New-York tribune., 1904-09-12
OF The Associated Press)
Headquarters Second Division.
First Imperial japanese Army,

When TIE WnOiS history or IHiS var ~ WIZ
the affair at Mao-Tien-Ling July Il, may have
the proportions merely OF an outpost engagement.
But it brings into strong light the methods ana
the efficiency OF the two armies at the present
stage of hostilities, and it explains the continuous
and unvaryIng success on land of the Yankees OF
the East against one of the great military powers
OF Europe. Why the Russians should have aoah-
doned the best defensive position between the
YaIu and Liao-Yang without hght ana sooi'
afterward make two costly and unsuccessful ehofts
to regain it, remains yet mystery Two DAYS De-
fore this attack the japanese knew through their
remarkable intelligence service that it was planned
They foresaw largely how IL would be executeo'
though probably they did not anticipate now stuo-
bornly the Russians fred with ambition TO nam
tain the prestige Of European troops, and inspired
by the name of Skobeeh. linked with the memories
of Shipka Pass, would storm the stronghold lc
was Skobelefs fighting and skooelens men
against the men and the methods OF d quarter
century later.
On the morning OF the 18th several OF the corre-
spondents who were camped at the division gen
erals headquarters miles from tho pass
were awakened at daylight by the sound OF distant
voeys. A thick white fog covered the hills IKE
a London fog in December, so dense that tents
could not be seen a hundred yards away The
ground muddy and trees dripped as IL tnele
had been heavy rain. The correspondents were
soon In their saddles but word came from the
press censor that they were not to go until per-
mission had been given. Within an hour most OF
the military attaches and newspaper men had
gathered in front of headquarters. retung 10 oe
unleashed. Delegates from each camp were Iaoor
ing with the staff officers. Word came from VIII
In that the general was acquiescent but part OF
the staff unwilling We were to wait nttle
a phrase become familiar during two months OF
waiting in Toxic. Later. the general might go,
and perhaps the correspondents could accompany
him.
The waiting was protracted until o O'Clock. and
meantime could be seen tho machinery of battle
behind the stage. Several infantry battalons came
up the road at dog trot. the mems khaki tunic9
plastered to their backs with sweat, while they
mopped thslr faces with towels presented by tho
patriotic societies Of Japan. bearing blue prints OF
the Aikado's soldiers storming impossible blue
precpices in the face OF gigantic blue bearded Rus-
SLAMS Most OF the men looked as eager for their
work football team trottinS on the field. There
were no shirkers, although some followed the rear
Of their companies painting painfully under the
fftv pounds weight OF equipment which they all
carry.
ORDERLY RATTLE PREPARATIONS
hospital company marched past with the
stretchers roped to the backs Of horses and some
OF the Red Cross shouldered wooden crutches
to help soldiers with leg wounds from the held-
Trains OF tho small black Japanese stations passed
bearing ammunition boxes and trenchins spades,
which are also utilized for buryng the dead Am
munition caissons with iathering six horse teams
rumbled over the road, snd three field bat
teries in appeared. and Embarrassed on
the square. where the marks OF Russian tents re
NAMED 10 await possible orders for the front.
A company OF engineers shouldering bamboo poles
and coils OF copper wire began to stretch a new
telephone line. which extended across the fields
fast rho coils could DO unwound. Probably no
other army has light and durable material for
many a tho Japanese find in their bamboo.
Occasionally officer wearing tho gold and white
sash of the stan Ealloped In from the direction
OF the firing.
There confusion disorder. and SEEM
:ngy littlo hurry. Every officer and and
every organization knew their business and pro-
ceeded about II without excitement or fuss. The
whole machine operated with the same smoothness
that Il has exhibited from the day the mobilization
began in Toxic.
The SOUNDS OF the battle were increasing az
o'clock. and the eTpectant witnesses became i'm
patient. The guns began booming about that time
and the explosion of a shell heard every two
three minutes while the unremtting rattle of rihe
FIRE became louder. punctuated by frequent volleys.
ara every knew that the volleys came nom
Russian rifles and that the japanese firing
at Will. in accordance with their usual tactics.
Some fancied that the work coming closer. 1t
certainly sounded nearer than the morning OF
July e. and the listeners began 10 speculate whether
the Russians had carried the pass The Chinese
were getting frightened. and parties OF women and
children went sourrying up the hill roads with
bundles Of vaSuables.
About tho telephone bell In the stsfr ofice gave
long sharp ring. and officer emerged 10 an
nounce that all might start. Word had come that
the Russians running Correspondents and
officers were of at full speed the cavalcade with
the various uniforms OF different nauonalitIes
making an unusual group. The tall German captain
lowered above all others. wearing a cap OF the
same color ana pattern Russian officers. which
suggested the realization of the Japanese that
foreigners the battlefield might be shot by their
troops. Just at the foot OF the high hill where
begins the steep ascent Of the pass came a squad
OF wounded soldiers going to the base hospital
Some had their IN sings others were ban
daged across their faces. Most of them very
pale from loss of blood and heat. but all smiled
and saluted. long procession OF wounded de-
scended the hill. Some carried on stretchers
with their guns and equipments beside them for
nothing is wasted or lost with the Japanese army
and when the soldiers go into fight they leave no
trail of discarded blankets and haversacks. All the
wounded quiet and stoical. usual One boy
shot through both arms. walking and as he
could not salute. he stopped and bowed low to each
foreign officer.
THE SCENE OF THE BATTLE
Emerging from the pass and riding down a
stretch OF tortuous road under the shelter OF hill
side. the party came abruptly upon the stage OF
action It is impossible to convey an idea OF tho
country without maps. nor was II practical TO see
more than that section OF the fighting directly be-
low the outpost trenches which guard the northern
entrance mile more TO the front The entrance
lies along ridge between two hills. and Is not
more than half a mile wide In front OF It is the
slope where the daylight surprise OF July
fought and the road winds down toward tho left
through a gradually widening valley. with fields OF
beans and corn both sides ard hills covered
with Young trees and thick bushes. Down at the
end of the valley CLEANS white pagoda where
General Sakaroff according to his report. witnessed
the engagement OF the 4th and was filed with ad-
miratlon for the valor OF his men. and where he
was probably a spectator of their second and more
disastrous repulse.
The advancing japanese skirmish line was half
a mile below the trenches. steadily pushing the
T2i1ssans back. The fire OF the Japanese battery