Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1904-08-17
MOLTEN PASS FIGHT.
WHITE COATED RUSSIANS
MADE CONSPICUOUS TARGET
DETAILS OF STRUGGLE IN FOG
RUSSIANS FOUGHT IN CLOSE
ORDER AND slAuoH-
TERED.

SLAMS In their second unsuccessful at
tempt to retake Molten Pass early OF
the morning of July II, were repulseC
and forced back to their original posi-
tions after five hours OF severe fight
ing. They suffered heavy losses as
compared with the japanese casual
ties. Three regiments were engaged
on the Russian side. They were the
Ninth and Twenty fourth East Sibe
rian regiments, which failed TO distin
guish themselves In the previous at
tacks, and the Thirty-fourth regulars
of the Ninth Division. Opposed To
them were one Japanese regiment and
one battery. The European regulars
who for the first time met General Ku
roki's soldiers. proved in no wise SIT
perlor to the Siberian contingents OF
the Russian army.
The Russians took advantage of tho
heavy fog which envelopod the noun
tains. They began to advance at
o'clock In the morning and at :
o'clock they opened fire, when the
mist was so dense that II was impos.
sible for the japanese to see them
more than loo feet away. Major Gen.
eral Akazaki learned of the Russians
purpose to renew the attack on the
pass and also when they prepared to
leave their camps, but the heavy fog
prevented the Japanese gaining inior.
nation as to the Russian positions.
The japanese were badly Handicapped
until ? o'clock, when the fog cleared
away somewhat.
The attack began on the ledge be
low the mouth of the pass, where the
engagement of July occurred, and
the everest fighting was against the
Russians, who had gained the temple
and the road behind the trenches
there.
Begins with Bayonet Charge.
The Japanese outpost companies
were forced from these trenches after
bayonet fighting to the summit of the
line of hills forming the highest ridge
OF the range where is the entrance TO
the pass. This range is half mile
behind the trenches. Half way be.
tween the trenches and the ridge and
about parallel to them runs the road
upon which is located the temple. The
liercest fighting was focused about
this temple, which the Russians held
for three hours. In spite OF rain Of
bullets from the opposite ridge.
The Russian dead and wounded
were thick about the temple. Five
dead men had fallen in the road on
their faces. Their rifles were under
them. They had been killed just as
they appeared over the crest of the
hill.
One Russian battery fired upon the
Japanese Tor two hours and to this
FIRE japanese battery on the ridge
replied.
When the sun dispelled the fog at
about 3 o'clock, the japanese made
quick work of the affair. At this hour
the Russian line extended across the
valley and along the sides of the hills
on either side OF the valley, while the
Japanese occupied the ridge from
which the pass dcbouches and the hill.
sides on the Russian TANKS.
The Russians made u hurried but
fairly orderly retreat down the, valley.
They left behind them, however. many
dead and wounded men. a number OF
rifles, drums, great coats and trench.
ing tools. a Russian battery took up a
position in the valley and fred few
rounds to cover the retreat. and infan.
trymen We're brought up In good order
by their officers to the support of the
guns.
Brown Men Outright White.
The white coats worn by the Rus.
sian officers made them conspicuous
targets for the japanese. The Rus.
sian firing was altogether In volleys
while the japanese fired at Will. The
Russian troops kept In close lorna
ton, while the Japanese soldiers de
ployed In extended order.
1t was plain that the japanese sol
diers were possessed of much greater
initiative and dash than the Russians
The engagement was fair test of the
capacities of the two forces, and the
net result Of II was that one japanese
regiment, only three battalions OF
which We're on the firing line, defeated
three Russian regiments in spite of the
fact that another Russian regiment
was held in reserve. The Russians
employed their artillery much more
than the Japanese did theirs.
1t is impossible to estimate the loss
es at this hour, Desultory firing con
tinues as the Russians retreat, ant
dead and wounded men are beinl
brought in by the hospital corps. Tn,
japanese believe that their casualtie.
number about 200 The Russian casu
allies are undoubtedly much create
than In the former engagement. Rus
sian dead are being buried all over tn,
field, the temporary hospitals are iillet
with wounded, while few unwounde,
Russians who had hidden In the field
are surrendering.
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