Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1904-11-11

NAlAtI NAA4 On AAc Nr14 -fnAlu IN
ahled the japanese 20 hold on. though
the entire Russian IRE was coacentrat
ed on that point for six hours.
Tie Japauss. we're re-enfOrced from
tine u time 10y rushs- made by their
comrades 10 the d.athway from tie
trenches. and they stubbornly held the
corner ~all aud a small section Of ths
Russian trenches till O'Clock. when
two COMPANIES Of another regiment
worked through the trenches and at.
tackled the West Banjusan fort. tie
magazine Of which had been blown ny
by shell u short time before.
Fort at Last Fails.
Taking advantage OF a diversion OF
ing the first fort forced the Russians
back. captured the fort at the point of
the bayonet and pursued the Russians
along the connecting trenches 10 tie
Chinese wall. The West Banjusan fort
was captured ut o'clock after a slight
resistance. the japanese being unable
TO occupy ii. as the magazine was
blown up. but they held the trench
line around the crest
In the afternoon three battalions OF
japanese reserves were added 10 the
center division. and during the night a
regiment LETT the division and assault
ell and captured part OF South keek.
wan fort. and feint attack was made
at the foot Of Urh mountain in order
TO divert the Russians attention from
the massing Of troops in the valley in
front of the Banjusan forts. -Four field
guns and four machine guns Were
mounted in the East Banjusan fort and
six field guns and four machine guns
in the West Banjusan fort
Wedge Had Been Pierced
The dawn Of Aug % developed a pc
cular position. The assault OF the pre-
vious afternoon had resulted in pierre
ing the Russian fortified ridge east of
Port Arthur in the form OF wedge
still strongly held The concentration
of the Japanese reserves in the Shuishi
valley In front Of the captured forts
showed that II was the evident inten-
ton Of the japanese to use their foot
hold on the fortified ridge to segregate
the eastern forts and carry the whole
ridge by assault.
At daylight the Russians concentrat.
ed their shrapnel fire on the captured
forts, and the japanese south OF Keek-
at hal,
The Ban1usan forts were subjected &c
an awful fire. but the Japanese in pos
session of them continued making
bomb proof trenches on the hills. There
was a fierce bombardment all day.
There was tremendous activity. the
rear lines seEding forward ammuni.
ton. The news came In whispers that
a general assault would take place be-
tween midnight and 3 in the morning
For hours after nightfall the dark.
ness and silence were broken by an
occasional shell from the Japanese bat.
teries, while the Russians burst many
starlights over Shuishi village. where
they made a feint at a sortie imme-
diately after furious fusillade In the
rear of the captured forts.
Clever Russian Counter Attack.
Here the Russians. anticipating an
assault. made strong counter attack.
The Japanese advance lines were
driven from the forts aud were furi-
ously attacked by large bodies Of Rus
slams, who also worked down on either
side of the captured Banjusan forts
to the valley In an attempt TO cut of
the retreat Of the Japanese from the
two forts.
The Russians move was cleverly
planned and their artillery command
ers were well informed for they OPEN
ed fire with shrapnel on the advance
of the japanese supports across the
valley, using starlights and search
lights with good effect in the counter
attack on the Japanese forces.
A general assault then began, and
for twenty minutes the whole japanese
line was engaged. The left division
from the trenches in front OF Keek-
wan forts charged the fortified hills.
Hail Death on japanese.
Part of the advance had gained the
crests and shouted "BanEai" when
their triumph was cut short Suddenly
the two powerful searchlights Of the
east forts lighted up the Japanese
lines, and Russian rifles and machine
guns poured deadly hail into the
clearly visible ranks of the attacking
troops. Despite the awful process of
unequal humiliation, the Japanese
stubbornly held the positions gained,
and their machine guns quickly loeat.
ed and quoted the Russian quick firers.
Finally the Japanese were slowly
forced down the slopes to the trenches
below.
On the west flank the searchlights of
Else and Talyangkow forts played
along the japanese trenches, prevent.
ing the movement of troops The Jap
anese artillerymen concentrated their
fire on the searchlights, shells contin.
ually blanketing the lights.
Russian searchlisht Ruse.
Suddenly the light of Else fort dis.
appeared, and the light of Talyangkow
fort followed. The japanese infantry
on the right flank advanced on the
trenches close to the Russian lines,
when the Else light was flashed out In
the faces Of the advancing troops, and
Russian machine guns, previously well
placed. swept their fire along the lines,
while rifles blaZed with a continual
rattle. AS the Japanese machine guns