The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1904-09-16
GREAT ARTILLERY DUEL.
Graphic Description of Battle Of Great
Guns at Lao Yans.

General Kuroki's Headquarters in the
Field, Aug. 80 (via Fusan, Korea). Sept.
a.-The artillery battle which thun-
Tered before Lao Yang today from ear
ly morning until darkness hid foe from
foe was certainly one of the most stu
pendous and spectacular Of history.
The combined armies Of Japan, with
the exception of a part of the force I'M
der General Kuroki, concentrated their
batteries against the Russian dimes I'M
der General K~uropatkin, and several
hundred guns, probably not less than
200 upon each side, were worked in
cessantly for twelve hours. Even after
nightfall, and in the driving storm of
wind and rain that swept over the field
Of battle, the conflict did not cease en-
tirely, for Russian shells are tonight
bursting over the hills before the Jap
anese positions. Not alone the number
of guns in action. but their unceasing
and rapid fire, made the conflict of to-
day remarkable. For several hours
the %cannonading averaged sixty shots
a minute, n the rate seldom fell be-
low twenty shots a minute.
From a high mountain almost over
the nearest Russian batteries the for
eign attaches and newspaper corre-
spondents with General Kuroki's army
had q view of fighting which probably
never will be surpassed. Lao Yang, a
small Chinese walled city, with q gray
SSSNS Nv iiiS I III LII
on the southern bank of the Taitse riv-
er. The observers noted the yellow
roofs of military s%torehouses on tho
outskirts of the city. From the city the
river sweeps in a broad course to the
southeast road and then takes a turn
TO the north. To the northwest Of Lao
Yang there extends a great plain, while
10 the east and south range upon range
are the mountains through which the
japanese armies advanced to the thea
ter of one of the decisive battles OF this
struggle.
Some of the Russian guns wero
aligned in an almost unbroken horse
shoe around the plain to the south n
east OF Lao Yang; others were posted
about five miles from the city; still
other detached batterieo We're facing
the west from a group OF hills on the
extreme Russian right, while another
range of hills behind the city, facing
the east bank of the river. furnished
positions for the Russian batteries pro-
tecting the railroad and the rear of the
army.
The Japanese guns in the mountains
formed az irregular lire twenty miles
or more in length.
The above description roughly out
lines the artillery position of the two
armies and the statement of defense
and attack.
While the landscape viewed from tbs
SiSNlllOil WleEe LIE correspondents
and foreign attaches a taken their
positions appeared to be modelled on
broad lines. in reality, the country is
Irregular, with many hills and ravines
and much rolling plain, all of which
affected the strategic disposition of the
contending forces.
Looking down upon so vast a scene of
operations with SO nan batteries par
%ticipating. it was often impossible to
discern the details of position or what
units were opposed to each other. In
some places the Russian gun appeared
to be arranged IN tiers, two or three
batteries being placed one above the
other.
The whole Russian front was Dor
dered with the twinkling lights, this
being the flashes from the guns. Much
of the artillery was in skillfully COW
cred positions and absolutely smoke
less powder was used.
Clusters Of white smoke broke out
ftfully around the Japanese position in
the mountains and rolled slowly away,
showing that often two or three batter
les upon either side were pitted against
one another.
Honors About Even.
The nearer ridges of the mountains
and the edge of the plain were con-
stantly dotted with sudden flashes of
white smoke from eA loding shells and
the sound that came to the ears Of the
observers vas as a continuous rumble
of thunder, varied by SUGGESTIONS OF
sharp peals as two or three batteries
united and fired together. Throughout
the day the positions of the opposing
forces were but little changed and at
nightfall the honors appeared to be
even.
The Japanese Infantry, which was
massed behind the hills. was often UNI
der severe fire. especially when the
Russians discerncd regiments advanc-
ing from one point to another. There
was some infantry fighting on the hills
bordering the plain.
Bodies of Russian troops could be
seen marching about Lao Yang with
the appearance of great activity. and
one Russian colu mn composed of sew
eral regiments Of cavalry moved out to
the left of the Russian rear as though
to protect the retreat OF the main body.
Trains could be, seen steaming out of.
Lia Yang to the nortliward every hale