The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-09-12
Battle Of Molten Pas Was Bloody
Engagement
JAPANESE TROOPS WERE COOL
Eye Witness Describes Terrific Con
fllct In Which Yankees of the
Orient overthrew One Of the
Greatest European Armies.

Headquarters Second Division, First
Imperial Japanese Army Near Molten
Pass, July 22.-When the whole history
Of this war is written the affair at Mo-
Tien-Ling on the 18th of July may have
the proportions merely of an outpost en-
gagement. But It brings into strong light
the methods and the efficiency of the two
armies at the present stage of hostilities
and it explains the continuous and un-
varying success on land of the Yankees
of the east against one of the great mill
tary powers of Europe.
Why the Russians should have aban-
doned the best defensive position between
the Yalu and Lao Yang without fight
and soon afterward make two costly and
unsuccessful efforts to regain it, remains
yet as mystery. Two days before this at
tack the Japanese knew through their re-
markable intelligence service that it was
planned. They foresaw largely how it
would be executed. though probably they
did not anticipate how stubbornly the
Russians, fired with ambition to maintain
the prestige of European troops and in
spired by the name of SlSobeleff linked
with the memories of Schipka Pass. would
storm the stronghold. 1t was Skobeeffs
hghting and Skobeleff's men against the
men and the methods Of a quarter CEN
tury later.
Awakened by Distant voleys.
On the morning of the 18th several Of
the correspondents who were camped al
the division generals headquarters some
miles from the pass were awakened at
daylight by the sound of distant volleys.
A thick white fog covered the hills, like
a London fog IN December. so dense that
tents could not be seen a hundred yards
away. The ground was muddy aud trees
dripped as though there had been a heavy
rain.
The correspondents were soon In their
saddles but word came from the press
censor that they were not to go until
given permission Within an hour most
of the military attaches and newspaper
men had gathered in front of headquar-
ters fretting to be uneashed. Delegates
from each camp were laborng with the
staff officers. Word Dame from within
that the general was acquiescent but part
of the staff unwilling. We were to wait
a little" a phrase that had become
familiar during two months Of waiting in
Toxic. Later the general might go and
perhaps the correspondents could accom-
pany him.
The waiting was protracted until
o'clock and meantime could be seen the
machinery of battle behind the stage.
Several infantry battalions came up the
road at dog trot. the mems khaki tu-
MICS plastered to their backs with sweat
while they mopped their faces with tow
els presented by the patriotic societies Of
Japan bearing blue prints of the mikado's
soldiers storming impossible blue preci-
DiCpS of o. Mt 10 hon
Russians. Most of the men looked az
eager for their work as a football team
racing onto the field. There were no
shirkers although some followed the rear
of their companies painting painfully un-
der the fifty pounds weight of equipment
which they all carry.
All Were Active.
A hospital company marched past with
the stretchers roped to the backs of
horses and some of the Red Cross men
shouldered wooden crutches to help SOL
diers with leg wounds from the field.
Trains of the small black Japanese stall
lions passed bearing ammunition boxes
and trenching spades, which are also
utilized for burying -e dead. Ammu-
milton caissons with lathering six horse
teams rumbled over the road and two or
three field batteries in reserve appeared
and embarrassed on the square where
await possible orders for the front. A
company of engineers shoudering bam-
| boo poles and coils of copper wire began
! to stretch a new telephone line which
extended across the fields fast as the
coils could be unwound. Probably no
| other army has as light and durable
material for many uses as the Japanese
find in their bamboo Occasionally an
officer wearing the gold and white sash
of the staff galloped in from the direction
| of the firing But there was no confusion
| nor disorder and seemingly little hurry.
! Every officer and man, and every organ
| izatIon knew it's business and proceeded
| about 1t without excitement or fuss.
The whole machine operated with the
same smoothness that 1t has been exhib-
tied from the day the mobilization began
In Toxic.
The sounds of battle were increasing at
7 oclock and the expeetant witnesses be-
came impatient. The guns began boom
ing about that time and the explosion
of shell was heard every two or three
minutes while the unremtting rattle OF
rifle fire became louder. punctuated by
frequent volleys, and everyone knew that
the volleys came from Russian rifles
and that the Japanese were firing at Will
in accordance with their usual tactics.
Some fancled that the work was COM
ing closer 1t certainly sounded nearer
the listeners began to speculate whether
the Russians had carried the pass. The
Chinese were getting frightened and par
ties OF women and children went skur-
rying up the hill roads with bundles OF
valuables
All Ready for Start.
About the telephone bell in the stan
office gave a long sharp ring, and an Of
flcer emerged to announce that all might
start. Word had come that the Russians
were running. Correspondents and Of
ficers We're off at full speed. the cavai-
cade with the various uniforms of differ
ent nationalities making an unusual
group. The tall German captain lowered
above all others wearing a cap of the
same color and pattern as a Russian Of
ficer's, which suggested the realization OF
the Japanese fear that foreigners on the
battle field might be shot by their own
troops.
Just al the foot Of the high hill where
begins the steep ascent Of the pass cana
a squad of wounded soldiers going to tha