The Minneapolis journal., 1904-05-12

the Japanese infantry was exchanging
a rifle fire with the Russians two
masked batteries suddenly opened a
terrific shrapnel fire on the face of
the mountain opposite. The Japanese
infantry was creeping closer to the
Russians and poured heavy rifle fire
into the villages. The Russians were
overwhelmed, and tho they struggled
gallantly, they were soon forced to
leave the houses. They went straight
pausing every now and then to take
breath on the steep slope. Shrapnel
with awful precision was played over
them. / saw our projectiles bursting
| into columns Of smoke and sputtering
perpetual blasts Of flame above the
heads Of the Russians until the noun
| tain front seemed to be covered with
their glare.
After some delay the Russian bat
teries at Kiulien-cheng and behind
Tiger Hill awoke to the situation and
great shells came shrieking around us
with piercing screams and threw up
the earth and sand in all directions.
Two came plump into the Japanese
battery, but many dropped harmlessly
into the soft earth and the valley be-
meath.
Busy During the Night.
Darkness brought silence but not
lrest. During the night a Japanese
column silently crossed the river some
miles north of Wi-ju to the south. The
i batteries into position behind the shell
4 ter of trees on Kin-teito island, di-
Irectly facing Kiu-lien-cheng. Day.
break found the guns we'll concealed.
/ In the meantime, the superb Jap
anese infantry was marching south
J churian territory toward the unsus-
:, pecting Russians, while masked guns
and entertainments full Of troops
faced the main Russian position.
A slight mist now came down. The
firing began at Z, when the Japanese
! commenced to search the Russian po-
sition in the valley with shrapnel. A
duel followed between the guns Of the
two armies, the Japanese mainly
shelling the Russians around Tiger
island. Meanwhile, the Japanese were
steadily advancing southwards con.
cealed by the hills and marching 81.
lently in single file. The Japanese
!, this movement by skillful artillery
. fire.
Japs Are Like Chamois.
|; At 8 o'clock the Japanese began te
scale the mountain slope. The slope
was so steep that a chamois NIGH
have hesitated below its sheer preci
pioes. It was wonderful spectacle
and marvellous achievement. Whe1
, the Russians finally sighted them, sew
., eral Russian batteries behind Tigel
: hill were turned on them, but the pro
lection which the hillside afforded
rendered it almost impossible for thu
Russians to cause the enemy heav.
: loss. Soon Japanese skirmisher
showed high UP on the mountain cres
and Japanese scouts were advancing
!, into the valley behind. The Russian
! fired the village in the river valley an,
: then retired upon Tiger Hill.
The scene was now thrilling. Al
8 unending line Of batteries was firinl
!. on either side for three miles at full
= speed. The air rang, Jared with tn
!. tear and thud Of the exploding shells
: Smoke and flame from the burnin
= villages rose in the center of this up
= = roar. Rifles cracked rapidly in tn
:, valley beyond our sight, telling Of 9th
= er movements in progress. At mid
8 day the japanese were enfilading tn
! Russian batteries on Tiger Hill, an
: these were replying vigorously.
Is Bombardment Of Kinlien-cheng.
d The Cossacks as they fell back be
hind Tiger Hill were caught by tn