Daily Kennebec journal., 1904-05-28
KIECHOU CAPTURED.

IOElo, May Hi.-lO n. M.-After ENc
hours Cf desperate fighting, the Jap
anese captured Kinchou, Thursday
evening. NanouanlinG. 4 stronghold of
the enemy, was taken after 4 hot fight.
An artillery duel still continues. \
Russian gunboat bomba"dcd the Jap
anese left flank from Talicnwan bay.
while the Japanese warshi2s worked
with the army from Einchou bay.
Vice Admiral Togo has now estah-
lished Il complete blockade around the
southern end OF the Lao Tung penin-
Sula. This completely envelopes Port
Arthur from the sadward and probably
MARKS the opening of the final invest
ment Of the town ana its Qualifications.
The Japanese troops have swept Ill
the Russians from their defences west
of Talenwan hay. 1t is now improb-
able that tho latter will be capable OF
offering any further serious resistance
in the territory north OF Port Arthur.
Toxic, May c7.-Noon.-Tho japanese
army swept the Russians from Kin
chou. yesterday morning. and in 4
desperate attack stormed tho almost
imprcsnable position of the Russians
on Nanshan hill. west Of Talicnwar.
The battle ragged IN the hills all
through the night and fraSmentary
tclcgrams from the Japanese head
quarters, report that the engagement
is still i'm progress ana that the Japan
csc arc still pursuing the Russians
south f ON Nanshan AMI the heal of
Taiienwan Bay. The Russians had
made elaborate preparations t. check
the japanese moVnment south Of tine
I.iao Tung peninsula toward Port Ar
thur. They had fortified the high
grounds on the south sh,rc of Talicn-
wan Bay.
On the south shore of Talienwan
Bay. their works extending to the
east and the west. The extreme Rus
sian right was at Iiushangtao, and
the extreme left at Nanshan Hill This
hill was the strongest part of tho line;
q series Of batteries, strongly emplacel,
crowned its crest, while rfln pits eX-
tended around its sides. Mines had
been placed lower down on this hill,
and around the base on the northern
and eastern sides were stretched we'll
made wrn entanGlcments. extended
from Yenciiatung near the head of
j
tien. which lies south cf Kin Chou.
a strong Russian force was posted at
Kin Chou. 1t consisted of infantry and
artillery. The japanese first occupied
the line Of hills to the east Of Kin
Chou. Their position had formed an al
most perfect right angle. showing its
southern front to Talianwan. and it's
western front Kin Chou. Chiulichan
village was the apex of this angle. the
extreme right OF the Japanese line
rested at Chcnchonticn. which is al
most due north OF Chiulchan,
while the extreme left was ut
Chaicho. village due east of Chiul-
chan. Back of this angle the attark-
ing force assembled in complete secur-
ity. The Russians apparently attempt
ed to draw the Japanese attack, last
Saturday, for their batteries opened
fire slowly on the enemy on that day.
The japanese. however. refused to be
drawn into an attack until the posi-
tions Of the Russians. their guns and
their strength had been fully devel-
oped.
To this end the Japanese began a
series Of careful maneuvers. their Off
GERS working their way close enough
to the Russian position to draw the
enemy's fire. They thus secured frag-
ments of shells for the purpose of ass
certaining the calibre of the Russian
guns. They discovered that the bat
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