Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1904-06-02
STORY OF A DESPERATE BATTLE
Japanese Victory at Nanshan Hill
Costs HEAVILY

SSSsS
Toxic, May 3O.-The details of the
fighting at Kin Chou emphasizes the
heroic tenacity of the Japanese in
their conduct at Nanshan hill. Nine
successive times the Japanese charged
the fortified heights in the face Of a
storm of death-dealing missiles, and
in their last effort they carried the
forts and trenches only after a bay
onet-to-bayonet conflict with the Rus
SLAMS, who made a desperate despair
ing struggle to beat back the on-com-
ing hordes.
The final assault of the Japanese,
in which they at last succeeded in
taking possession, was marked by the
most desperate hand-to-hand encount-
er that has thus far characterized the
war. The Japanese left throughout
the entire action, until night, was ex.
posed to an enilading fire from the
Russian infantry, gunboat on Talien-
wan bay and four guns posted at Ia
fengchen. At critical moment, the
ammunition of the artillery ran low,
and it was decided to cast the remain
ing ammunition into one final desper-
ate assault. Fortunately, however,
at the moment this decision was
reached the Japanese squadron in Kin
Chou bay, which had ceased lombard
ing when the infantry had first moved
forward, suddenly resumed the she'll
ing of Nanshan hill. Then it was that
| the issues of the day were determined
at moment when the outcome was
| futterin3 between success and defeat
| for Japan-that moment was almost
certain repulse converted into victory
SO successful that the forces of the
car were swept into confusion and
disorderly retreat. With every Japa-
nese gun centering its fire upon the
Nanshan forts and trenches the Japa-
nese infantry sprang over the bodies
of the dead comrades who had sacri-
feed their lives in the previous fruit
less charges. The entire line rushed
forward toward the Russian left,
where the fire Of the Japanese squad
ron had proved most deadly and
which was the first to weaken under
the death dealing bombardment. And
it was there that the first breach was
made in the human stone wall that
all day had been an invincible barrier
to the impetuous assaults of the brown
men. 1t was the Fourth division Of
the Osaka men that stormed the Rus
sian left. 1t had once been said that
Osaka men were not brave. It will
never be said again.
The First division of Toxic, which
had the center, and the Third division
OF Nagoya, occupying the left, and
which had been exposed all day to the
Russian fire against the front flank,
now followed the example Of the
Osaka men and rushed forward and
the battle became transformed from
an artillery duel into one of personal
conflict, with the bayonet as the in
strument of warfare. On every par
apet the resistless. death--defying
Japanese surged forward in increas-
Ing numbers, and hustling the Rus
slams from their entertainments, swept
over the hill. At 1880 p. m. the flag
of the land of the rising sun foated
above the blood sodden Nanshan hill.
The Japanese paid for their victory
in $500 killed and wounded. To the
Russians the humiliation of defeat
was intensified by the loss of sixty
eight cannon and ten machine guns,
while lying dead in the forts and
| trenches were 500 men, the victims of
| the accuracy of Japanese long dis
lance craftsmanship and Of close
range fighting.
The beaten forces, badly shattered
retreated toward Port Arthur, eXplod-
ing the Tafengchen magazines as they
receded. A detachment of japanese
infantry pursued the retreating Rus.
slams far into the night General
Oku estimates that the force of the
enemy consisted of one line division
two batteries of field artillery, some
fortress artillery and marines. Be,
side the big guns, miscellaneous as
sortment of Russian property was
captured. The Japanese captured a
number of officers and men.
Ingraham Follows Arthur.