The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-10-18
Japanese Operations Around the
BeIeagusred Fortress.
Months Required to Advance
But Few Miles.
A DETAILED ACCOUNT.
That Reports Of Losses
Were Exaggerated.
Electrical Mines Said to Have
Done Little Harm.

HEADQUARTERS of the Third Japanese
Army (before Port Arthur, Oct. IL,
via Yinkow, Oct. Is, via Tien Tsin,
Oct. 17.-After the battle of Nanshan
hill, on May 81, the Japanese pursued
the retreating Russians to the south
west Before their retreat they evacu-
ated Dalny. In their retirement the
Russians swept past Dalny to posi-
ton on the heights six miles to the
southeast.
On the right flank along the rail-
way the Japanese drove the Russians
as far as Anshu mountain, eighteen
miles northeast Of Port Arthur, where
they made a stand, their line extend
ling across the peninsula to Socho
mountain on the east coast, ten miles
northeast of Port Arthur. The center
rested on two hills, waito hill, which
| is 100 feet high, and Fling hill, re-
named Ken hill by the Japanese,
which is 1900 feet high The posi-
ton was strong one, but owing 10
the great height of the hills the Rus
slams left many dead on the ground,
the irregular line of the Russians
making the approach OF the japanese
under cover comparatively easy. Inc
Russian force, consisting of remnants
| of the Fifth, Thirteenth, Fourteenth
and Twenty eighth regiments of
sharpshooters, was later increased by
some troops from Port Arthnr' the
| The Japanese occupied the lower
range of hills and held line in front
of the Russians across the peninsula
from Daishe mountain east OF Anslio
mountain, to the west coast
| The distance between the Two
forces was from a mile to a mile and
| a half These relative positions We're
occupied from May % to June 20,
during which period there was no
fighting with the exception OF occa-
| sionaI skirmishes between scouts IN
| the valley which separated the TWO
Dalny was entered by the Japanese
| on May %. Many public and private
buildings there had been destroyed Dy
the Russians previous to the evacua-
| ton and looted by the Chlnese before
the Japanese arrived.
owing to the existence of many
mines in the outskirts of the city ana
in Talien bay, the headquarters OF tne
Kerr bay, on the seacoast, seven miles
northeast of Dalny.
In the reorganization of the SECOND
and Third armies, after the arrival or
General Nogi the first division, which
pursued the Russians after the pattie
| of Nanshan hill, was made part OF the
Third army.
against the Russian position. The ad-
vance was begun by the left wing, and
before daylight the outposts OF tne
Russians were easily driven In w any
lmountain was taken at o'clock, as 1t
was easily outf1anked-
An advance guard, consisting OF one
regiment and one battery of mountain
guns attacked Ken mountain at twelve
| o'clock The position was very dim
! cult one. but up the steep and pain
| less mountai nthe japanese infantry
| went, scaling the heights with uneX-
ampIed bravery under a whitening hre
| from the mountain top. me Rus
slams exploded electrical mines on the
mountain side as the line advanced,
! but these did little damage.
The Russian force, consisting OF Two
battalions of infantry with four RAPID
fire guns and some machine guns
| fought with great determination, but
the Japanese captured the position and
two of the rapid fire guns at o'clock
in the evening.
The casualties were $50 on each
side.
The capture of Ken mountain en-
abled the Japanese to swing to the
| left and to occupy Socho mountain
| and later in the evening, the whole
line of the Russian position.
During the afternoon three cruisers
and four gunboats of the Russian
Port Arthur fleet shelled the Japanese
| left flank from the shore near Shoap-
ingtao. The Japanese fleet arrived and
after a short sea fight the Russian
ships were forced back to the harbor
at Port Arthur.
There is a Japanese story to the