The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-10-18
LULL IN FIGHT.
{ Continued from Page one.)

Continued from Page One.)
BRIGADE and one of the Ninth east ST.
berian brigade. One battery occupied
the center and three more were on the
left
The fight began at $3.50 o'clock on
the morning of October IL. The bat
teries on the right flank opened on
three Japanese batteries situated to
the right of the pass. Saitchoun pass
Is a double pass, the main defile being
to the left, overtopped by high rocky
mountains while to the right are rocky
ridges. Gen. Gerngross' corps was as
signed to capture the passes by frontal
attack and the remainder of the Rus
sian troops were to turn the Japanese
position and take them on the flank
and rear. The Russian right advance
guard was commanded by its chief of
division while General kendratoVltch,
who was continually with the troops
at the front, commanded the left
The first assault was set for noon,
and the Russian batteries pounded the
Japanese position, searching out their
guns.
Wherever possible the Russian ar
tillery was rapidly followed up by the
infantry advance, the cannon fire be-
ing concentrated first on one then on
another of the eminenceS which were
scanned with Japanese trenches from
base to summit.
The roar and crash of artillery and
the rattle of volleys were deafening.
The Japanese defended desperately.
Their positions were so steep that the
attacking Russians could make no pro-
gress in the face of a murderOus fire
from the Japanese. Whole advance
companies lay down, hugging the
ground till evening and repulsing sal
lies by the Japanese from their trench
es-
At night an order came to renew the
attack. Gen. Kendratovitch led his ad-
vance to the front and again the Rus
slams began TO scale the rugged
heights The Thirty-third and Thirty
fourth regiment fell under a whitening
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 for
ward again. The Thirty-fourth regt-
first reached the trenches going with
the bayOnet at the Japanese who
fought like demons, with dubbed guns,
swords, bayonets and reVolverS. 1t was
an indescribable melee. The Russian
reserves were ordered up to support
the gallant Thirty-fourth and aided by
the Thirty-siXth 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 discovered while the attacking
force was about on a level with the
pass themselves they We're only half
way up the heights which were COM
manded by japanese positions In
these circumstances the Russians were
forced to withdraw
While this attack was going on the
Russian right also carried several
heights held by the Japanese after a
fierce resistance. The Japanese then
assumed the offensive, rushing forward
in a great wave, but failing to dislodge
the Russians from the position they
had gained
On the morning of October II the
Russian batteries again Signaled to be
gin another days fight.
One battery silenced some Japanese
anese battery opened on the Russians,
also. Then the Russian infantry adj
Vanced to the attack and the fight be-
came general. The left was heavily en-
gagged. Tuuin pass was turned by de-
tachment of the Third, Thirty-third and
Second regiments. More japanese bat
ferries appeared on the heights. One of
them. particularly annoying, was To-
Gated by Captain Michaelis whose guns
getting the range, literally blew it to
pieces. From the Russian position 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 Roadway and the Russian
troops were again forced to seek the
shelter of the rocky slopes, there to
wait until nightfall, when a fresh as
sault was planned.
The order came to advance at mid
night, but the Japanese themselves at
tackled at 10 o'clock. They fought stub