The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-06-22

Japanese Take the Hills East and West
Driving the Enemy to tho Neck OF
Port Arthur Under. q Sharp lombard
ment-Blg Losses on Both Sides From
the Artillery Fire.
Tokio.-It is stated with every ap.
pearance Of truth that the japanese
carried Kinchau by storm, after sev.
eral hours assault, and that after the
assault they advanced to attack the
Russians holding the hills to the
south of the town.
Shanghai.-Reports Of the capture Of
Kinchau received here say that the
Japanese opened the attack with
heavy artillery. which they had placed
in commanding positions.
The main assault was delivered at
midday. The walled town was occu.
pied in the afternoon. The losses on
either side are not known. 1t has
been reported that the Russians had
thirty heavy guns defending Kinchau.
besides mines and wire entanglements.
Their main position was at Nankia-
ling, at the narrowest point of the
isthmus.
This position, 1t is now said, the ia
panese began bombarding at dawn.
They finally drove out the defenders.
suffering little themselves. The main
assault followed next day.
The Russians retired in good order to
the southern heights. The Japanese
followed and stormed these. also
carrying them after a stubborn re-
siStance.
London.-The Toxic correspondent Of
the Chronicle says that the Japanese
had been fighting stubbornly for eight
days around Klnchau, making little
progress against the Russians, who
occupied strong positions on the
heights, until the final assault.
Shan Hal Kwan.-No accurate report
can be sent of the losses of the jap
anese or the Russians in the two days
Of fighting, but careful estimates put
the number of troops engaged at 10000
by the invaders and 5000 by the de-
tending force. There is no doubt that
the Japanese won a victory.
The fighting was severe in the vii
lagos northeast of Dalny and on the
western side of the peninsula, ranging
between thirty and forty miles north Of
Port Arthur. The Japanese" whatever
their losses may have been, which
must have been heavy in taking q
series Of small hills we'll protected,
succeeded in advancing and a general
engagement took place on both sides
Of Kin Chow. The Japanese sea bat.
teries assisted In silencing the Russian
guns on the westerly slope north Of
the Port Arthur neck. There was
heavy firing on the easterly side Of the
peninsula on the hills north Of Dalny
during the afternoon, and it could be
noticed from the gulf that the Jap
anese had advanced perceptibly at
nightfall. At sunrise the fighting was
continued, and it evidently is the pur-
pose Of the Japanese to surround Port
Arthur from Dalny Bay to Toepentz,
Bay, thus completely isolating the
fortress preparatory to the siege.
Specially constructed tracks have
been laid from Kin Chow Bay running
northerly for the heavy artillery which
the Japanese intend to use in attempt
Ing to reduce the Notifications of Port
Arthur. From the Dalny side of Port
Arthur other guns are being carried
forward and there is no longer any
doubt that without delay the Japanese
will make a determined assault on the
fortress.
The Japanese soldiers are said to
compose the Twenty-fifth and Twenty
sixth regiments Of the Thirteenth
brigade, under the command of Lieu
tenant-General Baron Osaka. They are
all infantry, which Is regarded as sure
proof that the investment Of Port
Arthur will be carried on the moment
the range of hills south Of Mansans-
zelipo Is taken. If the Japanese we're
successful in the recent fighting on
the %northerly side Of Dalny. they will
be able to command the hills in and
about Mansanszelipo, and then. with
their siege guns In position, will be
able to bring the outer Notifications Of
Port Arthur under direct fire. Ac-
curate estimates place their force now
on the peninsula at not less than 49,
900, Of which number there is only a
division of cavalry, estimated at 1900.
Among the infantry landed at Pi-Tsu-
Wo are the Twentieth and Fortieth
regiments, under the command of Lieu
tenant-General Baron Kawamira.
The men in these regiments saw serV-
ice in the Chinese War and were fore
most in the attack on Pekin.