The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-13
dead and wounded doubtless totalled


several thousand.
During September 1 and 2, the army
advanced to the westward from line
between the village and the stone fort
OF Kwangtung, with the division form
ing the right wing extending to the
north and the division on the left in
bend of the Taitse river The right
and center of General KurOkfS line
were fighting with determination and
maintaining every foot of their ad-
vance at great cost. On the morning
of September 1 the japanese artillery
was close to KwangtunS. 1t advanced
several times during these two days,
shifting it's positions and taking ad-
vantage OF low bluffs. During this the
Russians shelled the japanese artillery
furiOuSly. Their fire concentrated prin-
cipally upon the batteries located near
kwangtung, but it never disturbed the
Japanese gunnerS who continued cOolly
to man their pieces. With the advent
of darkness on September the right
division OF General kuroki's army had
occupied some hills while the Chinese
aptly named the Five headed hills
Kwantung and overlooking the rail-
road station at Yentai which is two or
three miles to the west of them. Ono
brigade on the extreme right had gain
ed position a mile or two further
north and to the northwest of Coal
Mine Hill where foreign buildings could
be seen. -..-,.-
The Japanese center division held
long, low hill five miles to the west of
Kwangtung and above the village of
Sykwantung- Between Kwangtung,
where from a Manchu stone fort on a
bare and rocky hill General Kuroki
observed the conflict for four days, ex-
posed meanwhile to the herce rays of
the sun and the hills which formed the
Japanese advanced line beyond which
they gained but little ground until the
night of September 4, there lies
rolling country with several low ridges
Of hi
to both armies. The Russians had cut
away the grain and trees from in front
of their entertainments on these hills,
leaving the approaches open and bare.
section the Japanese troops were un-
der fire constantly and they could
work forward only by the digging OF
successive rows of trenches. The suf-
fering was great. The men already
exhausted by several days of the hard
est kind of fighting and marching,
were obliged to work increasingly with
their rifles or with trenching tools.
They were unable to cook rauonS for
fear that their fires would disclose
their positions to the enemy The
taking of these hills. particularly the
one at Hei Ying Tai, cost the japanese
heavily. After cannonading this hill
during the day of September 1 and
gradually forcing back the Russian in
fantry on the plain. without being able
to dislodge them, the Japanese again
TO their favorite operation,
night attack and drove the Russians
out at the point of the bayonet. They
also stormed the Five Headed Hills"
to the northwest during the afternoon
of September 2
While this engagement was going on
the left division made a. demonstration
against the high hills at Sykwantun,
to the south of Hei Ying Tai and facing
a bend in the Taitse river where the
Russians had strong fortifcations and
A ri of. H..
supported by the fire of the batteries
on the plain, attempted to advance IN
extended formation across the slde
graveled flats south of the river ana
Bordering the fields They came under
a heavy fire from the Russian guns
The only possible protection was the
in the flats and their ranks
were raked by. the enemy's shrapnel.
The soldiers Law fiat on their faces and
were under the Russian flre until nVe
o. clock that afternoon, at which hour
the movement was suspended A MEM
ber of the staff described this movement
as a demonstration. 1t probably was
intended to support the advance OF a
part of the center division on the same
hills.
entire war developed that night on the
lower ridges of these same hills. A
part of the Japanese center division
was engaged in another night assault
Upon approaching the RUSSIAN
trenches they encountered an unex-
pected defense. The Russians had
strung along the ground heavy wires
highly charged with electricity and as
the Japanese soldiers ran against the
wires in the darkness they received
shocks. In addition to this the Rus
slams defending the trenches threw
hand grenades or shelles among the
stormers. The effect was terrifying.
The attempt to seize the hill, which was
an important vantage ground to
either arnov was not successful. One
Japanese battalion which fought it's
way into the trenches exhausted It's
ammunition. 1t attempted to cut Its
way out with bayonet, but II was al
most exterminated.
AeaA- sARH HRR an