Daily Kennebec journal., 1904-05-28
KINcHoU CAPTURED.
(Continued from page -

terieS on NanShan hill included 1our
howitZers, of about Is centimetres cali
BILE, one old style cannon of between
10 and Is centimetres calibre, and two
quick firing guns of IL centimetres.
The japanese also discovered Il num-
ber of large emplacements, but they
did not learn the number of guns con-
tained there. These emplacements
faced to the north and to the east.
The guns fired by the Russians de-
veloped a range of $500 metres. Eight
heavy guns posted on the Russian right
| in the vicinity. of Husshangtso also
were discovered, and another strong
/ Russian position developed by these
"Reminiscences was on another hill
southwest of Nanshan hill where the
Russians had series of shelter
trenches.
On the shore of Talienwan bay, close
to the head of the bay, the Russians
| had established a series of positions.
Here were set up the lights which
nightly played over the Japanese angle
d. in the hills to the northeast. Further
reconnoissances developed the fact that
west of Liuchitien, the Russians had
no dcfences. Extending to the north
ward from Yenchiatien to the west
coast of the Lao Tung peninsula there
were no defences whatever, except the
force routed at Kinchou. This gap m
the defence was fatal defect in the
Russian position, and when it was per-
ceived the Japanese extended their
right to the north and east, envelopinS
kinchou and the Russian extreme
right. The Japanese left also was eN-
tended to Wangchiatung. on the shore
of Taiienwan bay, and the center
moved forward.
Wednesday morning. at half past flve,
the Japanese attacked Kinchou and Tor
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 to in
flict much damage. The battle was
| resumed at dawn, Thursday. Three
Japanese gunboats then entered Kim
chou bay and in cooperation with the
artillery on shore, shelled the Rus
sian positions on Nanshan hill. A Rus
sian gunboat in Talienwan bay steamed
close to the shore and shelled the Jap
anese left. From dawn the batteries
on both sides hammered away at each
other. At an early hour the Japanese
infantry moved forward, and at 20
miutes past five, Thursday morning,
they entered Kinchou, the Russians
retiring to the south. The fighting con-
tinued into Thursday night, the Jap
anese pressing to the south and storm
ing Nanshan hill. They followed the
retreating Russians through the south
ern hills. The reports received here
fail to cover the events on the Russian
right. 1t is probable that the Russians
have abandoned these positions. No
information is given concerning losses,
as they were probably heavy OH both
sides.
The Russian resistance at NanShGH
hill was stubborn. The Japanese made
n series of assaults before the Russians
finally yielded the position. The Rus
slams abandoned this hill at o'clock i'll
the afternoon. retreating toward Han
quinling. where it is understood that a
second line of defences exist. The Rus
slams may rally at this line of defence
unless they have been disordered by the
defeat at Kinchou and Nanshan. The
Russians had IL series of mines planted
at Tafangchan station on the railroad
| which We're exploded. The station was
destroyed. The Japanese forces were
under fire for 16 hours. The general
staff here has received kilograms from
the commanders commencing the
bravery and fortitudc of their men.
Subsequent reports received here in
dicatc that the storminS of Nanshan
hill, yesterday, was a bloody affair.
The Japanese first ccntercd their fire
on the Russian batteries, in which
work they were aided by four gun
boats from Kin Chou Bay. They sue
ceeded i'm silencing many of the en-
cmy's guns.
The Russians had constructed n
series of trenches around the hill on
terrace protected by wire entangle-
mcnts and other such devices. The
Japanese made a series of rushes but
they were in vain. The deadly rifle and
cannon fire of the enemy checked them
repeatedly.
Finally at 3 o'clock in the afternoon.
they reformed and Stormed the crest
of the hill. The Russians held their
positions doggedly and it was seven
o'clock in the evening before the Jap
anese finally gained possession of the
ridge.
A Japanese officer of high rank made
the following statement to the cor
| respondent of The Associated Press:
| THE Japanese in attacking Kin Chou
and Nanshan Hill had to fight against
great odds. The Russians were in full
command of the strategical advant-
ages afforded by nature and these adj
vantages were augmented by the
newest inventions for defense. The
forts on Nanshan Hill were armed with
heavy guns. The Japanese had only
field guns. heavy guns being unavail-
able OH account of the difficulties of
| transportation.
"Our army deserves great credit for
having driven the Russians from their
stronghold. 1t was a feat previously
considered to have been impossible.
| "I fear our losses have been heavy.
but we have gained the strongest point
barring our way to the investment of
Port Arthur"