The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-06-17
STORY OF vAFANGow.
Description of Battle by Correspond
ent on the Ground.


ent on the Ground.
Liza Yang. June IA correspondent
of the Associated Press, who was pres
ent at the battle of Vafangow describes
the fight as follows:
The stern, logged, fighting at the
battle of Vafangow was like another
Borodino. The roar of the machine
guns and the boom of the cannon stil
rings in ones ears.
Throughout the three days of COM
bat the officers Wed With each other in
pluck and heroism. They have all
added a glorious page to Russia's
military history.
The enemy's advance originally in
cluded the Fifth, Eighth and Eleventh
divisions, u SquaGrons of cavalry and
splendid field artillery. About 200 guns
We're belching a continuous stream of
shot and shell. Large achievements
enabled them to turn the Russian
TANKS. A diversion on the right pre-
cipitated the battle in the morning OF
June Is. Major General Gerngross, who
was wounded, commanded the lett
flank and General LouthkOvsky COM
manded the center, including four bat
taIions concealed in a small wood.
whence they dealt death and de-
structiOn on the enemy
The Russian right was protected by
Cossacks, Dragons and Siberian rifles
while these big guns were thun-
m. to the Russian right flank and
climbed a hill whence 1 could view
the whole field of battle. Behind
battery had taken up a position from
which it kept up a continuous fire
on the advancing ranks of the en-
envy. Through glasses I could see the
sandy valley of the Tassa, with the
Chinese village of Fafan. The heights
of Foo Chou, the railroad bridge and
the surroundings copse were occupied
by Japanese infantry. Then black
| lines of infantry, like threads, could
be seen creeping through the Verdure.
Not far the slope of a hill was dotted
| by the gray shirts of Russian rifle
men. A brownish smoke overhung
some of the batteries and others
showed flashes of flames. The crackle
of rife fire was punctured by roar
/ of guns Occasionally I heard the
hiss of japanese bullet. The scene
was awe inspiring. over the Russian
center and left flank lowered choco-
/ late clouds from bursting shrapnel.
1 saw reserves hurrying forward, the
cossacks galloping, followed by col
umns of infantry. Suddenly they dis
appeared in an adjacent defile. The
valley where the Russians had
| camped was emptied as if by magic
| Rafting volleys were fired behind the
screen of hills which concealed the
/ lighting troops from view in that di-
rection, the sound of the firing being
| the only evidence of the deadly
| struggle proceeding there. This con-
! ll1u6Q LOT nan an nOuG. suddenly a
/ company of cOSsacks appeared on the
crest of hill and began to descend.
They were followed by infantry The
/ japanese gunners promptly pursued
them with shrapnel. Horses and men
/ began falling.
"A moment of narrowing suspense
was relieved by a laundering shout of
| hurrah.'
IT was from couple of thousands
| OF Russian troops just brought up by
] train. They quickly jumped from the
| cars, fixed bayonets and literally ran
! into the fight.
again the crackle of musketry un-
| der cover, during which the retiring
Russian regiments formed up and
moved off in complete order toward the
railroad. While a long line of commits
sar1at wagons escorted by Cossacks
/ took to the road, a battery of horse
artillery stationed near the railroad
/ banged away furiousIy as it covered the
retreat. The Japanese shells were fall
| ing on the station buildings from which
/ tram AFTER train had moved. l descend
| ed the hill and just succeeded in jump
/ ing on the footboard of the last car.
| Some of the Russian batteries on the
| left flank were still firing. The main
force then began slowly to retreat tow
ard Vantsalin, 80 miles north of Van
fangoW, and at about l in the after
noon had accomplished its strategic
mission The battle of Vafangow had
DETECTED considerable Japanese forces
| from Port Arthur.
The fighting was glorious For two
days the Russian regiments valorously
maintained their positions and took the
| offensive on the left, so pressing the
| enemy there that a couple of Japanese
batteries fell into the Cossack's hands.
/ The Russian soldiers went into battle
singing, their spirits not afected by
! the fierce heat and furious cannonadinE
whose intensity may be gagged from
| the influence it had on the atmospheric
conditions RaindrOps fell like tears