The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-05-04
Gross the YaIu in Force, Seize Rus
sian Position and Capture 56 Guns.
THE RUSSIAN LOSS ESTIMATED
At 800, laps At 700.
The News Of First Real Battle on Land
Given Out Promptly at Toxic, From
Which Place Rumors Have Here
tofore Been Scarce.

infantry charge covering frontage OF
four miles, it drove the Russians from
Chia Tien Cheng and the heights on
the right bank OF the Tho or Aida
river, which enters the Yau from the
north almost opposite Win. The Japa-
nese turned tie left flank Of the Rus
sian position, and in the battle Of to-
day they swept away the new front
interposed by the Russians to check
their onward movement.
The present position of the japanese
is dominating one, aud they may
force the abandonment of the defences
erected by the Russians at Antung
and other points lower down the river.
Gen. Kuroki began the movement
on Tuesday by ordering detachment
Of the Imperial Guards division to
seize the island of Kurito, which is
in the Yalu above Wiju, and detach-
1nent of the second division to seize
the island of Kinteito, which is stu
ated below V1iju.
The detachment of the Imperial
Guards met some resistance but it
succeeded III clearing the enemy out
and occupied Kurito island. The Rus
SLAMS abandoned the island of Kinteito
when attacked by the detachment of
the seond division.
The actual losses sustained by the
detachment of the Imperial Guards is
not known SIS there is an error in that
part of the message received here re-
ferring to the number of killed, but
nine of the detachment we're severely
and Is slightly wounded. The de-
tachment Of. the second division which
took the island of Kinteito sustained
no losses.
RUSSIANS OPEN FIRE.
During these movements on the
island the Russians opened fire on the
japanese with eight 91a centre guns
from hill behind Chiu Tien Cheong
and two H.otchkiss guns which were
mounted en- the bank Of the river at
Kosan, where the Russians seemed to
have esta olished their headquarters.
One battery of japanese artillery which
had taken a position on hill to the
east of Win fred three volleys at
Kosan anGI at neon of Tuesday the
Russian batteries behind Chin Tien
Cheng shelled Wiju, wounding one
japanese soldier with sharpnel.
On Wednesday the Russians resumed
the bomt ardment of Wiju, firing ct
intervals throughout the day. The
Japanese artillery did not respond
to this fire. Gen. Kuroki has received
reports &c the effect that the Russians
are fort4fYing the heights on the right
bank of the Tho river. The new de-
fences are declared to extend from
Chu Tieu Cheng through the village of
Makao to Koshoki, distance of three
and quarter miles.
The Ru ssians resumedtheir lombard
ment on Thursday but it was generally
ineffective. Subsequently Gen. Kuroki
ordered two companies of the<Imperial
Guards to cross the Yalu and make
reconnoi ssance along the left bank of
the Tho Tor the purpose Of discovering
the character of the Russian fortifca-
tions along the heights on the right
bank Of the river. The Japanese
force advanced near Kosaa and then
dispatched small detachment to the
village where a party Of Russians was
encountered. In the engagement
which followed i've Russians we're
killed. The Russians shelled the
reconnoitering party from an emplace-
ment in the hills in the southeast part
of Yostoko. This fire was without
effect.
The Russian artillery on the hill be-
hind Chiu Tieu Cheng firing at bigh
angle, opened on Win, where some
Japanese batteries had taken position.
This firing continued into Thursday
night snd Gen. Kuroki reports that
while it was Ineffective it disturbed
his preparations for an attack. The
Russians resumed the shelling of Wiju
on Friday but the japanese guns did
not reply.
The Twelfth division of the Japa-
nese army was chosen to make the
first crossing of the Yalu. 1t began
it's preparations on Friday by driving
the Russians from their position on
the bank of the river opposite Suiko-
chin, which is eight miles above Wiju
and the point selected for the crossing.
This division constructed a pontoon
bridge over the river and at 8 O'Clock
Saturday morning it began crossing.
The entire division passed over the
rlF6r curing Gu6 Oey duu Oy . " CiOCA
Saturday evening it was in the posi-
tion assigned to it for the battle of
Sunday.
The movement of the Twelfth Japa
nese division was covered by the
Second regiment of field artillery
and another artillery regiment of
heavy guns.
At ll.2O o'clock Saturday morning
the Russian artillery posted to the
north and to the seat of Chiu Tien
Cheny began sbelling the patrols of
japanese infantry which had been dis
patched from Kinteito to Chukodai,
another island north of Kinteito and
under Chiu Tien Cbeng. The Japa-
nese batteries replied tc this shelling
and sii]enced the Russian fire. Later
eight Russian guns posted on hill
east of the village on Makao opened
upon the Imperial Guards. To this
shelling the japanese artillery to the
east of Win responded and the Rus
slams ceased firing. Then both the
Chiu Tien Cheng and the Makao
batteries reopened and this fire
brought vigorous response from the
chain of :Japanese batteries on the