. Ther. sha.p volieys burst al
most simultaneously from severa.
trenches, and the attacking Japanese
found themselves under a heavy and
continuous fire. at easy range, from
covered positions high above them.
They lay behind the sand hillocks, re-
plying bravely and hotly to this fire.
while their own batteries pumped
shells over their heads.
The Japanese officers sat on thei'
horses or walked along their lines.
They were In no way sheltered OF
protected.
A few stretcher bearers coming back
to the field hospital Indicated that
men were being wounded.
The Russian smokeless powder was
excellent. Its use made 1t impossible
for the japanese to d .scover the exac'
positions OF their enemy. or TO estimate
theif numbers
Soon after s o'clock the Russian fire
artillery and infantry attack OF the
Japanse. and parties of the enemys
troops could be seen hurrying up
ward over the mountain roads in re-
treat
Two regiments of Japanese troops,
one directly opposite Wiju. and an
other near village on the west, ran
to the river. stopping to fire now and
then as they progressed. and giving
shrill cheers as they hurled forward
which echoed clearly over the plain.
Their fol lmation was closer than that
kept by British or American troops
and II looked as though their losses
must be great They waued the river.
ran on across the sands and climbed
up the steep. rocky hillsides like
swarm of ants. their red and yellow
cap bands cleaning In the sun. One
japanese soldier. In one OF these regi-