The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1904-06-03

Toxic, {By Cable).-I desperate
and daring assault the Japanese have
dislodged the Russians from Kin-Chou
and swept them back to Nanshan hill,
an almost impregnables position. This
was later stormei. and fierce bat
tie that ragged nearly the whole OF
Thursday and Thursday night cul-
minated in victory for the Mikado's
troops.
The Japanese losses were heavy and
there is no reason to doubt that the
Russians suffered severely.
The latter have been forced back
toward Port Arthur, at which point
the Japanese column is aimed, and
which may now be considered to be
absolutely cut off by land and sea.
The victorious arms are pushing for
ward to pen the Cars forces on the
Lao Tung peninsula into Port Arthur,
where it is planned to capture that
place and its defenders by process OF
seige or by a forcible demonstration
made simultaneously from all direc-
tons.
Preliminary to the successful assault
upon Kin-Chou and Nanshan hill the
japanese for several days had made
various safiics and feints in learning
the character of the iefenses of the
enemy.
The real battle began Thursday
morning, and the fragmentary tele-
grams from Japanese headquarters re-
port that the engagement is still in
progress and that the Japanese are
still pursuing the Russians south from
Nanshan and the head of Talienwan
bay.
After the preliminary skirmishing
of several days, on Wednesday morn
ing at $50 the Japanese attacked Kin
Chou, and for three hours they had
an artillery duel with the batteries on
Nanshan hill The Russian gunners
searched the japanese lines with their
fire, but failed 10 inflict much damage.
The battle was resumed at dawn on
Thursday. Three Japanese gunboats
then entered Kin-Chou bay and in CO
operation with the artillery on shore,
shelled the Russian positions on Nan
shan hill
A Russian gunboat in Talienwan bay
steamer close to the shore and shelled
the Japanese left.
From dawn the batteries on both
sides hammered away at each other.
At an early hour the Japanese in
fantry moved forward and at $40. on
Thursday morning, they entered Kin
Chou, the Russians retiring to the
south.
The Japanese then pressed to the
south and stormed Nanshan hill.
The battle at this point was a bloody
affair, and it was there that the great
loss of life was suffered on both sides.
The Japanese first centered their
FIRE on the Russian batteries on the
hill, in which work they were aided
by four gunboats from Kinchou bay.
They succeeded in silencing many OF
the enemy's guns.
The Russians had constructed a
series of trenches around the hill on
a terrace protected by wire entangle-
mnts and other such devices.
The Japanese made a series OF
rushes, but they were in vain, and
the deadly rife and cannon fire of the
enemy checked them repeatedly.
Finally, at 8 o'clock in the after.
noon, the Japanese reformed and
stormed the crest of the hill. The
Russians held to their position dog
geily and it was 2 o'clock in the even
ing before the Japanese finally gained
possession of the ridge.
The Japanese followed the retreat
ing Russians through the southern
hills. The fight of the demoralized
columns is described as having been
precipitous after the unsuccessful
stand of the Russians at what they be-
1ieved to be their invulnerable position
at Nan-Shan.
The Russians are retreating toward
Nanquan Ling, where it is understood
a second line of defenses unless they
have been entirely disordered by the
defeat at Kin-Chou and Nanshan.
The Russians had series of mines
planted at Tafangshan station, on the
railroad, which were exploded. The
station was destroyed.
The Japanese forces were under FIRE
for sixteen hours.
The general staff here has received
kilograms from the commanders, COM
mending the bravery and fortitude OF
their men.