Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1904-08-12
TEST OF FIGHTING ABILITY.
Attempt of Russians 20 Retake Molten
Pass Showed Jap Capacity.

Fass SnoWsc Jap Gapacity.
Molten Pass. Manchuris. July IL, Via
Seoul. Korea, Aug. s.-The Russians i'm
their second unsuccessful attempt TO re.
take Molten pass early on the morning
or July IL were repulsed and forced
back to their opening in the oriental
positions, after five hours OF severe
lighting. They suffered heavy losses
compared to the japanese casualties.
Three regiments We're engaged ON the
Russian side. They We're the Ninth
and Twenty-fourth East Siberian regi-
ments, which failed to distinguish
themselves i'm the previous attacks, and
the Thirty-fourth regulars of the Ninth
division. Opposed to them was one
Japanese regiment and one battery.
The European regulars. who for the
FIRST time met General Kuroki's soldiers.
proved in no wise superior to the ST.
berian contingents of the Russian
army.
The Russians took advantage of the
heavy fog which enveloped the noun
tains. They began TO advance at 2
o'clock in the morning. and at 5 O'Clock
they opened fire when the mist was so
dense that IL was impossible for the
Japanese to see them more than 100
yards away.
Major General OkaZaki learned Of the
Russians purpose to enew the attack
on the pass, and also when they pre-
pared to leave their lamps but the
heavy fog prevented the Japanese from
gaining information as to the Russians
positions. The Japanese were badly
handicapped until 9 o'clock. when the
fog cleared somewhat.
The Opening Attack.
The attack began on the ledge below
the mouth of the pass, where the en-
lma crornaf,f nf IIlW 4 nPpilrrR6 and the
severest fighting was against the Rus
slams who gained the temple and the
road behind the trenches there.
The Japanese outpost companies were
forced from these trenches after bay
onet fighting t. the summit of the line
of hills forming the highest ridges of
the range, where is the entrance 10 the
pass. This range is half a mile behind
the trenches. Halfway between the
trenches and the ridge, and about par
allel to them, runs the road upon which
is located the temple. The fiercest fight
ing was forced about this temple, which
the Russians held for about three
hours, in spite OF a rain of bullets from
the opposite ridge. The Russian dead
and wounded were thick about the tenn
pie. Five dead men had fallen in the
road on their races. Their rifles were
under them; they had been killed as
they appeared owe the crest OF the hill,
One Russian battery fired upo the
Japanese for two hours, and TO this fire
a Japanese battery on the ridge re-
piled.
When the sun dispelled the fog AT
about 9 o'clock the Japanese made
quick work of the affair. At this hour
the Russian line extended across the
valley and along the sides of the hill
on each side Of the valley, while the
Japanese occupied the ridge from which
the pass debouches and the hillside or
he Russian TANKS.
Russians Driven Away.
The Russians made a hurried but
sairly orderly retreat down the valley
They left behind them, however, many
dead and wounded men. a number OF
rifles, drums, great coats and trenchine
tools. A Russian battery took UP a pc
lsition In the valley and fired a few
rounds to cover the retreat, and in.
fantrymen were brought up In good
order by their officers to support the
guns. The white worn by the
| Russian officers made them conspicu
Gus targets for the Japanese. The Rus
sian firing was altogether in yolleys
while the Japanese fired at will. The
Russian troops kept In close formation,
but the Japanese soldiers deployed In
splendid order. 1t was plain hat the
Japanese soldiers were of greater eff.
~fectiveness and lash han the Rus
slams. The engagement was a fair test
of the capacities of the two forces, and
the result was that one Japanese regi-
ment of three battalions, only two OF
which were on the firing line. defeated
three Russian regiments In spite of the
fact that another Russian regiment was
held In reserve. The Russians en-
ployed their artillery much more than
the Japanese did theirs.
The japanese think hat their casual.
ties amounted to about 200. The Rus
sian casualties are undoubtedly much
greater than In the former engagement.
Russian dead were being buried all
over the field; the temporary hospitals
are filed with wounded. and a few un-
wounded Russians, who had hidden in
he fields, are surrendering.