New-York tribune., 1904-10-18
B4TTLE FOR THE PASSES
Russians Forced to Retire after Bit
ter Struggles ON Heights.


umn on the Left. Oct. II (by courier. via Mouk-
den. Oct. 10-On October 10 when the Russian
advance guard appeared before Saitchoun Pass
its eastern detachment occupied corresponding
position before Tumin Pass. In the night the
Russian signal corps intercepted a fiashlight
message, showing that the Japanese artillery
vas to shell several Russian positions where
batteries were posted at dawn. The Russian
batteries therefore shifted their positions during
the night, and in the morning the Japanese
furiousy bombarded the empty ground
The Russian fighting line consisted Of four
regiments OF the East Siberian Rifles on the
right flank. and the Sd 33d and 34th on the left
The right was supported by two batteries of
the Eighteenth East Siberian Brigade and one
Of the Ninth East Siberian Brigade One bat
terry occupied the centre, and three moro were
on the left
The fight began at $50 o'clock on the morning
OF October II. The batteries on the right flank
opened on three japanese batteries placed to the
right OF the pass. Saitchoun Pass is a double
pass, the main defie being to the LETT. over
topped by high rocky mountains while to the
right are rocky ridges. General GerngrCss's
corps was assigned to capture the passes by
frontal attack. and the remalnd,r of the Rus
sian troops were to turn the japanese position
and take them on the flank and rear. The Rus
its chief OF division, while General Kondrato-
witch. who continually with the troops at
the front. commanded the left.
The first assault set for noon and the
Russian batteries pounded the japanese posi-
tion. searching out their guns. Wherever pos
sible the Russian artillery was rapidly followed
up by the infantry advance. the cannon fire be-
ing concentrated first on one and then on an
other of the eminences. which were scanned with
japanese trenches from base TO summit. The
roar and crash Of artillery and the rattle OF
vo!ley firing were deafening. The japanese de-
fence was desperate. Their positions we're so
steep that the attacking Russians could make
10 progress in the face OF a murderous fire
Whole advance companies lay down. hugging the
ground TIL evening and repulsing salIies by the
japanese from their trenches
At night an order came TO renew the attack
General Kondratovtch led his advance 10 the
front. ard again the Russians began TO scale the
rugged heights. The 33d and saith regiments
tel! under a withering fire. The men were
scarcely able TO breathe as they clambered up
the steep slopes but they hung to the rocks and
returned the fire that was poured down on them
Then they scrambled forward again. The 34th
Regiment. commanded b. Colonel Monskheofr
first reached the trenches. going with the bay
onet at the Japanese, who fought like demons
with dubbed guns. swords. bayonets and re-
volvers Il was an indescribable combat
The Russian reserves ordered up to
support the gallant oath. and. aided by the 36th
Regiment and parts of three other regiments
the Russians carried two lines of trenches. after
which the men lay down. dead tired, in the
Japanese shelters till dawn. Then it was dis
covered that while the attacking force was
about on level with the passes themselves
they were only halfway up the heights which
these circumstances the Russians were forced
to withdraw
While this attack going on the Russian
right also carried several heights held by the
Japanese after a fierce resistance. The Japan
ase then assumed the offensive, rushing forward
in great wave, but failed to dislodge the Rus
SLAMS from the position they had gained.
On the morning of October IL the Russian
batteries again signalled the beginning OF an.
other days fighting. One battery silenced some
japanese mountain guns. and then another Jap
anese battery opened on the Russians but a
concentrated fire smothered that battery also.
Then the Russian infantry advanced to the at
tack and the fight became general.
The left was heavily engaged. TumIn Pass
was turned by detachments Of the Sd, ;}3d and
ID Regiments. More Japanese batteries ap-
peared on the heights One OF these particu-
larly annoying was located by Captain Mi
chaels, whose guns, getting the range. literally
blew 1t to pieces. From the Russian positions
logs which formed the protective works for the
japanese guns could be seen to be thrown high
In the air by exploding shells
The whole day passed without making much
headway, and the Russian troops were again
forced to seek the shelter OF the rocky slopes.
there to wait until nightfaIl. when a fresh as
sault planned.
The order came to advance at midnight but the
Japanese themselves attacked at 10 o'clock They
fought stubbornly. but driven back The
Russians followed up the advantage and occu-
pied the pass. Meantime in the darkness the
Russians got nearly all the commanding heights
including two conical hills beside the pass hut
there was still one height at the left of the pass
which had not been taken. and at dawn the
Russians were again forced 10 retire, as the
Japanese batteries commanded the ground the
Russians had so hardly won
The next day the Russians again advanced
assaulting the main pass. General Gerngross
remained on the field during all the hot lighting.
never leaving his men moment.
During the day the Fourth Corps was forced
to draw back. but at night reOccupied its earlier
positions. During the night fighting OF Thurs
day Lieutenant Colonel Pecouta was thrice shot
and finally died hghting in the Japanese trenches
Lieutenant Colonel Agafof and Staff CAPTAIN
Udinsky are among the wounded. The 34th