The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-10-15
RUN OUT OF AMMUNITION.

MUKDEN, Oct. IA correspondent
gives the following account of the
battle:
Up to the present time the battle
along the whole line has been one of
varying success. We are now resting,
cold, drenched and weary, from a
heavy thunderstorm which began last
evening and continued this morning.
We hold positions captured from the
japanese and are awaiting develop
ments on the extreme east.
The fighting on October IL was flu
rious and continuous along a front so
extensive that it would be impossible
TO give details from any one point
Judging from the sound the heav-
lest firing took place north of Yentai,
where the Japanese themselves as
sumed the offensive. Nearer the cen
ter ii was Quieter. We moved forward,
occupying some of the small passes.
1T should be pointed out that with
such an extensive front it is difficult to
say which position constitutes the real
center. 1t Will be more correct to dis
tinguish the center and TANKS separ-
ately of each division
Our losses on October IL were com
paratively small. In the small ravine
where We were stationed the firing
slackened toward evening, but recon-
menced after dark and continued, with
little intermission all night. On &C.
tober u every one looked for crucial
enga cement, but though heavy fight
ing followed, the result remained indie
cisive. The japanese advanced boldly
right at Yentai and further toward the
left. All their attacks were repulsed
with great loss. We also suffered heav-
lily. The conveyance of the wounded to
hospitals was accomplished with diff
Guilty, owing to the distance of the rail-
way.
The division to which l am at
tached deployed on October 49, oppo-
site two passes called Touminlinsky,
eight miles north of Bensihu, and Hua
Pass, five miles west each bounded by
high and almost perpendicular hills,
which held Japanese. Our troops had
tried on the night of October IL to
take the passes during storm. Lieu
tenant Grozdieff led another assault on
the Japanese trenches at the top of the
hill
THE Japanese ran out Of ammuni-
ton and met our men with stones and
dubbed rifles in a bitter hand-to- hand
struggle. In the meantime Japanese
reinforcements and ammunition ar
rived. Lieutenant Grozdieff was shot
in the chest.
I'VE were forced to retire. One of
our batteries, having spent most Of the
night in dragging it's guns by hand up
an almost perpendicular mountain and
ousting the Japanese from the crest
after hard fight, was forced to retire
when a Japanese mortar battery got
the range of its position.
I'VE resumed the attack on Toumin-
linsky under hail of firing, especially
| from two we'll concealed mortars which
we were unable to locate.
Captain Michaels got the range of
| the Japanese batteries later and two
/ of our shells put them out of action.
! The Japanese then seemed to lose their
/ heads, swarmed out of the trenches
! and fed Our infantry occupied the
position. but it was a harder fight than
! Liaoyang.
1--WE are expecting a heavy attack
1t is understood the Japanese have
strong reserves and guns of big cali
! Der.
Last night passed with the usual
intermittent rifle fire, capped with a
terrible rainstorm, which added to the
discomforts Of every one"