The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-05-28

day. for their batteries opened fire
slowly on the enemy on that day. The
Japanese, however, refused to be drawn
into an attack until the positions of
the Russians, their guns and their
strength had been fully developed.
To this end, the japanese began a
series of careful manoeuvers, their Of
ficers working their way close enough
to the Russian position to draw the
enemys fire. They thus secured frag-
ments of shells for the purpose of as
certaining the caliber of the Russian
guns. They discovered that the bat
teries on Nanshan- hill included four
howitzers of about fifteen centimeters
! caliber; ten old style cannon of be-
tween nine and fifteen centimeters
caliber, and two quicA firing guns OF
twelve centimeters.
The japanese discovered also a num-
Der of large emplacements. but they
did not learn the number of guns con-
| tained therein. These emplacements
| faced to the north and to the east.
The guns fired by the Russians de-
veloped a range of $500 metres. Eight
heavy guns, posted on the Russian
right, in the vicinity of Hushangtao,
also were discovered, and another
strong Russian position developed by
these reconnaissance was on another
hill southwest of Nanshan hill where
the Russians had a series of shelter
trenches.
On the shore of Talien Wan bay
close to the head of the bay, the Rus
slams had established a series of posi-
tions. Here were set up the search
lights which nightly played over the
japanese angle in the hills to the north
east.
Further "Reminiscences developed
the fact that west of Liu CHA Tien
the Russians had no defences. Ex-
tending to the northward from Yen
CHA Tien to the west coast of the
Lao Tung peninsula, there were no
defenses whatever, except the force
posted at Kin Chou.
This gap in the defense was fatal
defect in the Russian position. and
when it was perceived the japanese ex-
tended their right to the north and
east, enveloping Kin Chou and the Rus
sian extreme right. The Japanese left
also was extended to Wang CHA Tung
on the shore of Talien Wan bay and
the center moved forward.
Wednesday morning at $50 o'clock
the Japanese attacked Kin Chou and
for three hours they had an artillery
duel with the batteries on Nanshan
hill. The Russian gunners searched
the Japanese lines with their fire, but
failed to infict much damage.
The battle was resumed at dawn on
Thursday.
Three Japanese gunboats then en-
tered Kin Chou bay and in cooperation
with the artillery on shore, shellcd the
Russian positions on Nanshan hill.
A Russian gunboat in fallen Wan
bay steamed close to the shore and
shclled the Japanese left.
From dawn the batteries on both
sides hammered away at each other.
At an early hour the Japanese infan-
try moved forward. and at EGO o'clock
on Thursday morning they entered Kin
Chou, the Russians retiring 10 the
south.
The fighting continued into Thursday
night, the Japanese pressing to the
south and storming Nanshan hill. They
followed the retreatng Russians
through the southern hills.
The reports received here fail to
cover the events on the Russian right.
1t is probable, however, that the Rus
SLAMS have abandoned these positions.
No information is given concerning
losses; they probably were heavy on
both sides.
The Russian resistance at Nanshan
hin was stubborn. The Japanese made
a series of assaults before the Russians
finally yielded the position The Rus
slams abandoned this hill at O'Clock
in the afternoon, retreatlng toward
Nanduan Ling. where II is understood
a second line Of defenses exist
The Russians may rally at this line
of defenses unless they have been dis
ordered by the defeat at Kin Chou and
Nanshan. The Russians had series
OF mines planted at the Nanshan sta
tion on the railroad which were ex-
ploded. The station was destroyed.
(cOntinued on Fifth Pagel