The Weiser semi-weekly signal. (Weiser, Washington Co., Idaho) 1904-1911, 1904-07-23

ed CossacISs-was Detailed to Des-
perate Position In kuroIxi's Master
full Trap-Bravery of Russians,
Called to Fight While starving.
We reached Moji late in the after
noon, says Will Lexington Comfort,
the staff correspondent of the Pitts
burg Dispatch in Japan. All day pass
ing among the Korean islands we OBJ
served Japanese transports making
their way to and from the Liautong
peninsula. L counted eighteen steam
ers during the day, all flying the Japa-
nese flag. The outward bound were
heavily loaded with men, while the re
turning ones tossed lightly upon the
long swell.
There were half as many more trans
ports in the harbor of Moji and as we
crawled in among them / was aston
ished to see fur cap, then gray coats,
then clumps of fur caps. This was
Moji on the right, with Simonoseki
on the left, and yet here was a deck
load of Russians on Japanese trans
port. The Russians stared stolidly and
made no answer, In a moment every
one understood. These were prisoners
captured during the first great fight on
the Yalu. Most of them had stood up
for a space-under the nerveless, in
human charges and countercharges of
the Terrible Twenty fourth
ma japanese.
/ have an account of one dramatic
detail in the days fight. This account
received from a wounded Japanese
officer at Simonoselzi. At least he
painted the thing as he saw it. For
several hours, he declared. three com
panies of the heroic Twenty fourth
Japanese infantry held force of Rus
slams many times as large from break
ing out of the masterful trap laid by
Kuroki. They occupied the only weak
link in the Gordon, having been thrown
around the north and west of the Rus
sian position on the eminence known
as Tigers head. The Second division
was meanwhile executing a brilliant
flank movement that won the day.
This movement required hours, how
ever, and the GOO of the Twenty fourth
regiment were standing the gaff until
the lions were luosed.
The Russians tried to cut their way
out. Four batteries of artillery sent
down crumpling fire upon the gritty
little band. The Cossacks dashed into
the Japanese, but their lances were
met by bayonets. Captain Makizama
of the Fifth company of the Thirty
fourth, whose outfit was perhaps
catching the most whitening fire, stood
up and commanded his pulverized out
fit to hold. His men held.
The 600 pumped their Muratas until
their belts and the ammunition wagons
supporting them were empty, until
their arms were black and swollen,
their ears full of agony and their eyes
flaming. 1t was declared that some of
the men fired the almost incredible
number of 400 shots. Ammunition
gone, Makizama is said to have risen
and shouted:
ut is time to die! Charge bayonetsr"
/ know of no historical replica-that
of an inferior and ammunitionless body
of infantry charging the three branch
es of the enemy's service.
Makizama's men are said to have an
swered. Bayonets against lances! Cos
sacks splitting the enemy upon their
lances even as their mounts go down.
The Russian batteries were out of it
because of the close quarters of the
two forces on the down grade of the
hill.
But the Second division came in time
to save a fragment of the 600 Fugi-
muros battery was the first to ar
rive, and MS the big guns Numbered up
at gallop, and the infantry was seen
racing behind. white rag upon Cos
sack lance was thrust up and shaken
on the top of the hill.
In the first place, the reports of the
battle from various sources had stated
that the Russians-foot, Cossacks and
artllerymen-were the flower of the
Muscovite army. In their faces could
see little to stamp them as breed of
men superior to the raw, untried troops
had seen In western Manchuria, but
these men had fought with courage
and stubbornness. holding their own
against a killing fire aad a series OF
whirlwind charges. brilliant and brutal
enough TO stampede a legion OF Bare
sark vikings their own until
overcome. have even heard the Jap
anese say that these men did well.
The japanese say they We're starving
when taken. II this is true. more glory
10 their stand.