The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-14
FIGHT IN
 THE MOTIEN PASS Russians Surprise laps While
 They Sleep HAND TO HAND STRUGGLE After Terrific Conflict the Eneaeer Finally Results In the Russi
 Being Driven Back With
 Loss of POO Men.
HAND TO HAND STRUGGLE

At the Front With General Kurolxi's Forces. July 4. via Seoul Korea, July l2- The brief disastrous attempt of the Rus sians to overwhelm the small Japanese forces which guarded the entrance to the Molten Pass was bloody affair. The Japane SC troops again exhibited their re- sourcefulness and courage and the Rus sians again threw away many lives. The losses cannot be ascertained until the battlefield has been searched. The Japa- nese are still driving the enemy up the valley. The correspondent of the Asso- ciated Press saw enough to justify the estimate that the Russians had more than 200 men killed and wounded and the Japa- nese casualties probably will amount to sixty. The Russians left thirty dead in front and in the trenches where the at- tack began. The Japanese took several prisoners and captured one hundred rifles. The Russians were seen carrying away two Japanese who had been killed or wounded.
 Molten Pass opens up a funnel shape slope which rises for quarter of mile from the valley and which is hanlxed py hills. Thirty-six Japanese were quartered in Chinese house near the bottom of the hill and two companies of Japanese soi- diers were in a trench a hundred yards long, located on the summit of the hill which commanded the approach. The other companies of soldiers slept near this trench. Between and { o'clock on the morning in complete darkness with a heavy fog enshrouding the hill two bat talions of the Tenth and Twenty-foutth East Siberian regiments, together with 100 cavalrymen approached the Japanese po- sitions.
 Surrounded the Outposts.
 They surrounded the pickets aud out posts in the house and gained a position from which to rush the trench. Several other Russian companies were so disposed that they could not attempt q nanixi1g movement on both the Japanese right and left When the fighting began the build ing where the outposts were posted be- came a slaughter house. Japanese arous- ed from their sleep by the enemy set their swords and bayonets right fo~ attack.
 The Russians were so close with the Japanese that is was impossible to use their rifles. The first fighting in the trenches and in front of the trench was hand to hand and the Japanese who ran out to man the trench were half clothed. The nrst Russian onslaught was repelled, but the Russians charged twice again within half an hour The remainder of the Japanese regiment, however, to which the outposts and the companies at the trench belonged reinforced their comrades and began to drive the Russians back. As soon as it was sufficiently light to distinguish the enemy two hours after the beginning of the fight, the Japanese force ed the Russians to retreat one mile down the valley. The trench and it's ap- breaches on the hillside were thiclkly cov- cred with dead and wounded Blood be- spattered stones and grass everywhere testified to the hotness of the fighting.
 Dead Are Buried at Once.
 Chinese stretcher bearers, impassive un- der dropping bullets, collected the wound ed and carting them to an improvised hospital in a roadside temple, they were laid out In rows under huge painted and plastered Gods. Japanese details with trenching spades were burying the dead where they fell, and Japanese soldiers were bringing water to their own and Russian wounded. and impartially gave them cigarettes.
 2 The fire continued during the afternoon but gradually the sound grew distant, indicating the Russians were still re- treating.