Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-11-04
RAIN OF SHELL.
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tho hills were captured. The Russians
left hundreds dead on their abandoned
Dositions. The japanese casualties
were l4GO. Though the Japanese were
unable to permanently occupy the cap
,ured hills they robbed the Russians or
invaluable observation points. This en-
abled the investing line to be drawn
from the eastern fortified ridges.
Attention was then turned to the
Russian left flank. Two japanese bril-
gades were ordered to advance. lhey
started in the night and reached the
Russian entanglements under nea'y
fire. The position was captured at
o'clock on the morning Of August H.
Russian cOunter-2ttack being repulseo'
heavy japanese bombardment Oh the
Russian advance works finally COM
PEELED the fire to slacken. night at
tack was made on the Russian advance
works. The Japanese reached the out
or entanglements. but were repuiseo.
II was announced at the Japanese
headouarters on the 18th that the siege
1ung would be- in position ana ready 10
heetn a bombardment on the 20th. Inc
Headquarters On the 18th were at the
village OF Swangtaikow, close to the
railroad and 13 miles north OF Port Ar
thur.
The Associated Press correspondent
unon his arrival there was welcomed
Nv Gen. Eogi, who said he was just In
zine IN see the conclusion Of a success
fuI campaign and the capture of Port
Arthur.
The correspondent went to the front
and ca the
positions from the highest peak OF
Feng Hoang mountain, at a range OF
five miles west of the railroad.
1t was evident that general attack
had been planned. The railroad TO for'
Dalny was taxed to its capacity III
bringing troops. siege guns. anmuhi-
tion and supplies to the front ana the
roads were crowded with marching
,roops and transport. Great ACTIVITY
prevailed everywhere in japanese me.
good view Of the positions could
no obtained on the right front. OF Port
Arthur. Graded among the hills. only
the outskirts were visible.
In the foreground and further west
were the Chair hills. Sweeping arouhu
further to the right was peak on peak
OF n lofty range OF hills extending from
Port Arthur to the shores OF Louisa
bay The hills were crowned with ad-
vance forts On a ridge OF Rihluhe
mountain were two forts. the first a
strong redoubt: in the valley were
three forts; on Keekwan mountain
there were three forts; on NakoJln ana
Jiaoti mountains there were two fortS.
Resides these there was the Panlung
fart IN the direction Of the advance
fort. and other forts on neighboring
hills. West OF SungchOw. guarding the
western confines Of the city, were the
Tai Yangkow group of forts. with four
pew and powerful forts on the foot
hills of the LiaOti mountains.
The Russian advance line OF 1orts
WAS i'm the form of "A Semiclrcle from
the east coast. near Taku mountain
along the base OF the Eastern Tortured
ridges. across the apex of the Shuishi
valley where there We're strong re-
doubts protected by trenches. Ih"h.
I'm n northwesterly direction. skirtins
the advance forts, on further rluse
near the coast was Golden Hill ana
other seward forts.
In a valley between the two ridges
los Port Arthur. Filling the narrow
apex of Shiu valley stood Payuisean
fort upon a hill which shuts out
Wow OF the city. The fort belt west
OF the city starts from Port Arthur with
the powerful Sungchow forts running
in a northwesteriy direction to the
Chair hill group and beyond were the
western fortified ridges and the sea
coast south OF Louisa bay.
The left flank Of the japanese POSI-
ton rested on the coast near IaKu
mountain. II extended in the form OF
a semIcircle on the north side OF the
Shuishf valley over a:crest of hills. The
right flank was at Louisa bay. The
siege train and complete batteries oc-
cupied masked positions among the
hills in semi circles on the right and
left TANKS The reserve infantry was
massed on the foot hills on the Iur-
Their side Of the Fen Cnoang range OF
mountains. Along the front OF the
Japanese base was a large system OF
well constructed trenches from coast
to coast, manned by infantry. while the
main bodies Of the japanese troops
were concealed behind spurs and pass
VS throughout Nic II was MAJ
velous how the Japanese army was
concealed from view even from the
center OF the japanese position.
The transport and ammunition COZ
umns worked from their base at the
village Of Tangchanglingzu. six miles
In the rear OF the railroad.
The wet weather fermented the rice
and produced much beri-beri among
the Japanese troops. The number OF
cases from June to September was
nearly 10000. During the colder wealth
er Of October there were practically nc
cases Of beri-beri.
During the morning of the 10th. thu
siege guns opened desultory fire to fine
the ranges and an entire division of in
fantry advanced and assaulted the Rus
sian redoubts at the foot Of RihlunG
mountain. The troops captured the
trenches in front Of the redoubts. The op
erations began in earnest at daybrcak OF
the 10th with a bombardment of the Who'll,
line CT Russian forts. Battery after bat
terry Of japanese artillery was unnaSked
the Russians apparently being unable t.
locate them. for they replied spasmodi
Cally.
Under cover Of the bombardment the
Japanese infantry made determined gen
eral advance against the Russians frs
frenchaS along the railroad in fhsa con