The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-05-27
HOW The JAPS
TOOK KIN.CHAU
Russians Defense Of the Town,
Tho Carefully Planned,
Proved Defective. S.
Japs, by Clever Strategy and
Fierce Fighting, Forced
Enemy Out.

Toxic, May 27.-The japanese
troops, after. taking Kin-chau, swept
all the Russians from theid defenses
west Of Talien-wan bay.
The battel ragged in the hills all
thru the night and fragmentary tele-1
grams from the Japanese headquar-
tiers report that the engagement is
still In progress and that the Japan
:ese are still pursuing the Russians
south from Nan-chan and the head Of
Talien-wan bay.
The Russians had made elaborate
preparations to check the Japanese
movement south on the Liao-tung
peninsula toward Port Arthur.
They had fortified the high ground
on the south shore of Talien-wan bay,
their works extending to the east and
the west. The extreme Russian hight
left at Nan-chan hill. This hill was
the strongest part of the line; a series
Of batteries, strongly emplaced,
crowded its crest, while rifle pits ex-
tended around it's sides. Mines had
been placed lower down on this hill
and around the base, on the northern
and eastern sides, were stretched WE'LL
made wire entanglements.
Another line of defenses also pro-
tected with wire entanglements, ex-
tended from Yen-chia-tung near the
head of Talien-wan bay due north of
L1u-chai-ten, which lies south of Kin
chau. A strong Russian force was
posted at Kin-chau. 1t consisted OF
infantry and artillery.
The Japanese first occupied the line
of hills to the east of Kin-chau. Their
position had formed an almost perfect
right angle, showing it's southern front
t oTalien-wan and it's western front
to Kin-chau. Chiu-li-chan village was
the apex Of this angle; the extreme
right Of the Japanese lines rested at
Chln-cha-tien, which is almost due
north Of Chiu-li-chan, while the ex-
IRENE left was at Chat tsu- ho, "a VIII
lage due east Of Chiu-li-chan. Back
of this angle the attacking force as.
sembled in complete security.
Feeling" the Enemy.
The Russians, apparently, attempt
ed to draw the japanese attack last
Saturday, for their batteries opened ned
fire slowly on the enemy on that day.
The Japanese. however, refused to
be draWnssuntiI the positions Of the
Russians their guns and their
strength had been fully developed.
To this end the Japanese began 9
series Of careful Reconnaissance, their
OFFICERS working their way close
enough to the Russian position to
draw the enemy's fire. They thus se-
cured fragments Of shells for the pur-
pose OF ascertaining the caliber OF
the Russian guns.
They discovered that the batteries
on Nan-shan hill included four how
tiers Of about l 5 centimeters caliber,
ten old-style. cannon of between and
ID centimeters caliber, and two quick
firing guns Of 10 centimeters. The
Japanese discovered also number Of
large emplacements, but they did not
learn the number Of guns contained
therein. These emplacements faced
to the north and to the east.
The guns fired by the Russians de-
veloped a range Of $500 meters. The
heavy guns posted on the Russian
right in the vicinity Of Hu-shang-
also were discovered, and another
strong Russian position, developed by
the reconnaissance, was on another
hill west of Nan-shan hill, where the
Russians had a. series of shelter
trenches.
On the shore Of Talenwan bay,
close to the head Of the bay, the Rus
slams had established series of posi-
tons. Here were set up the search
lights which nightly played over the
Japanese angle in the hills to the
northeast.
Gap in the Defense Fatal.
Further reconnaissance developed
the fact that west Of the Liu-claia-
ten the Russians had no defenses.
Extending to the northward from
Yen-chia-tien to the west coast OF
the Liao-tung peninsula there were
no defenses whatever, except the
force posted at Kin-chau.
This gap in the defense was fatal
defect In the Russian position and
| when it was perceived, the Japanese
extended their right to the north and
east, enveloping Kin-chau and the
Russian extreme right. The Japan
csc left also was extended to Wang
chai-tung, on the shore Of Talien-wan
bay, and the center moved forward.
Wednesday morning at $3.50, the
Japanese attacked Kin-chau, and for
three hours they had an artillery duel
with the batteries on Nan-shan hill.
The Russian gunners searched the
Japanese lines with their fire, but
failed to inf1ict much damage.
The battle was resumed at dawn on
Thursday. Three Japanese gunboats
then entered Kin-cfau bay, and in CO.
operation with the artillery on shore,
she1led the Russian position on Nam
shan hill. A Russian gunboat in Tall
ien-wan steamed close to the shore
dawn the batteries on both sides
hammered away at each other. At
an early hour the Japanese infantry
moved forward and at $50 Thursday
| morning they entered Kin-chau, the
Russians retiring to the south.
The fighting continued into Thurs
day night, the Japanese pressing to-
the south and storming Nan-shan hill.
They followed the retreating Russians
thru eastern hills.
| The reports received here fail to
cover the events on the Russian right.
| It Is probable, however, that the RUS
slams have abandoned these positions.
No information is given concerning
| losses. They probably were heavy on
both sides.
| BATTLE OF TA-TUNG-LING
Russians Retreat Under Fierce Fire,
Losing in All 5000 Men.
New York Sun Special servios.
Niu-chuang, May 27.A Chinese
army captain reports that Japanese
4 scouts on Sunday discovered the