New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-27
VALOR OF THE JAPANESE
Hoe 1t Vas Shozcn an the Battle
of Lao Yang.

up TO the present-that of Lao Yang-was so great
and big that its story only be made up piece
meal writes correspondent OF THE London
Chronicle No single could from his indi-
vidual standpoint estimate or describe II in its
entirety. have discussed the fighting with many
attaches or many nations. and give these impress
sions of the lessons be learned from Lao Yang.
backed by opinions very much better than my
own.
THE best infantry In the world" was the uni
versal verdict That the theme of iunumer-
able eulogies OF the Japanese army. What even
their artillery failed to accomplish in its proper
sphere the infantry acheved-no infantry so mobile
none so enduring. approaching in the way.
they took their punishment faced almost certain
death. There is the thing in which they surpass
all other nations. Many times have ! seen Am ,ri
cans and British in action and my goodness! how
they hate being killed. Therefore we have laid
down rules that after certain losses varying from
Is TO 20 per cent men cannot be expected to ad-
vance.
The scale of al :lsSe thermometers Of valor must
be readJusted alter this war. More than one regi-
ment still advanced with a loss of more than so
per cent at Nanshan and went back until
the gallant remainder had planted It's flags on the
heights: and at LaoYang the losses in individual
instances were unprecedented and appalling. yet
the unit of company regiment division went
on as II Intact. It was magnificent beyond Euro
pean ideas OF war
lot Of what may be described as more or less
nonsense has been written about the great
oasis or solid lighting fact 20 go on. Like the in
fantry. their artillery is more mobile than the
Russian. and hence has been more effective. but
the Japanese guns shorter in range and smaller
In calibre. 1900 Kilograms against 1884 kilo-
grams, and have muzze velocity OF 800 feet
second less than the Russian. The Russian guns
can fire sixteen rounds minute without relayng.
II you have ever been under shrapnel fire, reader,
just think what this means. when every shrapuel
shell belches 200 bullets 1t requires pretty good
umbrella a
death shower; ana how men in the open be ex-
pected to stand up and serve guns under such
One Of the lessons of Lao Yang appears to be
that about three miles is the utmost effective
range The japanese had that With the ightest
foncer range With guns whose Weight was a
handicap to them. What the Russians gained In
y Of ne Benf a fa6Fs moTe @ So
5 Of Their y p aG the o
the Russian. and they carried out the scheme OF
The cavalry on either side did very little effective
the japanese made use of theirs to a considerable
Of the campaign was the utter failure Of the Cos
sack cavalry. Of which we had heard so much and
these Cossack cavalry are badly differed; others
that thS are not up to s the WegRt q b f4e
was ample opportunity for them on the long march
army; but during that march. as well as during
the eight days fighting st Lag Yang they were
haps The greatest defect in the Japanese army is
A
number of the horses suffered from sore backs.
and those belonging TO the correspondents and at
the japanese vets were too fond OF using the
lot Of pus has accunuiated Which must be let out
put they carved away IN manner quite unneces-
When, Immediately after the evacuation Of the
positions at Liao-Yang; General Oku led the at
them. every was filed with adnira ton for the
fence works, All the latest devices known to
moo modern military science we're there TO be seen
them was evident in various things For instance
nine feet @ 6ad w' on ana the sG
and bottoms. as partly to screen them. espe-
fire: in fact, one of the attaches had Very mar
FfW Of ns into one on top Of the pqnted
6arbed wire entanglements were well placed and
II was the universal opinion that these positions
Immediately outside Lao-Yang should never have
was clearly the result of oku's enveioping move
evidently anticipated RuTokis mehacing his left
because here he was prepared and the Russian de-
pected and successful movement OF Oku's left that
was the immediate cause of his retreat
Although the Japanese are naturally very silent
and uneq6mmunieatve on the subject | have
greatly. disappointed with the achievements of
The steadiness and order OF the Russian retreat
were apparent TO every one: train after train could
ne seen leaving the station in rapid succession:
their pontoon bridge across the river taken up
In the Ranking movement of Oku's left which
consider was the decisive touch that turned the
scale ard caused the Russians to retire. the Ian
anese advanced through q high screen of kowang
into which the Russians poured a tremendous rife
fire, as was shown by the piles of thousands OF
cartridge cases they left after them.
As regards the Japanese frontal attacks. II is
sary loss Of life in way vi they were We're devered
front OF four miles attacked along its
whole line simultaneously and evenly The waves
OF men were sent forward over ground that gave
absolutely protection. and hrstled with the
most devish obstacles in the shape of pits and
barhed wire entang clements, just as over the por-
tons OF the ground which gave some slight oppor-
tunity such as II was. to the attacking force. II
is questionable if would not have been better
the assailants to have concentrated their efforts
talions were seen to advance to certain destruc-
tion. leaving the little khaki clad figures strewn
behind in their track like potatoes falling from
sack with hole in its bottom. The self-sacrifCng
valor OF the japanese is unquestonaby a great
temptation 10 their commande"s to play more
dashing, forward and risky game than II they were
10 or IS per cent punishment. The japanese for
nation for the attack is also held by many be
too close although it Is now generally admitted by
attack need and should not be extended as
was In South Africa.
The Janarese officers themselves were wqrr1est
opponents and never did hear of any instance OF
cowardiCe except IN the Of few Polish Jews
who purposely allowed themselves 70 he taken
prisoners. and admitted that they had wish or
nCliraf ton to fight for Russia, and only did so be-
they compelled
A thing that did not fail to strike every one was
and their wonderful endurance They rod very
much more work TO do than the Russians In
tren"hed ard during all these d1vs the heat
terrible ard the ground which they fought
very bed. An unsurpassed quality OF the jan
Rreee is their supreme v"lor Their poets
ford of ri,ening Janonese hrave~v 10 the cherry
thing: their vaor has TON DIR military textbooks
to shreds and tossed their leaves to the winds.