The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-05-31
EIGHT TIMES THE JAPS VA!NLY
CHARGED ON THE RUSSIAN
INTRENcHMENTs.
SITUATION BECAME CRITIch.
GENERAL OkU SENT HIS ARMY
TO TAKE THE HILL REGARD
LESS OF LOSSES.

TOXIC, May 20.-The details of the
fighting at Kinchou emphasize the
heroic tenacity of the japanese in
their conduct at Nanshan hill. Nine
successive times the Japanese charged
the fortified heights in the face of a
storm of death dealing missiles, and
In their last effort they carried the
forts and trenches only after a bayo.
net to bayonet conflict with the Rus.
slams, who made a desperate. despair
ing struggle to beat back the oncom.
ing hordes.
The final assault of the japanese, in
which they at last succeeded in taking
possession, was marked by the most
desperate hand to hand encounter that
has thus far characterized the war.
The Japanese left, throughout the
entire action u1ti' night, was exposed
to an e%nfilading f1e from the Russian
infantry, a gunboat on Talienwan bay
and four 9-centimeter guns posted at
Tafengchen.
At a critical moment the ammuni-
ton of the artillery ran low and it was
decided to conserve the remaining am
munition into one final desperate as
sault. Fortunately, however, at the
moment this decision was reached the
Japanese squadron in Kinchou bay,
which had ceased hombarding when
the infantry had first moved forward,
suddenly resumed the Smelling of Nan
shan hill. Then it was that the issues
of the day were determined at a mo-
merit when the outcome was futtering
Between Success and Defeat
for Japan, at that moment was an al
most certain repulse converted into
victory so successful that the forces
of the car were swept into confusion
and disorderly retreat.
With every Japanese gun centering
Its ire upon the Nanshan forts and
trenches, the Japanese infantry sprang
over the bodies of their dead COM
rades who had sacrificed their lives in
the previous fruitless charges. The
entire line rushed forward toward the
Russian left, where the fire of the
Japanese squadron had proved most
deadly and which was the first to
weaken under the death dealing bonn
bardment. And it was there that the
first breach was made in the human
wall that all day had been an invinci-
bic barrier to the impetuous assaults
of the brown men.
It vas the Fourth division of the
Osaka men that stormed the Russian
left. It had once been said that Osaka
men were not brave. 1t will never be
said again. The First division of To-
kio, which had the center. and the
Third division of Magoyi, occupying
the left, and which had been exposed
all day to the Russian fire against the |
front flank. now followed the example |
of the Osaka men and rushed forward,
and the battle became transferred
from an artillery duel into one of per-
sonal conflict with the bayonet as the
instrument of warfare.
Drove Russians From Trenches.
On every parapet the restless. death
defying Japanese surged forward in in
creasing numbers and hustling the
Russians from their intrenchments |
swept owe the hill. At 1880 O'Clock, |
as the sun was sinking beneath the
horizon. the flag of the Land of the
Rising Sun f1oated over the blood
sodden Nanshan hill, while the shouts
of banshazi swelled from hill to hill
and echoed from fort to fort.
The Japanese paid for their victory
In $500 killed and wounded. To the
Russians the humiliation of defeat was
intensified by the loss Of sixty-eight
annon and ten machine guns. while
lying dead in the forts and trenches.
were 500 men, the victims of the &C.
curacy of Japanese long distance
Workmanship and close range fight
ing.
General Oku, in command of the
Japanese, began his aggressive move.
ment on the Russian position on mid.
night of Wednesday. He assigned the
Fourth division to the right with in
structions to swing round Kinchou.
The left was allotted to the Third d.
vision. A terrible thunderstorm, &C.
companied by a heavy rain, broke over
the advancing army and impeded the
movements of the men and the fog de-
layed the artillery fire one hour.
General Oku describes the move
ments of his army in detail. He said
the reinforcement of the Russian right
With Fresh Infantry and Guns,
whose fire enfiladed the Japanese
lines, made his posiaon critical, for
while his line was wa ,ring under the
fire of the Russian achievements,
came the report that the ammunition
of the Japanese artillery was almost
exhausted.
General Oku reports that he knew
he could not hope to continue the bat
tie much longer, so decided to make
an assault in force, regardless of
casualties. Then the artillery opened
lire with the remaining ammunition
and the First division co~urageously
assaulted the Russian center, only to
be beaten back. During this time the
Fourth regiment artillery had been
pounding the Russian left. Suddenly
the Japanese squadron began pouring
smells into the Russian left, and it's
NOISY awakening was succeeded by the
onslaught of the Fourth division on
the demoralized left wing of the DO.
fenders-and the victory was won.
The beaten forces, badly shattered
retreated toward Port Arthur ovn1o1