The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-08-06
Complete Story Of the Battle Of
Mo Ten Pass Comes From
Kurok's Headquarters
RUSSIANS EXPECTED VICTORY
Were Repulsed and Suffered Sc
we're Loss During Retreat Be.
cause of Close Formation
Observed.

General Kurokfs Headquarters inl
the Field. July 1s, via seoul)-Delayed
in Transmission)--Au 5.--From later
information. yesterdays engagement
proves to have been more general and
more important than could be appre-
IcIated by observers at Mo Tien pass,
| whose vision Of the field was bounded
by high hills. guarding both sides and
whose reports were written before the
Japanese pursuit Of the Russians down
the valley was ended.
| Today II Is impossible to describe
accurately some OF the most import
liant features OF the fight because the
number OF the Russian troops engaged
can only be estimated from their reg
Iimental insignia on their uniforms and
the conflicting stories told by prison.
eTBs WIlllc tSun0lphiP p1hNhAS SNhhS
the number OF organizations present
on the Japanese side. 1t Is believed
that seven Russian regiments parti-
lcipated I'm the battle to which were OPP
posed at the most one brigade with
one or more additional battallons Of
| Japanese troops. The hardest fight
Hing was done to the right OF Mo Tien
pass. that valley approaching the Jap
anese line OF defenses which lay be-
tween high wooded hills.
4 A Russian contingent, consisting OF
a regiment or more attempted by adj
Ivancing through the valley to gain the
Japanese position by fanking move
ment or from behind the pass. but was
repulsed after an action lasting until
sunset when the Japanese troops aban-
doned pursuit, and the Russians, who
stubbornly contested the ground as
they were forced back. marched away
toward the town of Gabato. One Jap
anese company lost all or its officers
in this action and sergeant major was
finally in command.
The expulsion Of the Russian troops
from the valley leading to Mo Tien
pass was greatly assisted by Jap
anese force consisting OF battalion
OF infantry and several guns sent from
Japanese brigade stationed on the
left OF Mofantry valley. which at
tackled the Russians on their flank,
menacing their, rear and line Of re-
treat.
on the morning Of July II, the Jap
anese outpost line protecting Mo Tien
pass was entrenched on the lower
ridge, where the fight occurred on July
4. with few pickets stationed ahead.
Major General Okasaki, expecting an
attack, had ordered the outposts If con-
fronted by a superior force, to with
draw to the main line Of defense on the
highest ridge, where the pass was
narrowest. The outposts discovered a
company of cavalry and a large body
of infantry advancing In the darkness
at about 2:sO a. M, and retired accord
ing to instructions.
When firing began about 5 a. m,
the Russian line facing the Japanese
trenches was more than a mile and a
quarter long, They occupied Temple
and the road leading directly right to
Mo Tien pass, the road being nearly
parallel with the Japanese position for
few hundred yards, with deep
chasm quarter of mile across at
the widest, separating the two forces
also wooded hillside in front of the
pass.
The firing along this line was Sc
we're for more than four hours, COM
paratively few Japanese being hit The
Russians were unable to employ ar
tillery here, although they were using
battery In another fight on the right,
and afterwards in the valley during
the retreat they fired a few shots
The fog lifting at a. m. enabled a
Japanese battery stationed on height
to rake the attacking force effectually
The Russians later began to retreat
when the Japanese threatened their
road Of retirement, which was still
further endangered by the advance OF
another detachment of Japanese on
their left.
The Russian officers had collected
their companies for retreat in close
formation, as usual, making them
splendid targets, their dark coats form
ing huge blots against the brilliant
green shrubbery. Several shells burst
among the retreating troops, scattering
them into temporary confusion and as
the Japanese from their trenches saw
dozen men moved down by a single