New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-10
FALL OF KULIEN-CHENG.
Heights Stormed from Open Under
C0Uer of Guns.

L.
early mist drifted from the Yalu River this
lined up for battle the low. sandy island OF
Kinte.to. which Is In front of With.
The walls and towers OF the city on the hill
rising abruptly from the south bank OF the
river, and the nearest OF the three channels.
were crowded with Japanese and Korean spec
tators OF the Forthcoming attack
Kintcito Island is hardly anything more than
the dry bed OF the river. II IS a low sandy
plain. only few feet above the level OF the
water. and without shrubbery or cover except on
its southern half.
Infantry lay with stacked arms across the
island awaiting their work. The soldiers were
spread out IN their black lines three miles long.
from a point the island opposite the village
Of Kulien-Cheng. on the west to a point oppo-
site the extremity OF the Tigers Head on the
east The division OF the Imperial guards oc-
cupied the centre OF the line. another division
the west. and third the east.
The Tigers Head forms peninsula project
ing into the river almost parallel TO the south
bank The Japanese division which executed
the fanking movement from up stream yester-
day. with almost it's full force present. was
now the sands north.
Four field batteries were behind the Infantry
on it's extreme tanks. concealed by the shrub
berry
GUNS OPEN ON RUSSIAN POSITION
Two batteries began the action by throwing
shells to the Manchurian side of the river for
half hour. while the rising. They
sprinkleG with shells the embankments whence
the Russian guns had been firing for the lasr
week. but no response to their fire was forth
coming ard il looked II the Russians had
removed their batteries in the night. The
enemy had apparently withdrawn entirely. for
no signs Of life could be seen their works.
Soon after O'Clock the Japanese began to
advance The distance from the Corean 20
the Manchurian bank Of the Yalu is about two
miles. The Japanese troops spread out in ex-
tended formation they went forward. When
they were a few hundred yards from the hills
the Manchurian side they " ew themselves
on the ground and began volleying-
In the mean time. the Japanese batteries
searched the hills with shrapnef.
The Russians could now be seen at intervals
where the road exposed. hurrying in small
squads along the hills. These exposed stretches
Of the road made fine targets for the japanese
gunners a fierce fire concentrated on
one open space half the shrapnei thrown burst
ing over a small area with wonderful precision.
There was a perfect shower of pufs OF white
smoke at this place. ard the observers could
see the work of an occasional she'll as il dug
a great hole in the earth and scattered quantt-
ties of rock.
RUSSIAN LINE BREAKS SILENCE.
Still the Russians remained silent. There was
no answering fire from them until the first
Japanese line was within a few hundred yards
OF the river bank Then sharp volleys burst
almost simultaneously from several trenches.
and the japanese found themselves under a
heavy and continuous fire at easy range from
covered positions high above them. They lay
behind the sand hilIocks replying bravely and
holly TO the fire. while their own batteries
pumped shells over their heads.
The Japanese officers sat their horses or
walked along the lines They were in no way
sheltered.
A few stretcher bearers coming back to the
field hospital indicated that men being
wounded.
The Russian smokeless powder was excellent.
It's use made il impossible for the Japanese to
discover the exact positions of the Russians. or
to estimate their numbers.
ABANDONING THE TRENCHES.
soon after 5 O'Clock the Russian fire was
largely silenced by the combined artillery ard
infantry attack of the Japanese. and parties of
the enemy's troops could be hurrying up
ward over the mountain roads in retreat
Two regiments of Japanese troops. one direct
ly opposite wiju and another near village on
the west ran TO the river. stopping to fire now
cheers. which echoed clear over the plain. Their
formation was closer than that kept by British
or American troops and II looked as II their
losses must be great. They waded the river.
ran on across the sands and climbed up the
steep rocky hinsides like swarm of ants.
their red and yellow cap bands cleaning in
the
y Japanese soldier in one of these regiments
carried something white with him. This was
seen and il caused shout to go up that the
Russians had surrendered. but on reaching the
top of the first Russian trench. a hundred
yards up the hillside. this shook out a
Japanese fag and waved It to and fro.
JAPANESE KILLED BY OWN SHELLS.
storming party on the west side OF the add
vance mounted hill commanding the Russian
retreat Just "a the men were punched thckly
on the crest of this hill two Japanese shells
burst among them. They had fallen short
When the smoke had cleared away dozen