The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1904-05-12
YALU RIVER DISTRICT.
Scene Of Great Land Battle Be-
tween Japan and Russia.
TAIRLY 0PEN o0UETRYl BUF LIZ

Lofty Mountains on the north and
East Make II Most DimcuIt For the
Passage Of an Army-The YaIa II 4
Picturesque stream sonae Thres
Hundred Miles IN Length.
"ForlSed Ways is the name given BIZ
the Chinese 70 the lower Yaiu river.
the scene OF the first important land
battle between the Japanese and Rus.
stan troops Above the Yalu is called
by the Chinese the Tachiang. or Great
river This designates especially the.
stream beyond Win, where The Japa-
nese army had It's headquarters. OPP
posite. just below Win, the river is di-
yided By two islands, one, Samannde.
Of considerable extent, says the New
York Herald.
Behind 1ongampo and up the course
Of tile stream to Win, march Of
about forty miles. and stretching back
about 1--WE miles, is a level plain, which
Is cultivated and occupied by Korean
farmers, Beyond this plain, in d
southeasterly direction, rises a high
ridge. Southeast again, behind this
ridge, rise lofty peaks 1900 to 5000
feet fiji height.
Win or Yiehu, il on a billy promon-
tory at the upper end Of the plain.
beautifully situated and dominated by
cliff about 200 feet high. Many Of
its people live along the Seoul road,
for ages an imperial highway to China.
Toward the sea, on the west, the
land IL fairly Open though billy, while
inland on the north and east, are lofty
mountains, making it most difficult for
the passage Of an army Except Oh
this Wiju-Seoui road wheeled traffic IS
impossible IN northern Korea.
The Japanese iii 1894 crossed the
Yalu few miles above the town of
Wiju and attacked the Chinese army
Ia the rear, overwhelming il notwith-
standing its strongly fortified position
on the low hills Just below Win, On
the Manchurian side 1T Chintlencheng
Nine consecutive forts A few
miles above ehintleueheng the AL riv-
er enters tile Yalu The All is a swift
running stream, navlgable for small
boats i few miles ip its course. The
hills Of Chintiencheng, it has been said,
could be held by few thousand men
against an army This the victorious
progress Of the Japanese has proved b
false conclusion as far as the Rus
slams are concerned. Inland ON the
Chinese side the country is wild and
thinly populated
Between Tatungkau and Chintien-
cheng, thirty miles from the first and
ten miles from the latter, Is Shahitze
sand River Town or Antunghsien-
Peaceful East Magistracy' with 90
600 inhabitants, The town lies very
low ard has been inundated more than
once 1t Ii d characteristic of each
race that the Chinese town sites have
been chosen IN low land. while the
more poetieal Koreans, who appreciate
natural scenic beauty, build on high
ground OF til valleys nestled in hills
Fairly good roads run from Antung
N II El&ee " EA4tt aNtFl1 At&lAA f4t&AAAI4 ~
Takushan and Newchwang (Yinkow).
from Antnng to Fengwangcheng ii
forty miles. The mountain overlook
ing this town (Phoenixl rises quite
abruptly from the low. swelling plain,
Is deep. forbidding gorge winds up
ward into the heart Of the site, In
Fengwangeheng are the remains Of
the Korean forts Of the middle ages.
for here the Koreans made their last
stand before being driven out Of Man
ehuria.
West Of Fengwangeheng the road di-
vides. One section leads to New
chwang over three elevated passes the
highest being the Tatungling. The
distance to Newchwang is $50 miles.
The main road crosses near the Mo-
tienling pass to Liaoyang, 100 miles,
and thence to AIukden. forty miles far
Their Oh. This road Is rather good.
The Yalu river, d picturesque stream
some 500 miles ia length. is the diYid-
ing line between Korea and Manchuria
on the northwest frontier 1t ID nav
igable by native craft as far as Shin
kuihuo but steamers ire unable to
proceed beyond Antung. Some niles
below Antung. but situated in the same
bank aud lying close within the estu-
airy of the river, is the port Of Tatung
kao. where, when the weather permits
cargoes for Antung are sometimes dis
charged. Tatungkao, however, Is diff
cult TO approach. and, as general
rule, steamers unload and receive their
cargoes at Antung, port Of great
promise tn the near future
1 The estuary Of the Yalu river is
broad, but the anchorage Of Tatung
kao is exposed to the northeast winds,
which at times blow with great force.
The stream has rapid current and
owing TO the presence of innumerable
shoals and sand banks. presents seri.
Gus obstacles 10 successful navigation |
Islands, both small and large, appear |
In its course, and high hills, covered |
with bush and timber, break away |
from the banks.
Until lately the region Of the Yaiu /
was almost an unknown land but
with the advent Of the Russians many |
in the character Of the district
have taken place On the Korean I
shnra. lumber eanDs have hean formed /