The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1904-06-03
.KANSA I \ WILL: ] !.
1--we N HISTORY is
FURTHER DETAILS OF GREAT
BATTLE ON THE HEIGHTS.
JAPs DEARLY-WoN VICTORY


Entire Force Making First Assault
Is Exterminated, Every MI
Being Cut Down.
Toxic, May 3O.-The Japanese as
sault on Nanshan hill was one Of the
fiercest and bloodiest affairs in mod
ern warfare. In the earlier rushes OF
the engagement every man participat-
ing was shot down before he reached
the first line of Russian trenches. 1t
was found necessary to stop these in
fantry charges and renew the artillery
fire from the rear before the Anal and
successful assault on the Russian posi-
ton could be made. The success of
this assault was brought about by one
detachment of Japanese troops, more
intrepid than their comrades, who sue
ceeded in piercing the Russian lines.
Render Mines Useless.
A splendid stroke of fortune was the
discovery and destruction by the Jap
anese of the electric wires leading to
the mines at the eastern foot of Nan
shan HILL This prevented the Russians
from exploding these mines when the
Japanese infantry crossed the ground
where they had been placed. 1t is
possible that the fortune of the daJ
hinged upon these mines. If the Rus
SLAMS had been able to explode them
at the right time the losses among the
Japanese troops would have been ire
mendous, and it is possible also that
the Russians would have been able to
hold the hill.
Victory at Great Cost.
Japan paid dearly for her victories
ut Kinchou, Nanshan and Tallenwan,
losing 5000 men in killed and wounded
in the repeated assaults against these
positions, but she scored a sweeping
and valuable victory, capturing so
guns, clearing the way to Port Arthur
and inf1icting losses on the Russians
which in the end are expected to total
1000 men. The desperate onslaughts
of the Japanese on the heights of Nam
shan were telling, for the Russians lef;
400 dead in the trenches there A
complete search of this field is expect
ed to show greater number Of dead.
Nanshan Splendidly Defended.
Nanshan was splendidly defended
Nearly so guns of various sizes were
mounted on the various emplacements,
and there were also two batteries of
quick-firing field pieces.
The artillery was sheltered behind
looph0les trenched on the terraces of
the hill. The infantry manning the
field pieces ran with them around the
hill, J. thus using these guns for the pro-
lection of the most important points.
Russian Batteries silenced.
The Japanese began the fight by
bringing all their field guns into action
and concentrating their fire on the en-
placements on the hill. BY II o'clock
in the morning the principal Russian
batteries had been silenced. The two
Russian field batteries then withdrew
to Eanquanling hill, and from there
continued to fire on the Japanese I'M
til nightfall
After the Russian batteries had been
silenced the Japanese artillery opened
'6h the enemy's trenches, the Japanese
infantry advancing meanwhile to with
in rifle range. The Japanese gradually
worked to within 400 yards of the Rus
sian lines, where they encountered
wire and other arrangements.
Every Man Shot Down.
They succeeded in discovering ar
opening in these obstacles and getting
finally to within 200 yards Of the Rus
sian trenches they rushed for the line
Several successive charges were made.
but every officer and man in the at.
lacking parties was shot down 20 or
30 yards from the line. The charges
were then STOPPED and the JAPANESE
artillery renewed its preparatory fire
on the eremy's position. Towards
evening a detachment of japanese
carried section of the Russian
trenches. breaking through the enemy's
line. Hundreds of the comrades of
these men, inspired by their success,
sprang forward, and then the entire
Japanese line swept up the hill, driv-
ing the Russians from their positions.
1t was in the desperate infantry
charges that the japanese sustained
the bulk of their losses.
Japanese Heroism.
Toxic, May 30.-The details of the
fighting at Kinchou emphasize the
heroic tenacity of the Japanese in
their conduct at Nanshan hill. Nine
successive times the Japanese charged
the fortified heights in the face of a
in their last effort they carried the
forts and trenches only after a bayonet
to-bayonet conflict with the Russians,
who made a desperate, despairing
struggle to beat back. the oon-coming
hordes.