The Washington times., 1904-05-16
THUNDERSTRUCK
BY RAIN OF FIRE

During the operations the dramatic
feature of the day was witnessed. The
Russians believed the enemy possessed
field guns only. and their position were
calculated TO deal with artillery of that
caliber alone. For the same reason they
had taken no pains to mask their guns
When the japanese opened upon them
with several howitZer batteries they
were thunderstorm
On the first island opposite Wiju. held
by the Japanese. is a belt of trees, vivid
" green and fresh looking. From out
OF this innocent-lool1ing gem of nature
came a terrible rain of shell and shrap-
mel. which played upon the Russian bat
teries on the cOnical hill. swept men and
guns. tore the ground, and smashed
rocks.
IN the air around the Russian position
were white puffs Of smoke deuoting the
explosion of shrapnel. while the hill it
self. struck by shells from the heavy
howitzers. looked like an active volcano,
belcbing clouds OF gray black smoke
from dozen different places. No sooner
had the storm burst than the Rus
sian shrapnel streamed through the air
In reply to the unexpected attack.
Enveloping Smoke.
The green of the trees was obscured
by the smoke of the bursting shells.
Clouds OF sand and dust raised by the
missiles striking the ground foated
away on the wind, and the booming
guns and the deep laundering sound OF
the explosions filled the valley
For half an hour the Russians stuck
to their guns manfuly, but gradually
their fire slackened. and finally ceased
their guns being silenced and the gun
ners dead.
An attempt was made 10 bring NJ
horses TO remove the guns, but was
foiled by fresh outburst from the jap
anese artillery. The Japanese fire was
tnen directed on the Russian camp and
picket lines, creating great havoc
The Russian loss cannot be ascer-
the artillery duel were two killed and
twenty-five wounded. Trees hid their
position from the Russians, and though
we, TO the right of the rear. saw the
hash OF every gun fired, 10 the Rus
slams this was invisible.
Their IRE was directed on the belt II
trees from which the deadly hail cana
bu: the high angle fire of the howitze.s
enabled the japanese to work then
guns from pits which the Russian
shrapnel, fired at random. rarely pene-
mated The success of the day was
with the japanese, and the glory will
the Russians, who fought their guns tC
the bitter end.
On the night Of April 80 the infantr,
OF anOther japanese division crossed
the Yalu. followed by a third division
A. daybreak May ! we saw them OF
tho Russian side of the river, stretched
out in long. thin black lines. sheltered
b. the depressions in the bed of tho
river.
A Front Attack.
We realized slowly that the japanese
contemplated a frontal attack BefoT.
any move was made the Japanese guns
oDened up on the ground behind Kiu-
hen-cheng with shrapnel she'll. sweep
ing and searching every inch of tins
ridges where the Russians were sup
posed to be- No Russian guns replied
They had departed.
Soon the japanese fire slackened and
then the leading line upon the sand be-
came animated and slowly crept for
ward toward the base of the conical
hill. II advanced quite a long time
during which the suspense was painful
TO endure
Then there came to our ears the quick
g-unting OF distant volleys suffering
down the wind and the sound OF heavy
musketry FIRE. The line showed gaps
faltered, and melted away some run
ming backward others taking to shelter
many MORALLY hurt, but the second line
close behind gathered up the remnants
and swept on, followed by line upon
line
Closing on the hin. they diverged 10
the right and left, winding Up the pre-
cipitous front and swarming the sIoping
sides.