Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-05-31
TWELVE THOUSAND KILLED IN
FIGHTING AT KINCHoU.
SToRMING OF NANsHAN HILL
Mikado's Troops Battle Against Great
Odds, But Finally Capture Strong
hold After Fighting for
Sixteen Hours.
Desperate Fighting.

Toxic, May 2S.-Subsequent reports
received here indicate that the storm
ing of Nanshan hill Thursday was
bloody affair. The Japanese first CEN
tered their fire on the Russian bat
teries, in which work they were aided
by four gunboats from Kinchou bay.
They succeeded in silencing many of
the enemy's guns. The Russians had
constructed a series of trenches around
the hill on terrace protected by wire
entanglements and other such devices.
The Japanese made a series Of rushes.
but they were in vain. The deadly
rifle and cannon fire of the enemy
checked them repeatedly. Finally at
three o'clock in the afternoon the Jap
anese reformed and stormed the crest
Of the hill. The Russians held to their
position doggedly and it was seven
o'clock in the evening before the Jap-
anese finally gained possession of the
ridge
Against Great Odds.
A japanese officer of high rank made
the following statement: THE Japan
.ese In attacking Kinchou and Nanshan
hill had to fight against great odds.
The Russians were in full command of
the strategical advantages afforded by
nature and these advantages were aug
mented by the newest inventions for
defense. The forts on Nanshan hill
were armed with heavy guns. The Jap
anese had only field guns, heavy guns
being unavailable on account of the
difficulties of transportation.
Our army deserves great credit for
having driven the Russians from this
stronghold; it was a feat previously
considered to have been impossible.
fear our losses have been heavy, but
we have gained the strongest point
barring our war to the investment of
Port Arthur"
Fought Sixteen Hours.
Washington, May 2S-The Japanese
legation has received the following de-
tails of the attack on Kinchou: 1.-The
enemy built several covered trenches
around the fort and Nanshan hill and
had the place stubEornly under strong
defensive works. Nevertheless, after
several attempts, the Japanese. finally.
succeeded in taking the enemy's posi-
ton by storm and driving them to-
ward Nankueling. This severe fight
continued for 16 hours. Admiral Togo
felegraphs that report was sent him
by wireless telegraph from the captain
commanding the detached squadron. +
consisting of four gunboats and tor.
pedo flotilla, to the effect that the
squadron reached Kinchou bay and, CO.
operating with the army, bombarded
Nanshan hill on May 26, and on wit
Messing our army occupying the forts
on the hill the squadron withdrew from
the scene of action. The captain of
the gunboat Shokai was killed and nine
others were killed and wounded. The
damage to the vessels was insignif1-
cant"
Japs in Pursuit.
Washington, May 28-Minister Girls
com cables the state department from
Toxic that the Japanese have captured
kinchou and are marching southwark.
London, May 2S-The Japanese lega-
ton has received the following official |
dispatch from Toxic:
"Kinchou and all the heights in it's
vicinity have been taken and our troops
are pushing the Russians toward Port |
Arthur"
Fighting Still in Progress.
Toxic, May 28--The Japanese army
swept the Russians from Kinchou
Thursday morning and, in a desperate
night attack, stormed the almost i'm
pregnable position of the Russians on
Nanshan hill, west of Talienwan The
battle ragged in the hills all through
the night, and fragmentary kilograms
from the japanese headquarters report
that the engagement is still in progress
and that the Japanese are still pursuing
the Russians south from Nanshan and
the head Of Talienwan bay. The Rus
SLAMS had made elaborate preparations
to check the Japanese movement south
on the Liaotung peninsula toward Port
Arthur.
Fight an Artillery Duel.
London. May ga dispatch from
Toxic to the Central News says: 1.-THE
fighting which eliminated in the JAP
anese occupation of Kinchou was prac-
tically confined to an artillery duel,
which, beginning at dawn of May 2e.
continued without intermission for
five hours Three Japanese warships
in kinchou bay cooperated, firing with
heavy guns on the Russian positions.
A Russian gunboat in Talienwan bay
also Joined in the fight, bombarding
the left flank of the Japanese army.
kinchou castle was occupied by the
Japanese at 20 minutes past four O'Clock
this morning Later the Russians
were driven from their positions on the
southern heights. The Japanese are
now in pursuit of the retreating Rus
sians."
The possession of Kinchou will be OIL {
INVALUABLE aid in the campaign against ,
Port Arthur. The hills command post.
lions OF the country for several miles
fn the direction of Port Arthur.
Blockade Is Completed IL
Toxic, May 2s.-vice Admiral Togoi
has now established complete block
ade around the southern end of theI
Lfaotung peninsula. This completely
snvelops Port Arthur from the seaward
and probably marks the opening Of thej
dnal investment of the town and Its
Notifications.
The japanese troops have swept all
he Russians from their defenses west
u Talienwan bay.