Evening journal., 1904-05-30
laps WIN AFTER
DESPERATE FIGHT
Japanese Charged the Heights
Nine Times.
VICTORY WAS DEARLY BOUGHT

IAt Critical Moment When Ammunition
Ran Low General otu Risked All In a
Desperate Assault and Won--kiled
and Wounded Number $500.
Tokyo, May 3O.-The details Of the
afghting at Kinchau emphasize the he
&roic tenacity Of the Japanese in their
'conduct at Nanshan hill
Nine successive times the japanese
charged the fortified heights in the
&face of storm of death dealing mis-
fsiles and in their last effort they car
3ried the forts and trenches only after
81 bayonet TO bayonet conflict with the
Russians, who made a desperate, de-
kspairing struggle TO beat back the on
looming hordes
The final assault of the Japanese, in
(Which they at last succeeded in taking
Possession, was marked by the most
ldesperate hand to hand encounter that
shas thus far characterized the war.
The japanese left throughout the en-
ftire action until night was exposed to
Ian enfilading fire from the Russian in
1fantry, a gunboat on Talienwan bay
Hand four nine-centimeter guns posted
at Tafengchen.
\ AT a critical moment the ammuni-
3tion of the artillery ran low, and it was
decided to cast the remaining ammuni-
tion into one final desperate assault.
Fortunately, however, at the moment
this decision was reached, the Japa-
nese squadron in Kinchau bay, which
a had ceased bombarding when the in
fantry had first moved forward, sud
denly resumed the shelling of Nanshan
hill
Victory When Defeat Seemed Near.
Then it was that the issues of the
K day were determined-at a moment
when the outcome was futtering be-
4 tween success and defeat for Japan
at that moment was an almost certain
repulse converted into victory so sue
cessful that the forces Of the czar were
s. swept into confusion and disorderly
4 retreat. With every Japanese gun cen
tering its fire upon the Nanshan forts
and trenches the Japanese infantry
sprang over the bodies Of the dead
comrades who had sacriced their lives
. in the previous fruitless charges. The
entire line rushed forward toward the
Russian left, where the fire Of the
japanese squadron had proved most
deadly and which was the first to
weaken under the death dealing bonn
bardment. And it was there that the
s first breach was made in the human
wall of defense.
It was the Fourth division Of the
Osaka men that stormed the Russian
left. 1t had once been said that Osaka
men were not brave. 1t will never be
said again.
The First division of Tokyo, which
had the center, and the Third division
of Nagoya, occupying the left and
which had been exposed all day to the
Russian fire against the front flank
now followed the example Of the Osa
ka men and rushed forward, and the
battle became transformed from al
artillery duel into one Of personal con
fict, with the bayonet as the instru
ment Of warfare. On every parapel
the restless death defying japanese
surged forward in increasing numbers
q and, hustling the Russians from theii
& intrenchments. swept over the hill. A
7:3O o'clock as the sun was sinking
beneath the horizon the flag of the
A Land Of the Rising Sun foated above
the blood sodden Nanshan hill. whil'
the shouts Of "Banzai.' swelled from
s hill to hill and re-echoed from squad
ron to fort.
The Losses Were Heavy.
The japanese paid for their victor.
in $500 killed and wounded. To tn
Russians the humiliation of defeat wa
s intensified by the loss of sixty-eigh
cannon and ten machine guns. Will
lying dead in the forts and trenche
were 500 men, the victims Of the &C
curacy of Japanese long distanc
craftsmanship and of close range fight
+. ing.
The beaten forces, badly shattered
4 retreated toward Port Arthur, explod
ing the Tafangchen magazines as the
receded. A detachment Of Japanese in
fantry pursued the retreating Russian
far into the night.
General Oku estimates that the fore
of the enemy consisted of one line divl
sion, two batteries Of field artillery
some fortress artillery and marines.
General Oku telegraphs his opinio
that the Russians intended to check tn
Japanese advance at Nanshan in orde
to protect Port Arthur.
Besides the big guns a miscellaneou
assortment of Russian property wa
captured.
General Oku concludes his report b
heartily thanking the navy for its C
operation. The Japanese captured
number Of Russian officers and men.
General Oku, commanding the Japi
nese army now investing Port Arthu
has issued a proclamation TO the pc,
pie of the Liautong peninsula settin
4 forth that Japan was forced TO appe,
to arms on account of the unlawful a,
gression of Russia in China and Korei
The proclamation declares that III
japanese army IS fighting for the caus
of justice, pledges protection to pc
sons and property and noninterferenC
with orderly citizens.
1t promises ample remuneration Il
all houses and food supplies requis
toned and warns the people TO refral
from assisting the Russians under PEI
atty of severe punishment
Certain Russian correspondent,
III L. .4-,T