The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-06-04
STORMS HEIGHTS
OF NANSHAN HILL
Japanese Army Captures Russian Stronghold
After Desperate Fighting Loses
$500 of Its Soldiers

Toxic, May 30.-The Japanese as
sault ON Nanshan hill was one of the
fiercest and bloodiest affairs in mod
ern warfare. In the earlier rushes CT
the engagement every man participate
ing was shot down before he reached
the first line OF Russian trenches. 1t
was found necessary to stop these in
fantry charges and renew the artillery
fire from the rear before the final and
successful assault on the Russian posi-
tion could be made. The success of
this assault was brought about by one
detachment of Japanese troops, more
intrepid than their comrades, who sue
ceeded in piercing the Russian lines.
Render Mines Useless.
A splendid stroke of fortune was the
discovery and destruction by the Jap
anese of the electric wires leading to
the mines at the eastern foot of Nam
shan hill. This prevented the Russians
from exploding these mines when the
Japanese infantry crossed the ground
where they had been placed. 1t is
possible that the fortune of the day
hinged upon these mines. If the Rus
slams had been able to explode them
at the right time the losses among the
Japanese troops would have been tre-
mendous, and ii is possible also that
the Russians would have been able to
hold the hill.
Victory at Great Cost.
Japan paid dearly for her victories
at kinchou, Nanshan and Tallenwan,
losing $500 men in killed and wounded
in the repeated assaults against these
positions, but she scored sweeping
and valuable victory, capturing so
guns, clearing the way to Port Arthur
and infiicting losses on the Russians
which in the end are expected to total
1000 men. The desperate onslaughts
OF the Japanese on the heights of Nam
shan were telling, for the Russians Left
500 dead in the trenches there. A
complete search of this field is expect
ed to show greater number of dead.
Russian Batteries Silenced.
The Japanese began the fight by
bringing all their field guns into action
and concentrating their fire on the en-
placements on the hill. BY II o'clock
In the morning the principal Russian
batteries had been silenced. The two
Russian field batteries then withdrew
to Nanquanling hill, and from there
continued to fire on the Japanese I'M
til nightfall.
After the Russian batteries had been
silenced the Japanese artillery opened
on the enemy's trenches, the Japanese
infantry advancing meanwhile to with
in rifle range. The Japanese gradually
worked to within 400 yards of the Rus
sian lines, where they encountered
wire and other entanglements
Every Man Shot Down,
They succeeded in discovering an
opening in these obstacles and GETTING
finally to within 200 yards of the Rus
sian trenches they rushed for the line
Several successive charges were made,
but every officer and man in the at.
lacking parties was shot down 20 or
80 yards from the line. The charges
were then stopped and the Japanese
artillery renewed its preparatory fire
ON the eremy's position. Towards
evening a detachment of japanese
carried a section of the Russian
trenches, breaking through the enemy S
line. Hundreds of the comrades of
these men, inspired by their success,
sprang forward, and then the entire
japanese line swept up the hill, driv-
ing the Russians from their positions.
1t was in the desperate infantry
charges that the japanese sustained
the bulk of their losses.
London, May 30.-Thc London dali