Gilpin observer., 1904-05-05
FIRST BIG LAND BATTLE IS
WON BY JAPANESE TROOPS

ing continued to Thursday night and
was ineffective, 1t disturbed his prep
arations for an attack. The Russians
resumed the shelling Of Wiju on Fri
day, but the Japanese guns did not re-
ply.
The Twelfth division of the Japa-
nese army was chosen to make the
first crossing of the Yalu. 1t began its
preparations on Friday by driving the
Russians from their position on the
bank Of the river opposite Suikochin.
which Is eight miles above Wiju and
the point selected for the crossing.
This division constructed a pcntoon
bridge over the river and at o'clock
Saturday morning it began crossing.
The entire division passed over the riv-
er during the day and by 6 o'clock Sat-
urday evening it was in the position as
signed to it for the battle of Sunday.
The movement of the Twelfth Jap
anese division was covered by the Sec
ond regiment of field artillery and an
other artillery regiment of heavy guns.
At twenty minutes to IL O'Clock Sat-
urday morning the Russian artillery
posted to the north and to the east OF
Chiu Tien Cheng began shelling the
been dispatched from Kinteito island
to Chukodai, another island north OF
Kinteito and under Chiu Tien Cheng.
The Japanese batteries replied to this
shelling and silenced the Russian fire.
Later eight Russian guns posted on a
hill to the east of the village Of Makao
opened on the imperial guards. To this
shelling the Japanese artillery to the
east of Wiju responded and the Rus
slams ceased firing.
Then both the Chiu Tien Cheng and
the Makao batteries reopened and this
fire brought vigorous response from
the chain of Japanese batteries on the
Korean side of the river. The Russian
guns fired for two hours before they
were silenced In his report General
Kuroki expresses the belief that his
shelling was very effective against the
Russians.
The Japanese losses in the lombard
ments of Saturday were two men killed
and five officers and twenty two men
wounded. A flotilla of gunboats from
the squadron OF Admiral Hosoya par
titicipated in the fighting of Sunday. 1t
consisted of a mixed force of Russian
cavalry and artillery on the Manchu-
ran bank of the Yalu below Antung.
and after sharp fight scattered them
to the hills.
A bridge across the main stream OF
the Yalu just above Wiju was complet-
ed at 8 o'clock Saturday night and the
Second Japanese division and the i'm
perial guards Immediately began cross
ing. They advanced and occupied the
hills back of Kosan, facing the Russian
position on the right bank of the river.
All through Saturday night regiment
after regiment of Japanese soldierA
poured across the bridge and at late
hour Saturday night General Kuroki
Itelegraphed to the general army stan
OF the army:
'I will attack the enemy on May ist
at dawn"
True to his promises, General Kurolii
at daylight to-day centered his artil-
lery on the Russian position between
Chiu Tien Cheng and Yoshoko. To this
fire the Russians made reply with all
their batteries.
At o'clock in the morning the Rus
sian battery at Koshoko was silenced
and half an hour later General Kuroki
ordered his entire line, stretching for
four miles, to the attack. The Japanese
infantry, on the word of command.
charged across the Tho, wading that
stream breast deep. and began storm
ing the heights at fifteen minutes
past s.
By 9 o'clock they had swept the Rus
sian line back across the plateau.
The reports of this fighting which
have been received here do not indicate
whether the Russians retired down the
river or in the direction of Feng Huan
Cheng, on the road to Lao Yang.