The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1904-11-10


tilted ridge. and General Nogi summon
cd the generals Of the left and center
divisions to consult with him concern
ing the operations.
Did Not wait For NoeIs order.
During his absence. at IL in the
morning, without special orders. sever
al companies ofsa regiment Of the cen
ter division emerged from their trench
es at the foot OF East Banjusan fort
and in tens and twenties charged up
the slope to the broken wall Of the
trench around the crest Of the fortified
bill under cover Of a splendid shrapnel
practice from their field batteries in
the valley
The Russians behind the wall and In
the fort poured ont hail of rife hui
lets, and machine and quick firing guns
belched forth on the intrepid Japanese.
Twice the latter were forced back till
the slope was covered with bodies. but
third attempt was made, and score
Of Japanese reached the broken wall.
The terrible fire OF the Russians. how
ever, started their retirement
Oficer's Heroism Gained Day.
Suddenly Japanese officer. regard
less Of the danger, stood up, called out
an order, planted his regimental flag
on the wall and was Immediately rid
died with Russian bullets. The effect
on the Japanese Of this sacrifice was
instantaneous. The retreating infan-
trymen stopped in their tracks, hest
tated and then charged back, fought
like demons, jumped over the wall,
charged the Russians with bayonets
and forced many Of them up the
glacis, over the ramparts and into the
fort.
The fact that they had reached the
corner wall on the dead ground en-.
abled the Japanese 70 hold on, though
the entire Russian fire was concentrat
ed on that point for six hours.
The Japanese were REINFORCED from
time to time By rushes made by their
comrades up the deathway from the
trenches. and they stubbornly held the
corner wall and a small section Of tho
Russian trenches till O'Clock, when
two companies Of another regiment
worked through tile trenches ana at
tackled the West Baniusan fort. the
magazine Of which had been blown up
by shell a short time before.
Fort al Last rails.
Taking advantage Of a diversion Of
the Russian ire. the Japanese attack
ing the first fort forced the Russians
back captured the fort at the point OF
the bayonet and pursued the Russians
along the connecting trenches to the
Chinese wall The West Banjusan fort
was captured at o'clock after q slight
resistance, the Japanese being unable
to occupy It, as the magazine was
blown up but they held the trench
line around the crest.
In the afternoon three battalions Of
Japanese reserves were added to thu
center division, and during the night d
regiment left the division and assault
ed and captured part Of South Keek
wan fort. and feint attack was mads
at the foot of Urh mountain in order
to divert the Russians attention from
the massing of troops in the valley ii
front Of the Banjusan forts. Four field
guns and four machine guns were
mounted in the East Banjusan fort and
six field guns and four machine guns
In the West Banjusan fort
wedge HAD been Pierced.
The dawn Of Aug. % developed a pc
culiar position. The assault Of the pre-
vious afternoon had resulted in pierc-
ing the Russian fortified ridge east OF
Port Arthur in the form OF wedge
while elsewhere the entire line was
still strongly held. The concentration
OF the japanese reserves in the Shuishi
valley IN front Of the captured forts
showed that 1t was the evident inten-
ton OF the japanese to use their foot.
hold on the fortified ridge to segregate
the eastern forts and carry the whole
ridge by assault.
AT daylight the Russians concentrate
ed their shrapnel fire on the captured
forts, and the japanese south OF Keek.
wan were elected from their positions
The Banjusan forts were subjected 60
an awful Ere, bur the Japanese In pos
session of them continued making
bomb proof trenches ON the hills. There
was fierce bombaFdment all day.
There was tremendous activity. the
rear lines sending forward ammuni'
ton. The news came in whispers that
a general assault would take place be
tween midnight and in the morning
For hours after nightfall the dark.
ness and silence We're broken by an
occasional shell from the Japanese bat
teries. while the Russians burst many
starIlghts over Shuishi village, where
they made feint at i sortie imme-
diately after a furious fusillade IN the
rear Of the captured forts
Clever Russian Counter Attack.
Here the Russians, anticipating an
assault, made strong counter attack
The japanese advance lines were
driven from the forts and were furi-
ously attacked by large bodies Of Rus
SLAMS, who also worked down on either
side of the captured Baniusan forts
to the valley III m attempt TO cut on
the retreat Of the Japanese from the
two forts
The Russians move was cleveriy
planned and their artillery command
-. .,,,,.o ,t,au informed fnr thpv omen.