Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-08-06
NIGHT FIGHTING
TEST OF SOLDIERS
japanese Stood 1t Most Splendidly
in the Attack on Mo Tien
Pass.
TROOPS CONDUCT ADMIRABLE.
Their Treatment of Russian Wounded
Very llumauc--Heroism Of
japanese Officer,


Mo Tlen Pass, Manchuria, July (via
San Francisco Aug. 6.)--Correspondenee
OF tho Associated Press, --"Night Tight
ing ia the test OF soldiers" remarked
one Of the foreign attaches when he via-
tied tho scene OF yesterdays bloody ar
fair, "and the Japanese certainly have
proven their quality this time"
Probably no incident Of the war has
placed the japanese soldiers in a more
trying situation than the night attack
al Mo Tien pass and nowhere have
they gained more complete victory
against great Disadvantages. None or
the correspondents with the army here
tofore have been permitted to wit
ness fighting at closer range than their
view of the crossing of the Yalu from
n safe and comfortable eminence on the
walls Of Win When correspondents or
military attaches have attempted 10 get
10 tho actual scene OF events their UNI
failingly courteous guardians always
have rebuffed them with the eXplana-
ton that II IL very dangerous that
they are guests OF the Japanese gov
eminent and the government Is re-
SpOnSlDle lnI lilti n"lN'''
TREATMENT OF WOUNDED.
on this occasion. however, the corre-
snondent OF the Associated Press was
able TO see the conduct Of the soldiers
on the field and their treatment OF
wounded and captured enemies In the
heat OF the fighting.
Whatever reasons OF military policy
NAV render secrecy desirable, there GER
talnly Is nothing In the actions OF lts
soldiers that need make the japanese
government keep spectators to the rear.
The treatment OF the Russian VlCums
Of the lncompetency OF their oiheers
was all that the most enlightened ma
zion could expect when the corre-
spondent arrived ut the trench Where
less than q company Of japanese, rush-
ing from their beds without time TO
Dress had STAYED off the Russian on
slauaht. az first with bayonets ana
swords. the Russian dead and wound
cd still Law where they had fallen on
tho wet grassy slope. How fierce the
half hours work there had been was
evidenced by the pools Of blood IN the
ditch and red trails smeared al over
the grass and stones on the hillside
before It,
A HEROIC OFFICER.
In this fighting Lieut., Kono alone
l,iiIcd several Russians, almost severing
their heads with a single stroke of his
sword. when he exhibited the weapon
afterward It's edge looked like saw
blade. IL has since been sharpened TOT
further use. ,,,
Although the fight had begun only
three hours before, the Japanese al
vance was half a mile down the valley
pursulng the Rusisans, the Japanese
dead had been removed to temple pc
hind the crest of the hill and parties OF
soldiers from one OF the companies ~
reserve were going about the hele WIN Nun
trenching spades burying the dead kus-
SLAMS where they lay and marking the
graves with stake or pile OF stones
RUSSIANS IN ACTION
The Russians had gone into action
wearing their heavy overcoats ana car
rvlng their bags OF black bread, They
had dropped both on the field. ALREADY
while some details we're burying the
dead and come caring for the wounded,
others had gathered the debris from
the field and piles of coats and canteens
and n hundred rifles with bayonets at
taohed were stacked on the temple
eteps The japanese system IL not only
thorough but quick.
GUARDING PRISONERS.
There was a company Of Japanese
soldiers whose khaki coats were plaek
with mud and sweat gathered at the
trench, quietly discussing events Win
no sign OF excitement Two big Rus
alan prisoners not wounded were rest
lng there with n small Japanese sitting
behind them. The Japanese soldiers OF
the column are heavier men than the
average OF most European armies, but
the Russians In the Tenth and Twenty
fourth East Siberian regiments are larB-
or and the boards, which most OF them
wear after a season OF campaigning,
give them a particularly fierce appear
pnce. The bodies OF three Russians who
had been killed on the parapet OF the
trench were laid In the road behind II
with their snuff-colored great coats
thrown over their faces. Four others
OF the Tenth East Siberian, dressed IN
gray blouses and caps without any reg
mental insignia were on the ground
beside them. one was shot through
both legs. one had been bayoneted in
an arm and the leg, another had bull
lei hole in the abdomen and another
was shot I'm the foot. The man wound
cd In the abdomen was dying, his face
already had the color OF a corpse, and
his breathing was Hlow gasps. A hos
pltal attendant sat near, a blackboard
cd. keen faced young fellow, displaying
n white band with the Rcd Cross on his
arm. HIS satche OF bandages was open
on the ground. He had done what he
could for his comrades and was stolidly
awaiting developments.
WAITING FOR SURGEONS.
Thirty wounded Russians were scat
tered over the ground before the trench.
They had received "hrst aid and were
waiting their turn while the stretcher
men followed the firing line further on.
Groups of Japanese stood about them,
giving some cigarettes and water ana
talking with them in the broken Rus
sian which few know, and the Chinese
phrases which the men OF both armies
pick up from the natives OF the country.
Three days OF steady rain had cut gull
lies and bitches In the hillside, which
furnished some shelter for a charging
force. Many of the wounded had crawl
ed into these places for shelter. over
AZ the right OF the trench the road ran
down the valley and along It's further
side a brook which had worn a bed
among the rocks. Part OF the Russian
battalion advanced up the bed Of the
stream and number we're shot as they
emerged into the roadway. One wound
ed soldier had crawled back 10 the
brook for water and died with his face
In the stream and his canteen beside
his hand, as though he had tried 10 MI
Il. In the road young japanese bent
over massive Slav with an arm I'M
der his head, holding a water bottle 10