Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-18
FIGHTING WAS IN VAIN
VICTORIOUS RUSSIAN LEFT WAS
ORDERED TO RETIRE.
Desperate Struggle for the Tumin Pass
Graphically Described by
War Correspondent.

The following report has been received
from the headquarters of the Russian flank
ing column on the left, by courier, via Muk-
den, October II:
On October 10, when the Russian advance
guard appeared before Saitchoun pass, its
eastern detachment occupied correspond
ing position before Tumin pass. During the
night the Russian signal corps interpreted
a flash light message showing that the Jap
anese artillery was to shell several Russian
positions where batteries were posted at
dawn. The Russian batteries, therefore.
shifted their positions during the night. and
in the morning the Japanese furiously bonn
barded the empty ground.
On the morning of October II the Russian
fighting line consisted Of four regiments of
the East Siberian Rifles on the right flank.
and the Sd, 33d and 34th on the left The
right was supported by two batteries Of
the 18th East Siberian Brigade and one of
the 9th East Siberian Brigade One battery
occupied the center and three more were on
the left.
Fight for Saitchoun Pass.
The fight began at $50 o'clock on the
morning of October II. The batteries on
the right flank opened on three japanese
batteries situated to the right of the pass
Saitchoun pass is a double pass, the main
defile being to the left, overtopped by high
rocky mountains, while to the right are
rocky ridges. Gen. Gerncross' corps was as
signed to capture the passes by frontal at
TACK ana the remainder of the Russian
troops were to turn the Japanese position
and take them on the flank and rear. The
russian right advance guard was COM
manded by its chief of division while Gen
u-oS
the troops at the front, commanded the
left.
The first assault was set for noon. and
the RUSSIAN batteries pounded the Japanese
posltlon, searching out their guns. Wherever
possible the Russian artillery was rapidly
followed up by the infantry advance. the
cannon fire being concentrated first on
one and then on another of the eminences
which were scanned with Japanese trenches
from base to summit
Inc roar and crash of artillery and the
rattle OF volley firing were deafening The
Japanese defended desperately Their most
tions were SO steep that the attacking Rus
SLAMS could make no progress in the face of
numerous hre from the Japanese Whole
advance companies lay down, hugeinp the
ground till evening and repulsine GO JIies Nv
TIE japanese from their trenches.
Attack in the Night.
AT niSht an order came to renew the at
tack. General Kondra tovitch led his ad.
vance to the front. and again the Russians
began to scale the rugged heights. The
"oth, I'd and 34th Regiments fell under a
~itherlng fire. The men were scarcely able
70 breathe as they clambered up the steep
slopes, but they hung to the rocks and re-
turned the fire that was poured down ON
Ihem Then they scrambled forward again.
the oath Regiment. commanded by Colonel
Monskheion, first reached the trenches,
going with the bayonet at the Japanese
who fought like demons with dubbed
guns, swords bayonetS and reyolvers 1t
was an indescribable melee. The Russian
reserves We're ordered up to support the
gallant 34th, and, aided by the Both Regi-
ment, and parts of three other regiments,
the Russians carried two lines of trenches.
after which the men lay down. dead tired,
in the Japanese shelters till dawn. Then it
was discovered that while the attacking
force was about on level with the passes
themselves, they were only half way up the
heights, which were commanded by Japa-
nese positions. In these circumstances the
Russians were forced to withdraw
While this attack was going on the Rus
sian right also carried several heights held
by the Japanese, after a fierce resistance
The japanese then assumed the offensive,
rushing forward in a great wave, but fail
ing to dislodge the Russians from the posi-
ton they had gained.
The Fight Renewed.
On the morning Of October u the Russian
batteries again signaled the beginning of
another days fighting One battery slenced
some Japanese mountain guns, and then
another Japanese battery opened on the
Russians, but concentrated fire smothered
that battery also. Then the Russian infan-
try advanced to the attack and the fight
became general. The left was heavily en-
gagged
Tumin pass was turned by detachments
of the Sd, SD and I'd Regiments. More
One of these, particularly annoying, was
located by Captain Michaels, whose guns
getting the range, literally blew it to pieces
From the Russian positions logs, which
formed the protective works for the Japa-
nese guns could be seen to be thrown high
in the air by exploding shells.
The whole day passed without making
much Roadway, and the Russian troops
were again forced to seek the shelter of the
rocky slopes, there to wait until nightfall,
when a fresh assault was planned
The order came to advance at midnight,
but the Japanese themselves attacked at
10 o'clock. They fought stubbornly, but
were driven back. The Russians followed
up the advantage and occupied the pass.
Meantime in the darkness the Russians got
nearly all the commanding heights, includ
ing two conical hills beside the pass; but
there was still one height at the left of the
pass which had not been taken. and at
dawn the Russians were again forced to
retire as the japanese batteries command
ed the ground the Russians had so hardly
won.
The next day the Russians again adj
assaulting the main pass. Gen.
Gerngross remained on the field during all
the hot fighting, never leaving his men a
During the day the fourth corps was
forced to draw back, but at night reoccu-
pied its earlier positions. During the night
fighting of Thursday Lieut.. Col. Peocuta
was thrice shot, and finally died fighting In
the japanese trenches. Lieut. Col. Agafof
and Staff Captain Udinsky are among the
wounded. The Bath Regiment suffered ter
ribly.
A Desperate Fight.
The morning of October 13 Col. Martinoff.
chief of artillery, inspected all the Russian
and the command moved forward.
The Japanese held with particular tenacity
on the left flank The Japanese advanced
IN Col Haskin who with seven comma