Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-27
STORY oh THE FIGHT
HOW THE JAPs CAPTURED KIN
CHOU.
Swept Russians Before Them From
Almost I1npregnable Positions
III. In Detail.

TOKYO. May a27-noon.-The Japanese
army swept the Russians from Kin Chou
yesterday nothing and in a desperate night
attack storned the almost impregnabie po-
sition of the Russians on Nanshan hill,
west OF Talien Wan. The battle ragged In
the hills all through the night, and frug-
mentary kilograms from the Japanese head
quarters report that the engagement Is
still In progress and that the Japanese are
still pursuing the Russians south from
Nanshan. and the head OF the Talien Wan
bay The Russians had made elaborate
preparations to check the japanese move-
ment south on the Liao-Tung peninsula
toward Port Arthur
They had fortified the high ground on
the south shore OF Talien Wan bay.
On the seuth shore of TaIien Wan bay,
their works extending to the east and the
west, the extreme Russian right was at
Hushangtao and the extreme left at Nam
snan hill. This hill was the strongest part
Of the lie; series Of batteries. strongly
emplaCed, crowded its crest. while rife
pits extended around its sides.
Mines have been placed lower down on
this hill, and around the base on the north
ern and eastern sides were stretched we'll
made wire entanglements. Another line
OF defenses, also protected with wire entan-
clements. extended from Yen CHA Tung.
near the head Of Ta1ien Wan bay, due north
Of Liuchia Tien, which lies south of Kin
Chou.
Strong Russian Force.
A strong, Russian force was posted at Kin
Chou. It consisted of infantry and ar
tillery. :
The Japanese first occupied the line Of
hills to the east of Kin Chou. Their posi-
ton had formed an almost perfect right
angle. showing Its southern front to Talien
Wan and it's western front TO Kin Chou.
4 N 1Inr ftn N "a
angle The extreme right of the Japanese
line rested at Chen Cha Tien, which is al
most due north of Chiu Ii Chan. while the
extreme left was at Chaitsuho, a village
due east of Chiu Ii Chan. Back of this
angle the attacking force assembled in COM
plete security.
Russians Tried to Draw Attack.
The Russians apparently attempted 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 positions OF
the Russians, their guns, and their strength
had been fully developed. To this end the
japanese began series OF careful maneu-
vers. their officers working their way close
enough to the Russian position to draw the
enemy's fire. They thus secured fragments
of shells for the purpose of ascertaining
the caliber of the Russian guns. They dis
covered tnaC the batteries on NanSnan Hill
included four howttzers Of about 10 CEN
timebers caiiberss ten old-styIe cannon Of
between ana 10 centimeters calber, and
two quick-f1ring guns of IL centimeters.
Number Of Large Emplacements. !.
The Japanese discovered also a number
of large emplaceiients, but they did not
learn the number of guns contained there
in These emStac9ments faced to the north
and to the east.
The guns fred BY the Russians developed
a range of $50, Icaters Eight heavy guns
posted on the Russian right in the vicinity
OF Hushangtao also We're discovered ana
another Russfansl position developed by
these reconnaissance was. on another hill
southwest Of Nanshan Hill. where the Rus
slams had series of shelter trenches.
searchlights Displayed
On the shore ofaTalienwan bay, close to
the head of the bay the Russians had es-
tablished series of positions. Here were
set up the searchlights which nightly played
over the Japanese angle in the hills to the
northeast.
Further reconnaissance developed the
fact that west of Liu CHA Tien, the Rus
slams had no defenses. Extending to the
northward from Yen CHA Tien to the west
coast of the Lao Tung peninsula, there
were no defehses whatever. except the force
posted at Kin Chou. This gap in the de-
Tense was fatal defect in the Russian
position, and when it was perceived. the
Japanese extended their right to the north
and east, envelopfng Kin Chou and the Rus
sian extreme right. The Japanese left also
was extended to Wang CHA Tung, on the
shore of TaIienwan bay. and the center
moved forward.
Heavy Artillery Duel
Wednesday morning at $50 the japanese
attacked Kin Chou, and for three hours
they had an artillery duel with the batter
les on Nanshan Hill. The Russian gum
ners searched the Japanese lines with their
| fire, but failed to inflict much damage.
The battle was resumed at dawn on
Thursday.
Three Japanese gunboats then entered
Kin Chou bay and in cooperation with the
artillery on shore shelled the Russian po-
sitions on Nanshan Hill. A Russian gun
boat in Talienwan bay steamed close to the
shore and sheled the japanese left. From
dawn the batteries on both sides hammered
away at each other. At an early hour the
$50 on Thursday morning they entered
Kin Chou the Russians retiring to the
south.
The fighting continued into Thursday
night the Japanese pressing to the south
and storming Nanshan Hill They followed
the retreating Russians through the south
ern hills.
The reports received here fail to cover
the events on the Russian right. 1t is prob
able however, that the Russians have
abandoned these positions.
No information is given concerning
losses; they probably were heavy on both
sides.
MAY DISCUSS WAR.