The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1904-06-04
FIGHT AT NANSHAN
DESPERATE ASSAULT OF JAPAN
ESE DESCRIBED.
DOgged Determination of the Mi.
kadO's Soldiers Well illustrated
in Repeated Assaults Against
the Heights--.Battle Ragged for
Six Days.

SiN DayS.
London, May 3O.-A special dis.
patch to the Times from Weihaiwei
says:
Your naval correspondent with the
steamer Haimun has sent many dis
patches during the last two days, but,
owing to severe intermittent storms the
wireless apparatus has not worked per.
fectly and only portions of his story of
events within the scene of operations
can be depicted.
1t seems, however, that the Russians
did not expect their position between
Kinchou and Nanshan could be taken,
and Lieutenant General Stoessels or
ders were to hold the Japanese back at
all costs. 1t was then expected by
General Kuropatkin that General Ku-
roki would detacb portion of his
command and send aid to General Oku,
at the same time retiring to Fengwang-
cheng to await the fall of Port Arthur.
This would have given the com.
mander-in-chief opportunity to bring
up achievements from Hardin to
Mukden and prepare to hold the de-
lenses south of Mukden with 5000
men. The plan was a good one and
failed because of the splendid tactics
which resulted in the sweeping VIC
tory at Nanshan by the Japanese.
General Stoessel had it in his power
to stave off defeat, but he failed, and
flesh and blood could not Withstand the
terrific bombardment which swept the
Russian trenches. disabling field piece
after field piece, and finally obliterat-
ing entire gun crews. The defenses
swept by the Japanese were of most
substantial nature and both Generals
Kuakroptin and Stoessel had every
reason to believe they would prove i'm
pregnable. 1t took six days fighting,
however, eliminating in Fridays all
day battle to sweep the Russian col
umn back, and the Japanese will hard
ly follow up their victory until fresh
troops can he landed to aid those al
ready in service north of Port Arthur.
The earlier fighting was wonderful
and almost beyond the power of pencil
to describe. The logged determination
which marks the character of the ORR
entail was never better shown than in
the repeated assaults against the heigts
guarded by artillery and well-armed
infantry. Attack upon attack failed,
but nevertheless fresh troops were
pushed up to reinforce the shattered
columns, and ecah succeeding wave of
assault carried the heads of columns
nearer the objective point.
At times these waves would ebb and
motion would almost die away, but
still fresh divisions came from behind,
and the distraction caused by the ma
val attack on the rear enabled the
japanese to rush forward their heavy
field batteries into effective range.
Russians Retreat in Great Panic.
As the evening shadows were falling
the Russians were beaten and began to
evacuate their positions, slowly at
first, but state of panic soon seized
many of the garrison and the retreat
became almost a rout.
At 8 O'Clock the flag of Japan was
floating over the entire chain of works
held at daylight by the Russians. The
right Of the japanese position COM
manded the Dalny defenses, and the
Russian garrison retired during the
night, leaving the way clear for the
ocouI alton of the Magic City,"
where the Russians expended twenty
million dollars to create a system of
docks and warehouses suitable for the
vast railway terminal they had planned
to establish.
The Japanese plans, which were car
ried out to the letter, were exceedingly
costly, 80 far as men are concerned.
depending more on weight Of numbers
than upon rifle fire. Hitherto they
have had the weight of numbers on
their side, and this victory and again
at Kinchou prove that the japanese
fighting man is wonderful machine,
which welcomes rather than fears
death
Fresh troops are being hurried to
General Oku, and so confident are the
japanese that the occupation of Port
Arthur is but matter of days that
japanese refugees here are already
chartering steamers to convey supplies
to Port Arthur.
pIaus NaW Sanit apium