The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-06-01
JAPANESE WIN ON YALU
Russian Army Driven Back After a
Fierce Battle.
THE FIRST GREAT LAND FIGHT

1Iikado's Army Across the YaIu Drives
the Cars Troops Back in Msnchuria-
Turned nemy's Flank-Japanese Loss
Probably $50 and the Russian 500
Russians Admit Defeat.
Toxic, Japan.-The first general en-
gagement between the Japanese and
Russian armies began ut dawn Sunday
morning on the Manchurian side Of the
Yalu River, and resulted in a Japanese
victory.
A dispatch dated From the seat of
war, 3 p. No." says:
"The Japanese captured Kiulien-
chcng, which is regarded as the key
of the Russian position or the right
bank of the Yalu. 1t is expected that
the Russians will retreat on Feng-
.Wangcheng."
The battle was preceded by a week
of skirmishing, in which the Japanese
were successful. They drove tie Rus
slams from the islands in the Yalu,
silenced the artillery on the opposite
bank and built pontoon bridges on
which the army crossed.
General kuroki, commanding the
First Army Corps, reports that at
dawn on Saturday morning he attacked
the Russians near K~iuliencheng, q de-
tached torpedo boat squadron at the
mbuth of the Yalu supporting him.
After a hot fight, including a long
range duel with heavy guns which
lasted several hours, he silenced the
Russian artillery. Then the Twelfth
Division crossed the river on a pontoon
bridge near Win and occupied the
Hushan District. The troops then
marched in the direction Of kiulien-
cheng.
The Japanese loss was small. while
that of the Russians IA apparently
heavy.
Meanwhile, a second pontoon bridge
was being thrown across the river
above Wiju. 1t was completed by s
o'clock p. M, and the Guards and the
Second Division crossed during the
night. They succeeded in turning the
left flank of the Russians.
At daybreak next morning the gen.
eral attack began. All the japanese
batteries on the south bank Of the river
and a fotilia of gunboats, in command
of Admiral Hosoya. co-%operated. The
Japanese had secured the advantage
of position.
Tokio.-Later reports of Sundays
victory in Manchuria say that the jap
anese loss was over $50 killed and
500 wounded. The Russian loss is
stated at 800 killed and wounded.
The japanese captured tWenty-eight
quick-fring guns. eight machine guns,
much ammunition and many prisoners.
The battle was fought along a four
mile front, with abou. $4,000 men en-
gagged on each side. 1t was opened at
daybreak by the artillery fire, to which
the Russians responded. The jap
anese had 142 guns in action, and grad
ually the Russian fire slackened.
Then. shortly after { o'clock. General
Kuroki ordered the Twelfth Division
to storm the hills around kiuliencheng.
The troops advanced steadily under a
severe fire from the Russian rapid-ire
guns.
They had to cross one small river,
going into the water waist-high. When
they got into position for the charge
they swept up the hills with irresisti-
BILE force and the Russians retreated.
Car Admits Disastrous Defeat.
st. Petersburg. May 1.-The General
Staff account Of the operations on the
Yalu River is as follows:
At 4 o'clock a. IN. Japanese field bat
teries and A. guns opened a terrific fire
on our position at Turenchen and Oh
troops posted near Potientinsky.
The overwhelming superiority of the
Japanese in artillery and the heavy
losses their fire inflicted on our troops
occupying these positions made it clear
to General SaSSulitch that it was i'm
possible to hold Turenchen. Conse-
quently the troops were ordered to re-
tire from Turenchen, while still hold
ing the Potietinsky road.
When General Sassulitch dispatched
his telegram the Russian troops were
retiring in good order from Turenchen
and Schadhedzy to their second posi-
ton, and the battle was continuing at
Potientinsky and Tchin-gu.