Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-05-30
TERRIFIC FIGHTING
Took Place at Kun Chou Before Heights
Were Taken.

Were Taken.
Toxic, May 29.-6 z. M.-The details
of the fighting at Kin Chou emphasize
the heroic tenacity of the Japanese in
their conduct at Nanshan Hill.
Nine successive times the Japanese
charged the fortified heights in the face
OF storm OF death-dealing missiles,
and in their last effort they carried the
forts and trenches only after bayonet-
to-bayonet conflict with the Russians.
who made desperate despairing
struggle to beat back the oncoming
horde3.
The final assault of the Japanese, in
which they at last succeeded i'll taking
possession. was marked by the most
desperate hand to hand encounter that
has thus far characterized the war.
The Japanese left wing throughout
he entire action until night was eX-
posed to an enfilading fire from the
Russian Infantry. gunboat on Talien
wan bay, and four 9-centimetre guns
posted at Tafengchen. At critical
moment the ammunition Of the artil-
ery ran low ard it was decided TO cast
the remaining ammunition into one
final assault.
Fort un1tely, however. ut the moment
this decision was reached, the japanese
squadron i'll Kin Chou bay. which 'la;;i
ceased bombarding when the infantry
had first moved forward. suddenly re-
slimed the Smelling of Nanshan hl'.
Then It WAS that the issues Of the day
were .lctermincI-a 4 moment when
a 1,s.t.
success and defeat for Japan-and "a
almost certain repulSe was converted
into victory so complete that the forces
of the Car were swept into confusion
ana disort.erlv retreat.
With all the Japanese guns centering
their fires upon the Nanshan forts and
trenches the Japanese infantry sprang
over the bodies of their comrades who
had sacrificed their lives in the pre-
vious fruitleSS charges. The entire line
rushed forward toward the Russian
left where the fire of the japanese
squadron had proved most deadly and
which was the first to weaken under
the death-leading bombardH1ent. AMI
it was there that the first breach was
made in the human wall that all day
had been an invincible barrier to the
impetuous assaults of the brown men.
1t was the Fourth division of the
Osaka men that stormed the Russian
left. 1t had once been said that Osaka
men were not brave. 1t will never be
said again.
The First division Of Toxic, Whit h
had the center and the Third division
of Nagoya, occupying the left and
Ix,J,; of, 10 baar, aYnnSa1 all d1v fn the
Russian fire against the front flank.
now followed the example of the Osaka
men and rushed forward and the bat
tie became transformed from an artil-
| lery duel into one of personal conflict.
with the bayonet as the instrument of
war. On every paraphet the resistless,
death -dcfying Japanese surged for
ward in increasing numbers, and hust-
| ling the Russians from their entrench-
ments, swept over the hill. At $50
o'clock, as the sun was sinking beneath
the horizon, the flag Of the Land Of
the Rising Sun floated above the
blood-sodden Nanshan Hill, while the
shouts of "Banzaf' swelled from hill to
| fort.
/ lie JaDdTeSc Btlu lilciT NiStOly
| $500 killed and wounded. To the Rus
slams. the humiliation Of defeat was in
tensified by the loss of IS cannon and
10 machine guns, while. lying dead IN
the forts and trenches We're 500 men,
| the victims of the accuracy Of Japanese
| long-distance craftsmanship and OF
close-range fighting.
General Cku, in command of the JAP
anese, began his aggressive movement
on the Russian position at midnight.
| Wednesday. He assigned the 4th Divi-
sion to the right with instructions to
| swing around Kin Chou and move
south He gave the LIST Division the
| center and the left was allotted to the
Sd Division. During the night terri
| BILE thunder storm, accompanied by a
| heavy rain, broke over the advancing
| army and impeded the movements OF
the men. 1t had been planned to begin
the firing at 4.30 o'clock in the morning.
| but dense fog had followed the storm
and it was an hour later before all the
| artillery under Gen. Uchiyama opened
on Nanshan Hill. A detachment seized
| Kin Chou castle and then the entire in
fantry force gradually moved forward.
| The gunners on the fortified heights
We're not slow in giving smart response
to the Japanese attack and. soon q Wig