New-York tribune., 1904-09-23
NAN-SHAN'S WEAKNESS.
Russian Failure to Strengthen Forts
on Kin-Choz0 Bag.

Prom Occasional Correspondent OF The Tribune)
Dalny, Aug. 16-Nan-Shan, where General
Oku won his remarkable victory, owes both its
strength and its weakness to the bays on either
hank-Kin-Chow Bay and the shallow inlet
called Hand Bay; its strength, in that flank
ing movement beyond the range even OF noun
tain batteries is hazardous either to the right
or to the left, and its weakness, because the
position made it possible for the fire of Jap
anese gunboats. at high tide to silence COM
pletely the forts fronting Kin-Chow Bay, and
allowed the Osaka division to make its final sue
cessful charge. AS the official report of Cen
eral Oku states. the Japanese infantry charged
Nan-Shan from three sides all day. and the
osaka division was eventually able to reach the
heights at o'clock in the evening.
One Of the most striking features of Nan
Shan and its vicinity is the entire absence OF
any neighboring eminence favorable to an at
tacking army to place artillery. For this rea-
sen the most important factor of Japanese SUI
periority in this arm was completely eliminated.
The attacks were a succession of badly sup
ported infantry charges-nothing more. The
long. sloping hill meadow in the centre OF the
position faces the village suburbs of Kin-Chow.
The whole view from this side is a wide plain,
with little Chinese towns studded here and there,
the mountains we'll behind. and either hand
the two bays The walled city of Kin-Chow is
to the left of the hill, mile or away.
The Toxic division attacked the centre from
cover of these village suburbs in the morning.
There is hers a maze of connected trenches ex-
tending in and out of covered ways clear to
the rear of the hill. From these trenches ter
raced firing was possible. and IT can clearly be
seen that the Toxic division must have received
the fire Of every Russian rifle from the lowest
trench to the highest The trenches are not.
cd fhoR oF he
manent character suggested by the fortidca-
tions-covered ways and emplacements. search
lights and storehouses-upon the heights of the
position
To the right OF Nan-Shan lies Hand Bay
where the gunboat Bobr was able to direct its
fire upon the japanese troops in support of the
artillery and infantry. on this side it is more
preclpitous, but not so much more as to pre-
vent the highest trenches from sweeping the
hillside everywhere. or to interfere with the
free play Of the artillery upon an advancing
force There were also many wire entangle-
ments here. and in fact. II was perhaps even
more difficult to attack than the centre. No
impression whatever was made on this side.
But the Russians made a fatal mistake on
their own left flank In not strengthening the
forts facing Kin-Chow Ray against an attack
by sea In fact, they underestimated the fire
OF the gunboats and this mistake cost them
the hill. For on this side. when on the high
tide the gunboats drew in toward evening the
forts were completely silenced, and the tired
Osakas made one last successful charge. Had
these forts been able withstand the naval
guns little longer. reinforcements would have
arrived. AS It was. the Russians could not
command these forts with their remaining ar
tillery, and they were obliged to begin retreat
which was little better than rout. In this re-
spect Russian lack Of foresight meant a COM
plete neglect Of the power OF shallow draught
gunboats. which can hardly be accounted for,
thev were quite aware of the usefulness OF
their own Bobr on the other flank II was a
private's battle from tho japanese standpoint:
10 him alone most Of the credit fa due.
A description OF the ensuing advance upon
the Russian lines OF defence may not pass the
censor: It was through a country studded with
innumerable hills They are so irregular that
not even the suggestion of a range can be per-
ceived. and through all this country the Russian
positions only be described as armed prec-
pces. In themselves they are impreguable:
but I'm their numbers lies their weakness. wher-
ever the Russians occupied position favorable
for defence. the Japarese could find one equally
suitable for attack Such country could only
have been defended by a far greater force than
the Russians had at their disposal
Through ali the peninsula there is no sign
OF an srmy's ravages There has been no
marauding. no foraging. no burning OF houses:
the Chinaman has held the role OF a privileged
spectator. on August 10. from the hill called
Anshire by the japanese the operations against
Port Arthur could be seer from a distance II
was as II one were watching fireworks long
way off-a pun OF smoke in the twilight. an IN
distinct cloud. rising slowly. like that sort of
rocket called the parachute, and then the long
awaited report; and everywhere on the sur
rounding hillside lay the corn fields ready for
harvesting. undlsturbed. The little donkeys
which the Chinese farmers use Wen. on quietly
feeding It was Just the peaceful ordered pict-
ure of prosperous countryside: and not ten
miles away a hundred thousand men were fight
ing for their lives