The San Francisco call., 1904-10-17


main Japanese force on the hills be-
yond. In the fighting around Hanna
tung a few Japanese prisoners were
taken.
The Russians followed the japanese
across the valley, taking positions IN
the foothills, from which the aruLefy
shelled the Japanese force, Whlle the
infantry advanced through the dehles-
on October 10 the artillery duel con-
tinued, the Russians advancing Slowly.
During the night the Japanese changed
their positions and at daylight en-
fiIaded the Russian trenches, pouring a
terrific shrapnel fire on the infantry
composed of one regiment only rem
nant of which was left.
From this on the Japanese took the
offensive the entire day of the l1th,
throwing shrapnel and ShimOse powder
shells among the infantry and artillery
The Russians held tenaciously to their
positions.
kUROkTS FIANkING MOVEMENT.
Early in the day the japanese COM
menced to work around the Russian
left and succeeded in dropping few
shells on the road and in the villages
where the transport and reserves were
gathered. The japanese had the range
Of the road and village perfectly. They
compelled the men and wagons TO take
to the fields. This shelIing did little
damage, beyond discOncerting the men
and horses.
Additional guns were sent forward
to protect the left, while the batteries
withdrew across the plains to the hills
on the north side. This gave the Jap
anese possession of a high hill on the
south side, from which they shelled
the valley through which the Rus
slams had advanced during the even
ing. The Japanese apparently suf-
fered greatly from the Russian fire.
The morning of the 18th found lit
tie change in the positions Of the two
armies, except that the Japanese had
worked further around to the left.
Probably the greatest artillery fight Of
the battle took place on October IL.
Batteries were placed on every avail
able hill and at the same time regi-
ment after regiment Of infantry was
poured into the plain by both sides.
only to be thrown back shattered and
torn.
1t is impossible as yet to estimate
the loss of life.
During the night a heavy rainstorm
occurred, in the midst of which the
artillery continued TO boom, and at
one point the Japanese infantry
charged 1t was met by Russian In
fantrymen in the darkness. which was
hghtened only by the flashes OF the
guns, the bursting of shells and the
streaks of lightning. The men fought
hand to hand, the Japanese regiment
finally being driven back.
RUSSIANS RETIRE SLOWLY.
The thunder and rain continued
through the morning of the 18th.
Notwithstanding this, the guns opened
fire promptly at daylight The Rus
slams fought stubbornly, but retired
slowly. The Japanese continued To
threaten the Russian left. Toward
evening the Japanese opened with all
their guns on the Russian positions.
the shells dropping like hail in the
field and on the hills.
The morning of the 18th found the
Russians with their backs to the
Shakhe River. across which the trans
port had been withdrawn during the
night. Fighting continued from these
positions all during the day of the 14th
while the Russian reinforcements took
up positions on the hills TO the north
OF the river.
Another thunderstorm broke shortly
after noon. flooding the streams and
turning the roads into seas and by
evening the main Russian force had
withdrawn across the Shakhe River
Japanese shells were dropping within
a short distance of the river on the
left.
The fghting recommended at daylight
to-day. The thunder of guns is dis
tinctly heard in Mukden. The whole
Russian army is slowly retiring and
fighting every inch of the way. When
the writer came north to-day there
appeared no danger of any part of
the Russian army being cut off
In an informal talk which the writer
had with General KurOpatkin in tn
tield just before the battle commenced.
he spoke in glowing terms OF the brav-
cry of the japanese, saying that they
were a gallant foe. and also that they
were most correct in the observance OF
the rules Of war. In this respect he
said, it was the most pleasant war n
had ever been engaged in.