The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-07-08

menf Of the enemy adSdnce EuaFu. H.
500 strong, q occupied the villages Of
Ekhavuan and Tcha kumen "a on-0ur
front. the main force having remained
IN Fen shut Mo Ten passes AT this
moment we discovered the movement
OF japanese detachment. consisting OF
a battalion OF Infantry. to turn our left
flank positions in the Yang Use pass,
In the direction o. Liam Dian Sian. In
order to check this movement a force
consisting OF Ave companies OF infan-
try. two delachments OF mountain
HuSsars and half 4 company OF Cos
sacks was sent forward in the direc-
ton OF the threatened point. In order
to learn the strength OF the nemy's
position IN 'front.' Of Lang Use pass. the
commander OF the detachment ordered
out was reinforced and a reconnoitreing
party OF ten companies was sent IN the
direction of Ekhavuan. under the COM
mand OF Colonel Letschitsky. with the
view OF making n demonstration insur-
ing the return Of Letsehitsky's det2ch-
ment, three companies under Lieuten-
ant Colonel Garnitsky marched 70
M2houmizza about a mile and a half
south OF Ekhavuan TO the crossing or
the roads leading 10 Sin Xiii and the
Lok river passes Firing began at
2:S0 D.. m. July 4. Garnitsky's column
reached the cross roads, and dislodged
a company of the enemy's advance
guard. which was almost anaihilated.
simultaneously Letschitsky's column
dislodged the enemy advanced posts
without firing a shot and approached
the foot Of the heights. which were
~surmounted by a temple The temple
is less than a mile east OF Ekhavuan,
where although exposed 10 'front.' n
flank fire our men dashed forward n
dislodged the japanese from their en-
trenchments. and occupied the pass.
AS the enemy was preparing TO deliver
a frontal and tank against our celunin,
they retired as previously instructed.
Three companies OF Carnitsky s force
occupied the position which thew had
been ordered TO secure.
When Letschitsky's force began 70
withdraw. the enemy opened a heavy
fire from the heights. In spite OF this
the column with remarkable ability and
| Brave L~etschitsky remained contlnu-
| ously on the fighting line and directed
the colmun with remarkable ability and
| GOODNESS. He was the last to retire,
with his chief Of staff and adjutant.
-Garnitsky's column behaved with
| equal brilliancy and GOODNESS, carrying
| out their task With no sign OF agitation.
Our casualties were Letchitsky
bruised Inc wounded; Colonel Poape-
low. Lieutenant Colonel Trakhemovsky,
| Captain Soloieff. L~ieutenants Markoff,
Latkine, B~obroslavsky and KoZine. Sec
ond captain Palys and several other
officers and several hundred soldiers,
killed or wounded. I observed the
fighting with my staff from the Tkhar-
couean tower and l can personally tes-
tify to the conduct Of the troops.
II ann pass in silence the remark
able devotion of the surgeons and OF The
chaplain, who attended the u
uader a heavy Are and even helped tC
carry them off the field. All the wound
ed were removed.
ION the morning OF July 3, our rein
forcements occupied Liza Dian Sian
One soldier was killed during the fight
ing. The same detachment of the en-
envy consisting of two battalions anC
six sduairons, with six rapid fire gun!
advanced and attacked our outpost;
lying south of the valley of tie rive
Kho, zho retreated under the vlgoroui
fire OF the enemy. The officer com
man6Sng our advance cavalry
at 2:3O D. m. with a detachment and a
the same time the enemy placed ma
chira guns on the height northwest o
Kok.n-Schuh-Hedka, and their infantr
occupied the outskirts of the forest nea
tia village. Our horse battery retreat
es on the position at Daositchja nea
tie railroad, being covered by mounte'
Dragons and frontier guards. Unde
the fire Of our artillery and rifles, tn
enemy quickly evacuated their positio
land retreated toward Sem Chen. Tn
t~tcavalry pursued them until they reach
led an e~ntrenchment occupied by
! strong force OF the enemy.