The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-05-27
DETAILS OF THE BATTLE.
japanese Found a Gap in the Russian
line of Defense.


Toxic, May 27.-Noon-The Japanese
army swept the Russians from Kin
Chou yesterday morning and in a des-
perate night attack stormed the al
most impregnable position of the Rus
slams on Manshan Hill, west of Talien
Wan. The battle ragged in the hills all
through the night and fragmentary
kilograms from the Japanese head
quarters report that the engagement is
still in progress and that the Japanese
are pursuing the Russians south from
Nan Shan and the head of Talien Wan
bay. The Russians had made elab-
crate preparations to check the Jap
anese movement south of the Lao
Tung peninsula toward Port Arthur.
They had fortified the nigh ground on
the south shore of TaIien Wan by their
works extending to the east and the
west. The extreme Russian right was
ct HushangtaO and the extreme left a
Nan Shan hill. This hill was the
strongest part of the line; a series of
batteries, strongly emplaced, crowned
its crest, while rifle pits extended
around its sides. Mines had been
placed lower down on this hill and
around the base on the northern and
eastern sides were stretched well made
wire acknowledgements, extended from
Yen CHA Tung near the head Of
fallen Wan bay, due meth of Liuchia
Tien which lies south of Kin Chou.
strong Russian force was posted
at Kin Chou. 1t consisted of infantry
and artillery.
The Japanese first occupied the line
of hills to the east of Minchou. Their
position had formed an almost right
angle, showing its southern front to
Talien Wan and its western front to
Kin Chou Chiu Ii Chan village was
the apex of this angle; the extreme
right of the Japanese line rested at
Chen Cha Tien, which is almost due
north of Chiu Lii Chan, while the ex-
treme right was at Chaitzuho, a viii
lage due east of Chiu Ii Chan Back
of this angle the attacking force as
sembled in complete security.
The Russians apparently attempted
to draw the Japanese attack last Sat-
urday for their batteries opened fire
slowly on the enemy on that day. The
Japanese however refused to be drawn
until the positions of the Russians,
their guns and their strength had been
fully developed. To this end the Jap
anese began a series of careful recon
naissances, their officers working their
way close enough to the Russian posi-
tion to draw the enemy's fire They
thus secured fragments of shells Tor
the purpose of ascertaining the calfbre
of the Russian guns.
They discovered that the batteries on
Nanshan hill included four HOwitzers
of about Is centimeters calibre; 10 old
style cannon of between and 10 cen
timeters calibre and two quick nrlng
guns of u centimeters.
The japanese discovered also a num-
Der of large emplacements but they did
not learn the number of guns contain
ed therein These emplacements faced
to the north and to the east.
The guns fired by the Russians devel-
oped a range of $500 meters. Eight
heavy guns posted on the Russian right
in the vicinity of Hushangtao also were
discovered and another strong Russian
position developed by these recoinnais-
sances was on another hill southwest
of Nanshan hill where the Russians had
a series of shelter trenches.
on the shore of Talien Wan bay,
close to the head of the bay, the Rus
SLAMS had established a series of posi-
tons Here We're set up the search
lights which nightly played over the
Japanese angle in the hills to the
northeast
Further "Reminiscences developed
the fact that west of Liu CHA Tien the
Russians had no defenses extending to
the northWard from Yen Chi Tien to
the west coast of the Lao Tung PENN
sllla. there were no defenses what
ever. except the force posted at Kin
Chou. This gap in the defense was a
fatal defect in the Russian position and
when it was perceived the Japanese ex-
tended their right to the north and
east, enveloping Kin Chou and the
Russian extreme right. The japanese
left also was extended to Wang CHA
Tung, on the shore of Talien Wan bay
and the center moved forward.
Wednesday morning at half past 5
the japanese attacked Kin Chou and
for three hours they had an artillery
duel with the batteries on Nanshan
hill The Russian gunnerS searched the
Japanese lines with their fire, but fail
ed to infiict much damage
The battle was resumed at dawn on