The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-06-07

er Haimun returned to Che Foo June
2 from a cruise in Kin Chou bay.
The correspondent aboard learned
from Port Arthur refugees that the
natives and civilian population only
get such food as arrives by junk from
Chinese ports. or h they have
themselves secreted. The military
authorities have requisitioned all
available food. On half r~ations, it is
estimated hat the garrison has
enough for five months.
The five damaged warshfps moored
at the Port Arthur jetties, The Times
correspondent learns, have been de-
nuded of everything movable. Lieu
tenant Genera Stoessel retains a large
number of junks in the roadstead.
The object of this measure can only
be ~conjectured. The correspondent
says:
Eye witnesses of the battle of
Kin Chou describe it as an unprece-
dented military spectacle. Forty
thousand Japanese were massed be-
hind the western spur of Mount
Sampson under such small cover as
afforded by the Twin Peaks. The
troops were within two thousand
yards of the Russian works. There
was SO little DON to deploy for at
tack, that battalionS Of Japanese
troops were obliged to stand in the
sea, waiting for the moment of at
tack, exposed to a veritable inferno Of
fire from the Russian batteries. The
shells plowed into their serried
masses. Meantime, battery after
battery of Japanese gun went into
action upon the Chi Ii Chwang and
the Kauchiayan flats and sustained
gunboat played upon the Russian
works.
Their lines were fringed with
bursting projectiles. About midday,
the energy of the Russian defenders
in the works in front Of Mauchiaylng
village seemed exhausted by the gum
boat fire. Two Japanese battalions
appeared over the saddle between the
Twin Peaks and made a desperate
effort to carry the nearest Russian
works. At first, the struggling walls
of Mauchiaying gave them some COW
er, and a moments breathing space.
Then the gallant little infantrymen
crept on again up the slopes t""T""i
the Russian position. 1t was an i'm
possible task. AS yet the defenders
had not been sufficiently shaken. An
avalanche of concentrated fire from
infantry in the trenches, machine
guns in the Russian works and quick
firing field artillery in the support
ing defense struck the japanese.
They melted away from the glacis
like solder before the flame of a blow
pipe. A few who seemed to have
charmed lives struggled on until
they reached the wire entangiements.
1t was in vain. Heroic effort was
wasted. within fifteen minutes, these
two battalions ceased to exist, except
as treat of mutilated bodies at the
foot of the Russian glacis.
Seeing the failure of this attack
the gunboats and supporting artillery
| concentrated the whole of their fire
upon the point where General Oku
had determined to drive home his
wedge. and by evening, the works
were practicable for an assault by a
general who nd such infantry as the
Japanese and who prepared to take
the responsibility of such fearful
losses. 1t would seem as if the actual
carrying of the works had been an
other alma. The word was given for
a bayonet attck. Then the whole
Japanese front sursed forward, and
the moral balance ven yer to the
side of the japanese, the Russians re-
firing before them"
More TrOOnS land.