Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-05-12
kURokrs CLEVER STRATEGY.
How Japs Turned Russian Left on the
Yalu.

In Camp Near the Yalu. April So
Gen. kuroki has succeeded in turnin=;
the strong Russian position on tn
north bank of the Yalu. During last
night he got about 5000 infantry, prar-
tically the entire 18th division. across
the river a few miles northeast of
Win, laying a bridge unopposcd. This
morning, he brought them down int"
the rugged hills opposite Win, where
they obtained secure position, COM
handing the Russian left. The Jap
ancse batteries along the south bank OF
the Yalu fully protect them from an!
attack except by infantry from the
north, where the broken character Oh
the country makes an attack unlikely,
if not impossible.
kuroki seems to have caught the en-
envy completely asleep. as only Il slight
effort was made to resist his infantry
advance, Il few shrapncl being thrown
| along the river and from the face OF
the hills. This Smelling WAS soon
| checked by the fcrccSt Japanese artll-
lery fire on the Russian batteries.
With this foothold secure, kur"kl Will
be able to throw his entire army across
the river, unless hindrrcd, thus out
| thanking the Russian position at Chin
Tien Chcng. and compelling them to
| retire ON FenS Wang ChcnS, while the
Japanese army is advancing rapidly
down the north bank of the river and
over the hills.
Tho Russian attention was almost
completely diverted by the feint on
kintcito, an island below Win. which
the Japanese held for several days. The
| Russian guns delivered Il heavy fire,
searching the island from end to end
but doing slight damage.
For some time the Japanese have
| been making Il show of activity at
kint%ito island, whence the Russians
seem to have concluded that Kuroki's
attempt to cross would be made from
that direction. Much bridge material
was originally massed near kinteito
and other obvious preparations made,
but three days ago the majority of this
material was shifted up stream and
carefully concealed behind the hills
The guns We're withdrawn from the
battery positions along the river below
Win and packed in the hills. The for
nation of the country about WiJu en-
ablcd Euroki to conceal his movement
| almost entirely. Screens were erected
along the roads AMI hid the passage of
troops ana material. Many pocket val
legs afforded places OF conccalment and
the Russians, therefore. We're unable to
determine what kuroki was doing, thus
giving him a fine opportunity to fool
them, which was not neglected.
The russian position was naturally
very strong, the steep hills on the front
| of the river atfordinS positions where Il
few men could stop thousands.
Below Osekito are two islands, Kin
tcito, which the Japanese held, ana am
other which the russians occupied. The
Russians burned tie villages on this
island recently, apparently preparatory
to withdrawal.
The Russian commander seems to
have thought these hills sufficient lrn-
lection from his left. From the hill east
of Win | hal Il fin view this morning
of the work. Directly north of VIII lies
OsekitO island, ana beyond that Tiger
hill stands on the north bank, its stc ps
rough.
Further up stream is KuritO island,
from which the japanese expelled thu
Russians on the 10Th. At the point
where a river flows into the Yalu from
the north, along the western base of
Tiger hill, Chin Ticn Cheng stands
about three miles west of Tiger hill ON
the mainland and separated from the
Russian island by 200 yards of stream.
\ G00-yard stream separates the Rus
sian island from Kinito. Along tn"
crest of the low range Of hills on tn"
river bank back of Chin TicnChcnS.
running cast of the river, the Russians
posted several batteries of field guns.
Back of Tiger hill they had another.
These guns easily ranged beyond Win.
The Japanese batteries extended along
the south bank of the river. commando
ing the entire Russian position, with
the possible exception of one battery,
Immediately behind Chin Ticn Chcng.
Last night the Japanese Cunncrs
were all replaced in position along tn"
river and this morning. they began fir
ing upon the Russian position behind
Tiger hill, and the batteries above Win
made excellent practice with their
shrapncI searching the entire position.
For some time TIL" Russians were silent
and when finally they began replying
their fire was directed upon kintcit. I'm
mcdiatrly the japanese opened with their
batteries about Win. whcrcupon fine
artillery duel cnsucd. lasting moro than
an hour. The Japanese made beautiful
practice beating terrific tattoo about
tho Russian batteries and eventually E!a-
terially slackcnng tho enemy = fire" iIIf s.
ing this duel the Russians endeaVorcd to
reach the japanese. whom they now ms
covered advancing down the river. They
threw shrapncI along the face Of tho hills
from n battery on the west bank of the.
Al river, below Tiger hill. This Smelling
was entirely Ineffective. as the ammuni-
tion lasted only a short time.
The Japanese battery on kintcito is
land replied delivering n heavy fire upon
the Russians and soon stopping their fire.
About noon the japanese halted in the
hills opposite Win and the artillery fire
practically ceased. After Il lull. however.
| the Russians reopcucd. sending Shrapn"l
WiiuwardS and again Smelling kintcito.
The Japanese replied hotly Il few minutes
| since when. with doSultory firing cont;n-
uing. the day closed with the japanese
having IA strong position commanding the
| Russian left.
During the afternoon the Japanese
troops reached the Al river, which is ford
| able. The advance is already across and
| the reserve uD. The Russian retreat from
Chin Tien Cheng must follow.
| LnoiAH END N!HrnPIEC