The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-03
After Being Censored by the
japanese officials.
CONTINUED FIGHTING.
or Which the World Has Hlth
ertO Heard Little.
A Heavy Price Was Paid for
Every Forward Step.


via Chefoo, Nov. 3.-CensOred-Whe
the Japanese drove the Russians from
their strong position on the last range
of hills in front of the fortress by d
surprise attack July 80, the Russians
retired to the forts, but they also
strongly held previously prepared ad-
vance lines to prevent the japanese
from closing in upon the fortified
ridges. This line of forts was IA miles
long forming a semi-circle from the
east coast to four miles from the west
coast and circling five miles northwest
of Port Arthur The fortress belt pro-
per was II mile Semi-circle from
coast TO coast. The Japanese position
was a mile from the advance Russian
line in the center of range of hills
called Fenghoano mountain. On their
left flank was broken, billy country
east of Taku mountain. Their right
flank was over the crest of range of
hills extending in northwesterly dl-
rection from Port Arthur to Louisa
bay. Between the Ferghoano mountain
and the Russian fortress was the tri-
angular Shuishi valley, two miles wide,
crossed by dry water courses almost
TO the foot of the fortified hills. The
Russian advance linesc passed through
the center of the Shuishi valley.
The fortified ridges on the east and
west of the city were in the approx
mate shape of an obtuse angle, with its
v.
the city were between the east and
west fortified ridges.
Though the advance of the Japan
csc center over the valley was COM
cover afforded by the water courses
and waving crops of Chinese corn,
they were subjected to a concentrated
convergfng fire from the forts on the
east and west ridges. Before the line
of investment was drawn close about
the fortress much closing was neceS-
sary on the part of the Japanese
TANKS. Two mountains, Taku and
Shakhu, close to the eastern extremity
of the fortified ridges and essential
to close investment, were held by
the Russians. From the top of Taku.
a precipitous mountain, six hundred
feet high, the Russians were able to
see the rear of the Japanese lines.
On the right flank were two power
full advance forts. on hills respectively
ia yards and 203 yards high. The
more strong advance works were sit
uated on the lower peaks of the same
range, extending in a nOrthweSterly
direction from the city towards Louisa
bay. These works protected the Rus
sian left flank and prevented the Jap
anese from pushing a force on Port
Arthur through the valley from the
shores of Pigeon bay, as the works
commanded the gap in the Chair hill
forts on the west coast.
The advance works were well con-
structed and more difficult to take than
some of the permanent forts. 1t was
decided to close in the japanese left
Hank, first taking Taku and Shahku
mountains. The former was rugged
Isolated and had precipitous slopes on
It's east and northwest sides. The ad-
vance south was made under the fire
of the east forts of Shakhu mountain.
n division was ordered to take the hills
and on August Z. the bombardment be-
gan in the afternoon. the divisional ar
tillery being assisted by three batteries
OF ~ inch naval guns and four bat
teries of inch howitzers.
The Russians replied with field guns
from Taku mountain and with larger
guns from the east forts. The artillery
on two hills was silenced at in the
evening and the Japanese infantry ad-
Nanced at o'clock in three columns
the right flank keeping in touch with
the left flank of the main line in the
Shuilshi valley.
The advance was made in the form
OF segment of a circle from the east.
Heavy rain stopped all the movements
and early darkness stopped the artil-
lery fire When the infantry closed in
OH Taku mountain. where thew had
previously silenced the Russian guns
the Russians suddenly opened a heavy
rifle fire from the crests of the hills and
compelled the Japanese attacking force
TO build trenches for their protection
from north to east, close to the foot of
the hill slopes.
One Japanese regiment took an es-
sentlal angle on the first ascent of the
south slope During the night a bat
TALON OF reserves was added to the
attacking force on the south slope. Tie
following day rain continued. The
Japanese on the south slope were
shelled in their trenches from the east
forts and We're unable to advance I'M
the slippery slopes.
Russian torpedo gunboats appeared
on the coast near Salt park village and
bombarder a japanese regiment on the
south slope so that it had to retire
The right was finally compelled to re-
tire under the fire of the howitzer bat
teries- Then a general bonn bardmert
commenced and all fire from Taku and
Shahku mountains was stopped Eight
Japanese regiments from the south
east part of Port Arthur and one from
the northwest section, gained a foot
hold on the crest of Taku mountain
and after a desperate hand to hand en-
counter, compelled the Russians to re-
tire westward into their permanent
forts. Our field guns were captured.
The japanese regiments then COM
bined for an attack on Shahku noun
tain. but were repulsed and compelled
TO spend the night in their trenches
at the foot of the hills At in the
the attack was renewed and
the hills We're captured. The Russians
left hundreds of dead in their abandon
ed position. The japanese casualties
We're 1,4O0. Though the Japanese were
unable to permanently occupy the cap
tured hills they robbed thS%tussians of
Invaluable observation points. This en-
abled the investing line TO be drawn
from the coast between the two hills
and the eastern fortified ridges.
Attention was then turned to the
Russian flank.
The japanese brigades were ordered
to advance. They started in the night
a line two miles in length. AT in
the morning a heavy rain greatly i'm
peded their progress, but they reached
the Russian entangIements under
heavy fire. \ quarter inch steel wire
the pioneers to cut the
was captured at o'clock in the
morning OF August II. the Russian