The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-06-20
OKU'S VICTORY.
Fight at Telissu Much Like That
at Nanshan Hill.
Russians Had a Better Position
in Later Battle.
RUSSIAN LOSS HEAVY
Reported at Double That Of the
Japanese.
Left Many Dead on Field When
They Reiterated.
RUSSIAN LOSS HEAVY


victor of the battle of Nan Shan hill.
May 26. fought and won the battle of
Telissu CVafangow, according to the
Russian designation) Wednesday.
There is a strong similarity be-
tween the two fights. At Telissu the
japanese had to drive the Russians
from two hills, while at Nan Shan
the enemy occupied only one hill.
The Russian position at Telissu was
superior to that of the Japanese and
equalized the advantage of the Japa-
nese in having a larger force. The
Russian position extended from east
to west and crossed the narrow val
ley through which run the Foo Chou
river and the railway. From their
positions on the right and left in the
high hills which flank this valley Gen
eral Oku drove the Russians down
into the valley.
The Japanese general carried first
the enemys right and then his left.
The fight at the left of his line was
s. the most desperate of the day. The
Russians held this position with des-
perate determination and only fled
when they were almost completely
enveloped. The field had been dis
puted all day, and when the Japanese
reached it 500 of the enemy's dead
were found there.
General Oku started from a line
marked by Pula Diem and the Tassa
river, Monday. His right column
moved along the Tassa river, his main
column along the railroad and his left
column by a road leading through
Wuchttaun, Suchuankon and Tahoai.
The japanese cavalry started from
Pttsewo, over a road leading through
Shunzo, and the small bodies of Rus
slams opposing this advance were
brushed away. The left column reach
ed Nachialing Tuesday, and the main
or middle column and the right column,
keeping in touch with each other, reach
a line between Chiachiatun and
TapinGlkou, seven and a half miles south
of Telisau. the same day.
The Russian forces then held a line
between Tafangshen and Lungwang-
tiao. The entire Japanese line advanced
and at o'clock in the afternoon the
japanese artillery opened fire. The
Russians had ninety-eight guns and
they replied with spirit until darkness
put an end to the artillery duel
Tuesday night the Japanese right
column seized a hill between Tsong-
chiotun and Wengschiantung, and the
middle column occupied a hill to the
west of TapingkOu.
When dawn Of Wednesday broke the
field of battle was obscured by fog but
the artillery opened early. A portion
Of the Japanese middle column advanced
to the north side of a bend in the Foo
Chou river. Here these men were
greatly exposed to the enemy's fire, but
force of infantry and artillery was
hurried forward and relieved them. At
$3.50 o'clock this relieving force seized
point to the west Of Wengchiatun,
and in cooperation with the middle
column drove the Russians from
Tafangshen.
The Russian batteries posted at
Lung TanShan and LungWantiaO,
poured a heavy fire into these forces,
but in spite Of this Smelling the middle
column and the men who were sent
forward to relieve the force at the
bend in the Foo Chou river climbed
the heights ahead of them and quick
" mastered the situation.
In the meantime the Japanese right
was suffering. The Russian left had
been reinforced until their members
were greater than the opposing Jap
anese. General Oku was twice forced
to order up infantry reserves. The
Russians made a series of desperate
counter attacks, and when the situa-
ton was most critical Japanese cav
airy swung around the Russian left
and struck the enemy on the flank. At
this time additional Russian REIN
forcements had arrived and the Rus
SLAMS held their positions with logged
determination until their front and
both TANKS were under fire. They
then broke and fed.
The Japanese cavalry pursued the
enemy for a short time, but the
roughness of the country made it
necessary soon to abandon the pursuit.
The japanese left succeeded in am
bushing 900 Russian infantrymen who
were discovered retiring toward WI
chiatun. They sent two companies of
infantry and one battery Of artillery to
a hill east of Hong Chiatun, and the
Russians were completely trapped.
Many of the enemy at this point were
killed or wounded.
In his report General Oku says the
Russians began the fight with % bat
talions of infantry, II squadrons of cav
airy and 80 guns. They were reinforce
3D. al 10 her IF re-
Inducements is not known. The Rus
sian casualties ara not known with ex-
actitude, as the japanese right found
and buried part of the enemy's dead.
Seven Russian officers and 800 men
We're taken prisoners.
The japanese casualties reported up
to noon Wednesday amounted to about
900 men, including eight officers killed
and IA wounded. General Oku concluded
his report modestly and loyalty. with
these words:
THE success in carrying superior po-
sitions and routing the enemy was due
TO the influence of the reigning emper-
or"
A dispatch from st. Petersburg. dated
Saturday. said the total Russian losses
at the battle of Vafangow (Telissu)
were about 1000 men, including more
that So officers. The Russian forces
which took part in this fight We're de-
scribed as marching to the northward
and it was said that the Russians had
a battalions engaged against Al Japa-
neSe DdLUa1lOnS. ana LnaI the japanese
had great superiority in artillery, hav-
ing more than 200 guns.
Another report from Lao Yang, also
dated Saturday, said that the Russians
had so guns in action at Telissu oppos-
ed to 100 japanese guns
Russian Losses Were Heavy.
Toxic. June 20. 2:15 p. m.=Gen-
eraI OlCu reports that he buried 1, sic
Russian dead on the field after the
battle of NafangoW (Telissu), and
then the work was incomplete. The
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