Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-07-30
WITH zARABoUAIEFFs CORPS.

manuef ana his stan stationed them
selves on the highest point, the center
one, whence they had an uninterrupted
view OF the surrounding country. The
general had placed batteries on the
plain behind these hills, the guns being
ceverly masked by lofty Chinese corn.
The japanese tried vainly the whole
day TO locate them, and the Russian
losses therefore were slight The men
suffered more from the scorching heat
OF the sun than from the Japanese pro-
jectiles,
AN ARTILLERY BATTLE.
It was essentially an artillery BATTLE
but II was remarkable even uncanny
that during the 10 hours II lasted the
Russians could not make out single
japanese soldier, even with the most
powerful glasses. From the position
occupied by Gen. Zaraboualeff's posi-
tlon not n single shot was fired but
the gunners on both sides worked like
madmen. The air split and torn by
the deafening crashing reports OF the
guns, the duh booming of the distant
shots furnishing "A background OF deep
bass for the vicious Kissing of the
hurrylng messengers Of death, explod-
Ing shrapnel shells formed clouds over
head, into which were thrown foun-
tains OF dust and sand when the shells
burst on the ground upon impact,
showering bullets and splinters around.
JAPANESE FIRE.
The japanese FIRE was at first con-
centrated upon the eastward hill, held
by small force Of Russians, and by
II o'clock this part of the position was
literally ailame, enough to try the
courage of the bravest soldier. When
AtFs
after another OF the Russian positions
became untenable.
JAPANESE NoN-PLUSsED.
In the meantime, the gunners serv-
ing the Russian batteries beyond the
hills redoubled their energies and the
Japanese were evidently non-plussed
by the herceness of the fire from the
unbeatable batteries. They even di-
rected their attention to the Russian
right showering projectiles on small
hill which was quite unoccupled, Then
the Japanese shifted their fire to the
Russian center but not single man
was withdrawn therefrom.
JAP FIRE CEASES.
The fire from the Japanese diminished
about o'clock and ceased altogether
half an hour later, whereas the Rus
sian batteries continued to fire. When
the Japanese gunners re-opened the
artillery duel later they had changed
their position to the westward, whence
they obtained an uninterrupted range
OF the plain behind the Russian posi-
ton, and their projectlles began falling
dangerously near the Russian batter
les. Two Chinese villages In the vicin-
ty suffered terribly. The whole plain
was ploughed and pitted by the explo-
sion Of the shells,
RELIEF FOR RUSSIANS.
With the approach OF evening the
Russians had a little relief from the
heat, but none from the japanese, the
only difference being that the flashes
OF the Japanese guns were distinguish
able on the slopes of the hills facing the
Russians, revealing their exact position
by the red sparks of each cannon's
mouth against the somber shadow. fol-
lowed by the bursting Of shells over the
Russians.
SCENE OF WILD BEAUTY.
The wild beauty of the scene had now
reached its zenith, the bombardment
slowly diminished in intensity and half
an hour later profound silence relgned,
of infantry volleys from the distant
portions of the field where the battle
was stlll dragging on.
sINMINTIN ABANDONED.
Upon reaching Sinmintin the same
evening the correspondent found that
the place had already been abandoned
by the Russian troops, though he was
for time under the impression that
they had merely gone out TO take up
positions at the front. In fact, he was
convinced that the fight must have
been a Russian victory since over the
great extent OF field which had come
under his observation for 10 hours the
japanese at no point seemed able to
advance Therefore, great was his sur
prise on Monday morning when he
awoke to find the Russian army re-
treating. Jumping into the saddle. the
correspondent rode out OF the village
and encountered large force OF Rus
sian cavalry covering an Infantry regl-
ment which was moving towards Ia
Tche Kiao, On reaching that town the
correspondent found everything pre-"
pared for It's evacuation. The last train
left Ia Tche kiao at about III o'clock,
at which time the Japanese were AL
ready bOmbarding the place, Notwith-
standing the fire and rapid approach
of the Japanese the Russian retreat was
carried out I'm perfect order, although
the men ard animals suffered terribly
from the sitting heat,
RUSSIAN STORES BURNED.
The Russian stores Of -four and other
provisions at ia Tohe klao were
burned and as the correspondent rode
northward immense columns OF black
smoke were rising along the horizon
behind him and until he approached Hai
Cheng at o'clock last night he could
hear the distant rumbling of the Japa-
nese guns.