Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-17
Graphic Description of the Great Va
fangow Battle.

LAO YANG, June IA correspondent of
the Associated Press who was present at
the battle of Vafangew described the fight
ing as follows: 37s
THE stern. logged fighting at the battle
of Vafangow was like another BOrodlno
The roar Of the machine guns and the
boom of the cannon still rings In ones
ears.
Throughout the three days Of combat
the officers and men Wed with each other
in pluck and heroism. They have added a
glorious page to Russia's military history.
The enemys advance originally included
the 9Th. sth and l1th divisions. twelve
SQuadrOnS OF cavalry and splendid artillery.
About two hundred guns were belching a
continuous stream of shot and shell. Large
reinforcements enabled them to turn the
Russian TANKS A diversion on the right
precipitated the battle in the morning of
June 10
Maj. Gen. Gerngross, who was wounded,
commanded the left flank and Gen. Loutch-
kovsky commanded the center, including
four battalIons concealed in a small wood,
whence they dealt death and destruction on
the enemy.
1.-THE Russian right was protected by Co.'S
sacks. dragons and Siberian rifles.
Big Guns Thundered
while the big guns were laundering I
made my way at about IL am. to the Rus
sian right flank and climbed hill whence
l could view the Whole field Of battle. Be
hind me battery had taken up a position,
from which 1t kept up a continuous fire
upon the advancing ranks Of the enemy.
Through glasses l could see the sandy
valley of the Tassa. with the Chinese VII
ths ra,,road bridee and th. - s,rro,,ndns
copes were occupied BY Japanese infantry.
Then black lipes 81 infantry like threads
could be seen creeping through the verdure.
Nearer the siopesOf a hill was dotted by
the gray shirts OF Russian rifiemen. A
brownish smoke. oveEhung some of the bat
tertes and others showed flashes Of flame.
The crackle Of rifle IRE was punctuated by
the roar OF guns, Occasionally heard the
hiss Of Japanese bullet,
Scene -Awe-Inspiring.
1.-The scene vas -aHee-inspiring. Over the
Russian center. and left flank lowered cho-
colate clouds from bursting shrapnel 1t
was evident that the tide OF battle was
coming toward the Russian right. I saw
reserves hurrylng 5Arward. the cossacks
galloping, followed by columns Of infantry
at the double. b. Suddenly they disappeared
in an adjacent defle. The valley where
the Russians bad eamped was emptied as
If by magic.
.Rattling voueys were fred behind the
screen of hills. which concealed the fight
ing troops from view in that direction, the
sound Of the firing being the only evidence
nf the deadly struggle proceeding there.
''This continued for half an hour. Sudden
" a company of Cossacks appeared on tho
crest of a hill and began to descend. They
were followed by infantry. The Japanese
gunners promptly pursued them with shrap-
nell Horses and men began falling.
Moment of Suspense.
"a moment OF narrowing suspense was
relieved by thunderous shout OF 'Hurrah.'
It was from a couple of thousand Of Rus
sian troops just brought up by train. They
quickly Jumped from the cars. fixed bayo-
nets and literally raj, into the fight.
again the crackie of musketry under
cover. during, which the retiring Russian
reainaents formed up and moved or In COM
plete order toward. the railroad While q