New-York tribune., 1904-09-14
OET'S DESPERATE FIGHT.
ArtH7ery DueI& and Fierce Charges
on the Soutf.

Cft t'tS SH'NN'-'
headquarters of second Japane-e Army. Re
fore Liao-Yarg Undated Via Tien-Tsiu:. Sep.
I3- TIE capture of Liao-YaG= was accom-
plishei only after nine days of desperate fight
ing on the rar, of the second or Iefr. Japanese
arr-y under the command % General oku- Dur
ing this time while the artillery arm carried
out its part Of ono Of the greatest artillery
dueis tha world has eve- seen. there occurred
the hardest hghtins and the most desperate in
fartry charges Of modern times
The hghtirg began on August 2G. when this
japanese army moving IN the northward. met
the Russian forces intrenched on the hills Of
An-Shan-Chan. The Japanese hombarded this
position all day long. and at night the Russian
retired The next three days, August p. -
and %. were occupied in following the retreat
ing Ruesians. japanese batteries were sent for
ward n shell the enemy. The Russians re
treated steadily this artillery o. their rear
guard eneaE nr the japanese advance and sue
ceedia= in retarGiug il until the main force
Of Russians reached in safety the strongly for
tifed positions i'm the Shou-Shan-Pac HIS,
eight miles south Of Liao-Tans
At dawn on August 30 he japanese began n
artillery attack upon this position. the second
army bringing 2lG guns - bear upon the Rus
sia9 fortifcatious The fourth japanese army
was formed upon the extreme right occupying
position on small chain Of hills running az
right angles 20 the Russian position The fourth
army employed nearly 100 guns more against
the enem5 az Shou- -Shar-Pao.
This Russian position was the stronges' the
enemy had held UP 70 hat lime. II consisted ot
three hills. averaging 300 feet in height, al
fortified. with strong tntrenchnentS connecting 5
each one. with a covered way leading back TO a
bombproof capable Of holding all the men en-
gagged II working the guns. This bomoproot
was So skilfulk hidden that the japanese could
not locate it accurately during the three davs'
fighting that ensucd- This artillery duel lasted
all day without any appreciate result
BIG GUNS PEsUME THE BATTLE.
At dawn on August 81 The artillery fire was
resumed the Japanese batteries having moved
forward TO within 1000 yards Of the Russian
position during the night The japanese drove
a few Russian troops from an unforttfed hill On
the extreme right, and ar 8 o'clock in the morn
ing they made an unsuccessful attempt 70 capt
ure fortified hin on the Russian left. During
the morning the artillery duel continued
with increasing strength the Russians answering
shot for shot The japanese guns were hidden
under ripenins corn eight feet high and they
were hardly visible 10 the enemy, who searched
the cornhelds with shrapneL The fire caused
heavy Japanese losses but II failed silence the
guns.
AS tne morning wore on the japanese brought
into action four 6-nch guns captured from
the Russians az Nan-Shan, using in them
"a injured ammunition. These guns and their
ammunition had been drawn hy hand over
The railroad for nearly two hundred miles. At
II o'clock in the morning the ire of all the
lana nese guns was concentrated IN the trench
ar The end Of a hill on the extreme left Of the
pussian position. For an hour shell and shrap
-eI v-erA rained in this trench and the smoke
~ bursting shrapnel and the dust of exploding
ebars hid the position from sight
The artillery ceased az noon, and the Japan
asa infantry then charged from adjoining
iii IN the face Of a heavy fire from the trench
i+eclf and terrible cross fire from Russian
a~tiilerv posted On another hill 10 the rear.
St~onr wire entangler1ents, military pits and
evnlodi7r mines failed to stop the advance, aud
in enit7 Of enormous casualties, they took the
trench at the point of the bayonet driving the
r2t1~siars back the length OF the hill. AS soon
ee the Japanesc were in possession OF this
tyeprn the Russians turned the fire of scores OF
,-,,rs gsinst them in effort to dislodGe them.
Tbie hcavv fire was maintained until nghtfan.
bnt did not drive the japanese out.
DESPERATE CHARGE ON TRENCHES.
Both sides kept Up an artillery fire ali through
the night Of August 81. and At > o'clock in the
morning Of September l the japanese attacked
the centre Russian position. This a hin
defended hy three lines Of intrenchnents The
bottom of the hin was defended by wire entan-
elements. pitt ard ditshes. Jaoaness engineers