Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-06-07
PASSAGE OF THE YALU.

PASSAGE OF THE YALU.
Thrilling Picture Of the Now Historic
Battle Of Wiiu.
The New York Herald Of last Thurs
day contains two page account Of the
battle that was decided on May for
the possession Of Chu-Liang Chen~
lin Manchuria just across the river
from Wiju, Korea. The battle was OF
two DAYS duration and was participant
ed in by some 10000 Japs and 10000
Russians. The correspondent, Oscar
King Davis, saw it all, and gave
most vivid description Of every move
ment. After telling at length about the
artillery duel by which the action was
commenced, he then goes on to tell OF
the work of the infantry.
The Advance Commences.
The time had come for the advance
of the infantry. The Japanese line then
was approximately three miles long
The Twelfth division was on the right,
the Guards in the centre and the Sec
ond division on the left. The Twelfth
extended up into the hills along the
Al river. The Guards were about the
western base Of Tiger Hill and the
Second extended down to the custom
house village. Thus there was right
wing thrown forward, threatening to
enyelop the Russian left, the centre di-
rectly in front of the Russians LETT
and the left which faced the Russian
centre. There was no left wing-the
right of the Russian line had nothing
in front Of it.
The enemy's line might be said TO
extend down the river to Antung, where
was a force of three thousand men,
but there was no connection between
that force and the one in and ABOUT
Chu LANG Cheng. The Guards and
the Second division began to advance
at the same time, nearly seven O'CLOCK
The line of the Guards started almost
due west down Ching-Ping island. the
Second division west, straight ahead
for a little distance and then changed
direction by the left. moving obliquely
toward the hills held by the Russians
lust above Chu-Liang- -Cheng. The line
of the Guards also edged In toward the
hills after traversing a few hundred
wards of the wide stretch Of sand that
separated them from the mainland.
| Both lines had to cross the Al river
before they could get at the Russians,
The advance was very rapid. Flrst
there was a line of skirmishers, but not
in very extended order. The supports
which were strong, were in closer Or
der. It was all plainly visible from
our position on the wall Of Wiju and
each man was distinguishable. ltWas
almost possible to count them, SO
clearly could they be seen.
| As soon as the advance Of the infan-
try began the guns redoubled the hre'
which now had become very heaVy'
Eyery place where there might be
Russian gun was subjected to a terri
BILE pounding. but there were no guns
to make answer, and the infantry IN
the first part of it's advance was un-
opposed.
! Infantry Attack.
| Soon after seven o'clock the two lines
of the Guards and the Second division
ioined, and then the whole line swung
in a direction toward the Al river. II
was not long in coming within range
of the rifles of the Russians In the
trenches along the hills, and the roll
of small arms announced the opening
of the infantry action.
The fight for the Yalu was on at last
in desperate earnest. Down went the
Japanese advance fiat on the sand ana
the crash of volleys was added to the
roar Of guns, which all the time kept
PLAYING on the Russians. The heio
guns of the Guards division and some
of the guns of the Twelfth division had
been put into position on the strip OF
low ground that connects Tiger Hill
with the mainland, and while the guns
on Kineito and Chin-Ping islands ham,
mered the Russian position from in
front these guns raked the hills from
the flank, scattering their snraphel
along every edge and gully and search
ing every spot which offered cover to
Russian rifleman.
The big howitzers down on the sand
of Chin-Ping roared and beloved and
dropped their shells along the Russian
position with terrible precision. All
the guns were firing directly over the
heads Of their own men, but every
shell went through to its mark with
unerring accuracy. With confidence
that amounted almost to a certainty
the guns kept pounding the Russians
while the infantry poured in terrific
fire.
But the Russians were showing some
of their old time fighting. Their cour-
age was no less than that Of their an
tagonists, and pound them as they
would the Japanese could not break
their fire, and now the children of Tsal
gave an exhibition of extraordinary
gallantry.
In describing the position OF the
Russian line mention was made of