Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1904-06-03
JAPS PROVE GREAT FIGHTERS
THEIR CHARGE UP NANSHAN
HILL WAS HEROIC.
Nine Times Infantry Charged Fortified
Heights In Face of Deadly Fire Of
Cars Men-Japanese Squadron In
kinchou Bay Did Effective Work
at Right Time.

|
| Toxic, May 30.-The details of the
fighting at kinchou emphasize the he
hoic tenacity of the japanese in theil
conduct at Nanshan hill. Nine success
sive times the japanese infantry charg
ed the fortified heights in the lace OF
a storm of death deaing missiles, and
in their last effort they carried the
forts and trenches only after bayo
net conflict with the Russians, who
made desperate, despairing struggle
to beat back the oncoming hordes. The
final assault of the japanese, in which
they at last succeeded in taking pos
session, was marked by the most des-
perate hand to hand encounter that
has thus far characterized the war.
The Japanese left throughout the
action until night was exposed to an
entilading fire from the Russian infan-
try, a gunboat in Talienwan bay and
Tafancheng.
AT critical moment the ammunition
of the artillery ran low, and it was de-
cided to cast the remaining ammuni-
ton into one final desperate assault
Fortunately, at the moment this de-
cision was reached, the Japanese
squadron in Kinchou bay, which had
ceased bombarding when the infantry
had first moved forward suddenly re-
sumed the Smelling of Nanchan hill.
Then it was that the issues of the day
were determined. At moment when
the outcome was fiuttering between
success and defeat for Japan-at that
moment was an almost certain repulse
converted into victory so successful
that the forces of the czar were swept
into confusion and disorderly retreat.
With every Japanese gun centering
its fire upon the Nanshan forts and
trenches, the Nippin infantry sprang
over the bodies of the dead comrades
who had sacrificed their lives in the
previous fruitless charges, the entire
line rushed forward toward the fort
where the fire of the Japanese squad
ron had proved most deadly and which
was the first to weaken under the
death dealing bombardment. And it
was there that the first breach was
made in the human stonewall that all
day had been an invinciple barrier to
the impetuous assaults of the brown
men.
Conflict With the Bayonet.
1t was the fourth division of the
Osaka men that stormed the Russian
let. 1t had once been said that Osaka
men were not brave. 1t will never be
said again.
The first division of Toxic, which
had the center and the third of Nago-
va occupying the left, and which had
been exposed all day to the Russian
fire against the front flank, now fol-
lowed the example of the Osaka men,
rushed forward, and the battle became
transformed from an artillery duel into
one of personal conflict, with the bayo-
net as the instrument of warfare. On
every parapet the restistless, death de-
flying Japs surged forward in increas-
ing numbers and, hustling the Rus
sions from their entertainments, swept
over the hill. At 1880 O'Clock, as the
sun was sinking beneath the horizon,
the flag Of the land of the rising sun
floated ab.ve the blood sodden Nan
shan hill, while the shouts of "Banzai"
swelled from the hill to shore, and
reached from squadron to fort.
Victory Dearly Bought.
Japan paid for her victory in $500
killed and wounded. To the Russians
the humiliation of defeat was inten-
sifed by the loss of 6S cannon and 10
machine guns, while lying dead in the
trenches were 500 men, the victims OF