The Beaumont enterprise. [volume] (Beaumont, Tex.) 1904-current, 1904-09-09
ARTILLERY DUEL
At LAO YANG
KUROKI GIVES AN ACCOUNT OF
THE BATTLE OF BIG
GUNS.
AVERAGED SIXTY SHOTS A MINUTE
Was One of the Most Stupendous and
Spectacular Events of the Kind
in the History of War And
Gunpowder.

in the History of War And
Gunpowder.
Gen. Kuroki's Headquarters in the
Field, Aug 30 Via Fusan Sept. S.
The artillery battle which Numbered
at Lao Yang today from early morn
ing until darkness, hid foe from foe,
was certainly one of the most stu
pendous and spectacular of history.
The combined armies of Japan with
the exception of part of the force
under Gen. Kuroki, concentrated bat
teres against the Russian lines I'M
der Gen Kuropatkin and several hun
dren guns, probably not less than
800 upon each side, were worked in
cessantly for 12 hours. Even after
nightfall and IN the driving storm of
wind and rain that swept over the
battle field, the conflict did not
cease entirely for the Russian shells
are tonight bursting over the hills
before the Japanese position.
Not only the number OF guns in
action but the rapid fire made the con
fiict remarkable. For several hours
the cannonade averaged sixty shots
minute and the rate seldom fell
below twenty shots minute.
From a high mountain almost over
the nearest Russian batteries, the
foreign attaches and newspaper cor
respondents with Gen Kuropatkin'
army had clear view of the fight
ing which probably never will be sur
passed. AlIIIX
The Topography.
Lao Yang, a small Chinese walled
city with a gray pagoda towering
from its center, stands on the south
bank of theTaitse river. The OBJ
servers noted the yellow roofs OF
military storehouses on the outskirts
of the city. From the city the river
sweeps on a broad curve to the south
east road and then takes a turn to
the north. To the northeast of Lac
Yang there extends a great plain,
while to the east and south a range
of mountains lay through which the
Japanese armies advanced to the thea
tire of one of the decisive battles of
the struggle.
Some OF the Russian guns were
aligned in an almost unbroken horse
shoe around the plain TO the south
and east of Lao Yang; still other
batteries were facing the west. from
a group of hills on the extreme Rus
hav al
hills behind the city facing the east
bank of the river furnished portions
of the Russian batteries protecting
the railroad and the rear of the city.
The japanese guns in the noun
tains formed an irregular arch 20
miles or more in length.
The foregoing description roughly |
outlines the artillery positions Of the
two armies and the scheme Of de-
fense and attack.
While the landscape. viewed from |
the elevation where the correspond |
ents and foreign attaches had taken |
their positions. appeared TO be model |
ed on the road lines. in reality, the l
coultry Is irregular with many hills |
and ravines and much rolling plain. |
all of which affected the strategic |
disposition Of the cOntending force
7 Looking down 50 vast a EcCne Of |
with 50 many batteries |
participating. IL was often impossible |
10 discern the details Of positions or /
shat units wer- opposed 70 each |
other. IN some places the Russians |
guns appeared t0 De arranged ln /
tiers. two or three batteries being !
placed one above the other.
snokeisss Powder Used.
The zhole Russian front was bor- /
de-ed with fzinFliIg lights. This D,
fne the nsshes from the guns. Much /
1f -hr artillery was slilifuliv rorer-f /
and absolutely =nokeless powder was /
used
CTr-p-z ~ rhffe fh-aunsl -ndl-e /
lrrIr nnf frfrv around =rrur Ia 1
rans-sl p1sifiJns in th- rno1ntains /