Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-02
WIN FIRST YALU FIGHT
JAps SUCCEED CROSSING RIVER
AND DIsLoDGING RUSSIANS.
Battles Fought Saturday and Sunday
Infantry's Charging Front Ex-
tends Four Miles-Losses.

first Japanese army, under General Kuroki,
has forced a crossing Of the Yalu river, and
Sunday, with gallants infantry charge
covering frontage Of four miles, 1t drove
the Russians from Chin-tien-cheng and the
heights on the right bank Of the Tho, or
Aida river which enters the Yalu from the
north almost opposite Wi-ju. The Japanese
turned the left flank of the Russian posi-
ton, and in the battle Of Sunday they
swept away the new front interposed by
the Russians to check their onward move
ment.
The present position OF the Japanese is a
dominating one, and they may force the
abandonment Of the defenses erected by
the Russians at AntunG and other points
lower down the river.
Gen. Kuroki's Report.
A report from General Kuroki. covering
Sundays fighting, says:
1.-THE Russians made two stands The
enemy's strength included all Of the third
division, two regiments Of the sixth d.
vision, one cavalry brigade, about forty
quick-fring guns and eight machine guns.
We have taken twenty-eight quick-firing
guns many rifles, much ammunition, more
than twenty officers and many non-com-
missioned officers and men as prisoners.
Our casualties number about 100 and the
Russian loss is more than 800 men,
General Kurok began the movement on
Tuesday by ordering detachment Of the
Imperial Guards division to seize the Island
of Kurito. which is in the Yalu. above
Wi-ju, and a detachment of the second d.
vision to seize the Island Of Kinteito, which
Is situated below Wiju. The Russians
abandoned the Island of Kinteito when at
tackled by the detachment Of the second d.
vision.
The actual losses SUSTAINED by the de-
tachment of the Imperial Guards are not
known, as there Is an error in that part of
the message received here referring to the
number killed. but nine OF the detachment
were severely and sixteen slightly wounded
The detachment of the second division
which took the Island OF Kinteito sustained
no losses.
During these movements on the island
the Russians opened fire on the Japanese
with eight 91a centre guns from a hill
behind Chiu-ten-c heng and two Hotchkiss
guns mounted on the bank Of the river at
Kosan. where the Russians seemed to have
established their headquarters. One bat
terry OF the japanese artillery, which had
taken position on hill to the east Of
noon of Tuesday the Russian batteries be-
hind Chiu- tin-cheng shelled Wl-ju, wound
Ing one japanese soldier with shrapnei.
The Russians resumed their lombard
ment on Thursday, but 1t was generally in
effective
The twelfth division OF the Japanese
army was chosen to make the first cross
ing of the Yalu. This division constructed
a pontoon bridge over the river and at 3
O'Clock Saturday morning 1t began cross
ing. The entire division passed over the
river during the day, and by o'clock Sat
urday evening 1t was in the position as
signed to it for the battle of Sunday.
Engagements Saturday.
At twenty minutes to II o'clock Satur-
day morning the Russian artillery posted
to the north and to the east of Chiu-tien-
cheng began Smelling the patrols Of Japa-
nese infantry. The Japanese batteries re-
piled to this Smelling and slenced the Rus
sian fire. Later eight Russian guns posted
on hill to the east of the village of Ma
kao opened upon the imperial guards. To
this Smelling the japanese artillery to the
east of Wi-ju responded and the Russians
ceased firing. Then both the Chiu-tin-
cheng and the Makao batteries reopened,
and this fire brought a vigorous response
from the chain of Japanese batteries on
the Korean side of the river. The Russian
guns fired for two hours before they were
silenced. In his report General kuroki ex-
presses the belief that his Smelling was very
effective against the Russians.
The Japanese losses in the bombardment
of Saturday were two men killed and i've
officers and twenty-five men wounded.
flotilla of gunboats from the squadron of
Admiral Hoyosa participated In the fight
ing of Saturday. 1t encountered mixed
lOICc VI IeusSldH CSiS1Aiy hho a.
tillery on the Manchurian bank of the YalI
below Antung, and after a sharp fight
scattered them to the hills.
A bridge across the main stream of the
Yalu just above Wi-ju was completed at
o'clock Saturday night, and the second JAP
anese division and the imperial guards i'm
mediately began crossing. They advanced
and occupied the hills back Of Kosan, fac
ing the Russian position on the right bank
of the river. All through Saturday night
regiment after regiment of Japanese sol
diers poured across the bridge, and at
late hour Saturday night General kuroki
telegraphed to the general staff OF the
army:
II will attack the enemy on May / at
dawn"
Hard Fight Sunday.
True to his promise, General Kuroki, at
daylight Sunday, centered all his artillery
on the Russian position between Chiu-tien-
cheng and Yoshoko. To this fire the Rus
slams made reply with all their batteries.
At o'clock in the morning the Russian
battery at Yoshoko was silenced and half
an hour later General Kurok ordered his
line, stretching for four miles, to attack.
The Japanese infantry, on the word of COM
mand, charged across the Tho, wading that
stream breast deep, and began stormlng
the heights at fifteen minutes past 8
At o'clock they had swept the Russian
line back across the plateau
The reports of this fighting which have
been received here do not indicate whether
the Russians retired down the river or in