The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-08-10
DETAILS Of THE BATTLE
OF S|MOUCHENG.
Russian Loss Double the Estimate
Made by japanese, Who Lose
Less Than 1000.
Japanese Won Victory BY Desper-
ate and Tireless Fighting
Superior 6eneraIship.

IOklO, Aug. D, nOcn.-lt IS now eS-
timated that the Russians lost 1000
men in the fighting at Simoucheng.
The Japanese sanitary corps recovered
and buried 700 bodies in the valleys
through which the Russians fought
and retreated. Prisoners and Chinese
report that many of the Russian dead
and wounded we're removed by the
Russians themselves. The japanese
captured six guns, $40 shells, a GUAM
tity Of stores and 80 prisoners. A
detachment of the Russian medical
corps which was captured by the
Japanese was returned to the Russian
lines. The japanese casualties at
Simoucheng amounted to $50 men,
including eight officers killed and "a
officers wounded.
Gen. Kuroki's attack upon the late
Lieut.. Gen. Count Keller was timed
to forestall the assumption, of the
defensive on the part of the Russians.
Frontal and flank attacks were de-
livered simultaneously against the
Russians at Yushulikzu at dawn of
Sunday, THE japanese artillery first
clearing the way for the infantry. The
position was captured at 9 o'clock ia
the morning. A frontal attack
against the Russian centre was con-
tinued but the general advance was
delayed to await the success of the
Japanese left column. The Russians
attempted repeatedly to retake their
former positions at Yushulikzu, but
the japanese repulsed them every
time.
The fighting at Yangtsuling began
at dawn Of Sunday, July 81, when
the japanese drove back the Russian
outpost companies and took possession
of the positions. The japanese artil-
iery was Ineffective there on account
of Typographical conditions. Horses
were useless and menNhad to drag the
guns over the broken country. 1t was
ii O'Clock before the main battery Of
artillery openedss fire. The main force
of the left column began the attack
from Makumenza and separate detach-
ments advanced along separate routes
with the object of striking the Russian
flank and rear.
The heights of Yangtzuling were
held by the Russians with four bat
Ga11OuS. Lie cdpdu0oO PoA o1o1y
silenced the Russian artillery, but
four of the enemy's guns continued to
sweep the japanese position. Only 20
japanese guns got into action. The
frontal attack delivered by the Japa-
nese in the morning had not become
effective by noon. In the meantime
La hanking column had scaled some
heights and gotten the Russians range
and at II O'Clock the Japanese\ artil-
lery was strengthened.
During the afternoon the infantry
pressed forward and the entire line be.
came engaged. The Russians resisted
stubbornly. The battlefield was a
most difficult one upon which to man
oeuvre and the japanese were not able
to dislodge the enemy. The troops OF
the mikado slept in battle formation
when the coming Of night suspended
hostilities. Fighting was resumed at
dawn next day and the Russians were
speedily repulsed. Gen. Kuroki esti-
| mates the Russians casualties at g..
900.
At Yangtzuiing the japanese cap
tu-ed two guns, with so rifles, 40t
tents and much ammunition and equip.
ment. Eight Russian officers and 14e
men were taken prisoners. In the
fighting at Yushulikzu and Yangzul.
| ing the Japanese casualties amounted te
$40 including four officers killed ano
40 wounded.