River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-05-05
GREAT VICTORY
FOR JAP ANESE
FORCE CROSSING OF YALU AND
RoUT THE RUSSIANS.
FIVE DAYS OF HARD FIGHTING
Chintiengcheng, Regarded as the Key
to Russian Position, Captured
Japs Lose 700 Killed and
Wounded and Russians 500.

Toxic, May 2.-The Japanese on Sun
day captured Chiutiencheng, ten miles
north of Antung. which is regarded as
the key to the Russian position on the
right bank of the Yalu river. 1t is ex-
pected that the Russians will retreatto
Fenghuancheng which is on the road
to Liaoyang,
Five Days Of Fighting.
Toxic, May 2-After five days of fight
ing, largely with artillery, the first
japanese army under Gen. KurOld, has
forced a crossing of the Yalu river and
on Sunday, with gallant infantry
charge covering a frontage of four miles,
it drove the Russians from Chiutien-
chenS and the heights on the right bank
of the Tho or Aida river, which enters
the Yalu from the north almost opposite
Wiju. The Japanese turned the left
flank Of the Russian position, and in the
battle of Sunday they swept away the
new front interposed by the Russians TO
check their onward movement. The
present position of the Japanese is a
dominating one, and they may force the
abandonment of the defenses erected by
the Russians at Antung and other points
lower down the river.
The Losses.
The Japanese losses on the Yalu Sun
day were about 700 killed and wounded.
The Russians lost over 800 men. The
Japanese captured % quick firing guns,
20 officers and many men
Movement Begain Tuesday.
Gen. Kuroki began the movement on
Tuesday by ordering detachment of the
imperial guards division to seize the
island of Kurito, which is in the Yalu
above Wiju, and a detachment of the
second division to seize the island of
Kineito, which is situated below VIII.
The detachment of the imperial guards
met with some resistance, but it sue
ceeded in clearing the enemy out and
occupied Kurito island. The Russians
abandoned the island Of Kinteito when
attacked by the detachment of the sec
ond division. The actual losses sus-
tanned by the detachment of the imperial
guards is not known, as there is an error
in that part OF. the message received
here referring to the number killed, but
nine of the detachment were severely
and 16 slightly wounded. The detach-
ment of the second division which took
the island of Kinleito sustained no
losses.
Russians lombard Win.
During these movements on the
;o1oo5c 49, pucc;opc onennd fro m tha
Japanese with eight 91a centimeter guns
from a hill behind Chiutiencheng and
two Hotchkiss guns which were mounted
on the bank of the river at Kosan, where
the Russians seemed to have established
their headquarters. One battery OF
Japanese artillery, which hao taken
position on a hill to the east of Wiju,
fired three volleys at Kosan, and at noon
of Tuesday the Russian batteries behind
Chiutiencheng shelled VIII, wounding
one japanese soldier with Shrapnel. On
Wednesday the Russians resumed the
bombardment of VIII, firing at intervals
throughout the day. The japanese ar
tillery did not respond to this fire. The
Russians resumed their bombardment
on Thursday, but it was generally inef-
The Fighting Continues.
Subsequently Gen. Kuroki ordered two
companies of the imperial guards to cross
the Yalu and make reconnaissance
along the left bank of the Tho for the
purpose of discovering the character OF
the Russian Notifications along the
heights on the right bank of the river.
The Japanese force advanced toward
Kosan, and then dispatched small de-
tachment to the village, where party
of Russians was encountered. In the
engagement which followed five Rus
slams were killed. The Russians shelled
the accommodating party from an en-
placement in the hills in the southeast
part of Yoshoko This fire was without
effect The Russians resumed the she'll
ing of Wiju on Friday, but the japanese
guns did not reply.
Japs Cross the River.
The Twelfth division of the Japanese
army was chosen to make the first cross
ing of the Yalu. 1t began its prepare
tons 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 con-
structed pontoon bridge over the river
and at three o'clock Saturday morning it
began crossing. The entire division
passed over the river during the day,
and by six o'clock Saturday evening it
was in the position assigned to it for
the battle Of Sunday!
Russian Fire Silenced.
At 20 minutes to II o'clock Saturday
morning the Russian artillery posted to
the north and to the east of Chiutien-
cheng began Smelling the patrols of Jap
anese infantry which had been dis
patched from Kinteito and under Chiu
tiencheng. The japanese batteries re-
piled to this Smelling and silenced the
Russian fire. Later eight Russian guns
posted on hill to the east of the village
of Makao opened upon the imperial
guards. To this Smelling the japanese
artillery to the east of Wiju RESPONDED,
and the Russians ceased firing. Then
both the Chiutiencheng and the Makao