The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-10-18
ONLY HALF WAY UP
WHEN THEY WOKE
JAPS WERE ON THE SUMMIT.
TERRIFIC ENCOUNTER BEFORE
SATFCHOUN PASS AND RESULT.

Russians Make Brilliant Night
Charge, Drive Japs from Trenches,
but at Daybreak Find They Are
Only Half Way Up and Are Forced
to Retire-Fighting Like Demons
With swords, BayOnets and Piss
tolls.
Headquarters of The Russian Flank
ing Column on the Left, oct. H. by
Courier, via Mukden. Oct. 17,-On Oct.
10, when the Russian advance guard
appeared before Saitchoun pass its
eastern detachment occupied by a CORE
spending position before Tumin pass.
During the night the Russian signal
corps interpreted a flashlight message
showing that the Japanese artillery
was to shell several Russian positions
where batteries were posted at dawn.
The Russian batteries, therefore, shift
ed their positions during the night and
in the morning the japanese furious
ly bombarded the empty ground.
The fight began at $50 on the morn
ing of Oct. IL. Gen. Gerngross' corps
was assigned to capture the passes
by frontal attack and the remainder
of the Russian troops We're to turn
the Japanese position and take, them
on the flank and rear.
Roar OF Artillery DeafeninE.
The first assault was set for noon,
and the Russian batteries pounded the
Japanese position, searching out their
guns. Wherever possible the Russian
artillery was rapidly followed by the
infantry advance, the cannon fire be-
ing concentrated first on one and then
on another of the eminences which
were scanned with Japanese trenches
from base to summit.
l. The roar and crash of artillery and
the rattle of volley firing were deaf
ening The Japanese defended des-
perately. Their positions were so steep
that the attacking Russians could
make no progress in the face of the
murderous fire from the Japanese.
Whole advance companies lay down,
hugging the ground until evening and
repulsing sallies by the Japanese from
their trenches
Brilliant Night Attack.
At night an order came to renew the
attack. Gen. Kondratovitch led his
advance to the front, and again the
| Russians began to scale the rugged
| nights. The Thirty-third and Thirty
| fourth regiments fell under a whitening
| fire
The men were scarcely able to
breathe as they clambered up the steep
slopes, but they hung to the rocks and
returned the fire that was poured
down on them. Then they scrambled
forward again.
The Thirty-fourth regiment. com
manded by Col. Monskheloff, first
reached the trenches, going with the
bayonet at the Japanese, who fought
Ike demons with dubbed guns, with
swords, bayonets and revolvers. 1t
was an indescribable melee.
what Daybreak Brought.
The Russians reserves were ordered
up to support the gallant Thirty-fourth
and aided by the Thirty sixth Regi-
ment, and parts of three other regi-
ments, the Russians carried two lines
of trenches, after which the men lay
down, dead tired, in the Japanese shelf
ers till dawn.
Then it was discovered that while
the attacking force was about on level
with the passes themselves, they were
only half way up the nights, which were
commanded by japanese positions. In
these circumstances the Russians were
forced to withdraw. Oct. 10, the fight
ing was resumed, but without making
much Roadway.
On Oct. 10 after severe fighting the
main Japanese positions were cap
tured, and then, just as the task had
been accomplished, came the order to
retire, which the column accomplished
safely. but thoroughly exhausted by
the long fight.