New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-12
BEFORE PORT ARTHUR.
SERIES OF ASSAULTS.
Operations from Battle of Nanshan
to End of First Phase of Cam pagn.

to End of First Phase of Cam palgn.
rrRox A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT THE rKrBUNE.I
To-Bo-Shin, near Port Arthur, Oct IL
In the first days Of June, shortly after the
battle of Nanshan. the Third Imperial Japa-
uese Army under General Baron Nogi, was es-
tshlshed as separate unit, with headquarters
seven miles northwest OF DaIny; 1t was COM
posed OF the division, which had just arrived
from Japan and the division detached from the
army OF General Oku. At that time the Rus
SLAMS were holding extended line across the
peninsula south Of Dalny; the strength and
composition Of their forces were not accurately
known and the Japanese did not choose to
sumo the offensive at once. Therefore line
south Of Dalny was occupied. extending like
that of the Russians. from north TO south and
held 10 prevent any northward movement by the
enemy; TO the south. from Matsuyama. Lieu
tenant General T. took the left flank. to the
north Lieutenant General NJ. took the right.
There came no serious operations early in June;
one division seized a small inlet to be used as
a torpedo station by the navy, and engaged in
numerous outpost sldrrnishes; another division
remained slightly TO the rear and right Of the
other. thus obtaining the double advantage Of
holding e strong position and securing Dalny
as & base. but the extent Of the line and the
paucity Of the occupying force might have facil-
,tated e Russian attempt 10 pierce this line.
The standpoints Of the opposing armies, how
ever were not the same; General Nogi. even at
that time expected TO rush his forces down the
reninsuls and 10 capture Port Arthur by sheer
weight OF numbers. He awaited the arrival Of
certain achievements. troops at his request al
ready modified, and although he presupposed
g series Of bloody engagements, neither he nor
anv other Japanese strategist doubted the ulti-
4 11T1u~ dali
The Russian army was a beaten army Nogi
argued and indeed Oku had administered
crushing defeat; they would be inferior to his
troops both in numbers and in morale; they
must despair Of relief from Kuropatkin and,
above gil, they must by this time have observed
the folly OF attempting TO Withstand e serious
Japanese assault. On the other hand Stoessel
had formed a different plan-to fight and re-
treat and then 10 fight again. always inficting
severe losses upon the enemy, until the time
for the great final stand should arrive within
the walls Of Port Arthur No plan more in &C
cord with the stubborn spirit Of Russian infan-
try could have been evolved; for each inch
which brought them nearer to the sea increased
the sullen feroc!ty Of their fighting powers
stoessel had called upon the very genius Of the
Russian soldier. and not in vain; they would
fight TO the last like cornered rats. For in de-
feat the Russian Is more dangerous than in
victory.
Nv the middle Of June the composition OF the
Russian army was determined To the north
lay the 4th Division, under Lieutenant General
FocErnost popular Of Russian generals-con-
sistirg OF the 13th 14th, 18th and 18th regiments
CT East Siberian Infantry; to the south lay the
tn Division, under Major General Kondratenko.
consisting Of the 25th, 26th. 9th and 18th regi-
rnents Of East Siberian Infantry. and in reserve
stoessel had placed the 9th Regiment OF Siberian
eharpshooters. which had suffered so severely at
Nanshan that only 500 men were left. At Port
Arthur there were two battalions OF fortress in
fautrv. two souadrons Of cavalry and three depot
battaIions These depot battalions were re-
cruited from q sort Of civil militia-nliddle aged
Siberian settlers, who had been engaged to act
as city garrison; but through the depletion OF
the regular regiments they had been absorbed
into the ranks il the fighting ine and their
places taken by e force which consisted OF all
civilians able to bear arms. There was also sup
posed TO be e band Of gentlemen OF fortune
known as the Foreign Volunteers, whose duties
remained underlined.
There Is q mountain called Kinshan or Fling
shan by the Chinese. Kensan by the japanese
almost directly in the centre Of the peninsula.
about twelve miles from Dalny. and another
mountain to the southwark called Waitoshan,
clearly seen IN either direction. These noun
tains are precipitous peaks among the irregular
ranges OF the Liao-Tong Peninsula, uneQualled
as points OF observation for a force advancing
either 10 Port Arthur or TO DaIny. The noun
tain chains from which the peaks Of Kinshan
and Waitoshan rise are a mass OF tumbled
hills, without any general direction. Between
them runs an interlacement Of narrow valleys.
watered by little brooks-en IDEAL spot for guer-
fla warfare, but not for the movement Of great
armies. Few troops indeed. could be brought
into action against these fortified cliffs, but
fewer still could be posted to hold them.
Now, upon Waltoshan and Kinshan the Jap
enese could discern Russian officers of the
staff carefully noting the arrival Of troops
and supplies at Dalny. and this was sufficient
reason TO warrant an attack. Upon June %. be-
fore dawn. there a strong general advance
OF the entire army, without reconnaissance; one
division, after an inconsiderable series Of out
post skirmishes. sent forward a small detach-
ment against Waitoshan, and the Russians
abandoned II at o'clock. Waitoshan was found
70 be merely an observation post.
But the main line OF Russian defence was es-
tablished upon Kinshan. and Kinshan was that
type OF fortified precipice favored by the Rus
SLAMS for defensive purposes; II exceedingly
steep, almost inaccessible, and wasp's nest Of
machine guns. The left flank Of one division