The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-06-03

KuSSianS gave have more than hlhteu al
the cause of the line. 1t certainly was not
in the line. for no more gallant men ever
tried their best 10 prevent disaster than
the brave fellows who held the trenches
above Conical Rock and StroVe 10 stem
the rout al Hamatsn.
These officers could or would not make
ii clear TO me what had happened 10 thelr
guns that so many OF them were taken.
Perhaps 1t was because most OF them
We're Infantry officers and had nothing 10
do with the artillery. The retreat Was a
complete rout and In the miN-up Whhe
some soldiers stayed and fought, the rest
Now some soldiers are saying unpleas-
ant things about the others. They all
seemed quite cheerful in their situation
and said that the japanese We're very
, good to them. They were to be sent TO
Japan in a day or two and were all giad
of it. SO. too were the men. Several or
these told ME that they. had relatives IN
America and wanted 10 know what |
thought of. their chances OF living there
They seemed to think the prospect very
bright of their getting out OF Russiai y
the States all at one stroke. and not one
of them regretted having been captured
II that were TO be the result.
OFFICERS OF RUSSIAN
FORCES DIVIDED ON PLANS.
General Fujii said the other day that he
had heard from the prisoners that little
before the battle there had been council
of officers and several plans had been sug-
4esied. There was great division OF
opinion, but the commander believed that
the crossing would be attempted below
Wiiu- perhaps as far down as Antuns
and had secuted the story that. the Jap
aileSS would go up the river.
ON the night Of April ~ six guns were
taken from the position at Conical Rock
and started over toward the extreme Rus
sian left. The JAPANESE had prepared FOR
lust that emergency and had posted the
thirty-six field guns OF the guard divi-
sion under the base of Tiger Hill: As soon
ing the japanese replied with all their
thirty-si1 guns and Simply smolhefeu
them Is
show the Russians that their effort was
hopeless and they gave II up. lhey haa
brought the guns into bad place from
which TO retreat. and before they had gone
Il great distance the japanese infaHtryrnen
were on them. They cut their horses loose
and as many men as could rode away: the
rest Were taken with the guns.
These guns, with fifteen others taken at
Hamatan and the eight Maxinls also taken
there. are now in tie compound of Chi
uese inn here In Antung. Besides. there
IS a mass of other material upon which
large detachment OF Japanese soldiers IS
at work sorting and classifying and pre-
pairing for use and for shipment back to
Japan.
Most of the field guns were rendered use
less by the Russians, who threw away tie
breech blocks or pins. The breech blocks
of all the Maxims were removed ana hld-
den or thrown away, so that not one OF
them can be used by the japanese for some
time company of artillerymen was put
TO work on the field guns at once. and by
assembling parts from all the guns bat
terry has been made ready for service.
These guns are all OF pattern 80 inch
steel spring recoil check. sighted uS 1900
meters. Their very high power was Was dem- lem,
threw shells from the conical rock wall
behind Win. The sight bars were taken
OFF some of the guns before the Russians
abandoned them, and from others the
range checks were removed. But on the
twenty-one taken the Japanese found
nearly all the parts necessary 10 equip
gun there was a chest In which spare
parts were carried and the artillerymen
were able to find some OF the things they
needed in these chests.
JAPS CAPTURE QUANTITY
OF SHRAPNEL AND SHELLS. -
Yesterday E.Jrning. wher / saw them,
they were, very busy cleaning up the new
guns and gettirg them shipshape. Most
Of the guns bore the date of 1902. but
few were made In 1901. None OF them was
older than that.
With the guns was taken an immense
amount OF ammunition, but shrapnel and
common shells. The caissons and ltmbers
OF most of tha guns were full, and there
were a dozen or more ammunition wagons,
each full.
Several hundred thousand
small arms were also captured. This am
munit'on was carried in small twowheeled
carts each OF which held 5000 rounds 1t
V az put up in clips of five cartridges each.
three clins in q cardboard box, and packed
in sealed lead cases. which Were cut open
with a sharp wheel as needed beside the
Surs.
There were more than 1000 rifles taken
and also piles of intrenching tools. small.
short -hanCled shovels. others with long
handles, and lot of shcrt-handled, broad
\ hao lFlH nlN R,-rT
Stacks of ali kinds of clothing were taken,
uniforms and overcoats predominating.
and one band had left its Instruments. the
big brass horns showing the marks of
three or four japanese bullets.
There were dozen bugles. also, each
with the Russian coat of arms on the bell.
distilers. or whatever they are. fell into
the hands of the japanese, along with a
lot of forage wagons and three high
wheeled transportation carts.
There were also Il lot of Red Cross
carts and two arnbulanceS, which the
japanese will send back to the Russians
at the first opportunity, as provided for
by the Geneta convention. One OF the
Russian surgeons stayed with his wound
ed and was brought in. He has been OF
great service IN ascertaining the names
of wounded and dead. and acting as a gen.
eral interpreter, as well as in his pro-
fessional capacity, as he speaks German
and talks with many or the japanese. Of
flcers, only IT., very & rev 9 OF whom IS speak .t,s
inn-and It is a large one-was full of
the material captured from the Russians
1t is this capture of guns ans ammuni-
ton which shows the size of the Jao-
.anese victory. /. The fight of the .Yalu re-
veaIs the extreme OF two conditions.
Among the. Japanese there was the. high
est efficiency In every engagement, the
most complete preparation and the most
thorough knowledge, both of the country
and of the situation of the enemy. Among
the Russians there was only an amazing
tumble of incompetency and stupidity. if
not worse. and careiessness. 3 go
Unless there's a decided change in their
method they will not win land battle of
any magnitude in the entire campaign.
Nothing but the most conscientious and
thorough hard work can make heaGway
against the extraordinary military eff
cheney of the japanese.