Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1904-11-11

mander Gained the DAY at the At
tack on a Fort-Terribie Enect of
Russians searchIiabt Rus. ON
Their Enemies - Fiercest Antsso-
nism Displayed on Japanese Pio-
neers and sapper..
Some Of the incidents OF the siege OF
Port Arthur by the Japanese army are
herewith related:
Tie Jeff flank Of the japanese posi-
ton rested ON the coast near Taku
mountain. IL extended in the form of
q semieircle on the north side Of the
Shuishi valley, over a crest Of hills.
The right flank was at Louisa bay.
The siege train and completed bat
teries occupied masked positions among
tie hills in semicircles on the right
and left TANKS. The reserve infantry
was masSed on the foothills on the
farther side Of the Fenghoano range of
mountains.
Along the front of tie japanese base
was large system of well constructed
trenches from coast TO coast. These
were manned by infantry, while the
main bodies of the japanese troops
We're concealed behind spurs and pass
es throughout the range.
Ii was marvellous how the japanese
army was concealed from view even
from the center of the japanese posi-
ton. The transport and ammunition
-nI tlair hu n ths.
village of Tangchanglingtzu, six miles
in the rear of the railroad.
The First Great Attack.
During the morning of Aug. 10 the
siege guns opened a desultory fire to
find the ranges. and an entire division
of infantry advanced and assaulted
the Russian redoubts at the foot of
Rihlung mountain. The troops cap
tured the trenches in front of the re-
doubts.
The operations began in earnest at
daybreak on the Goth with lombard
ment of the whole line of Russian
forts. Battery after battery of Japa-
nese artillery was unmasked, the Rus
slams apparently being unable 10 To-
cate them, for they replied spasmodic
ally.
Under cover of the bombardment the
japanese infantry made a determined
general advance against the Russians
first trenches along the railroad in the
center of the Shuishi valley and also
from Shuishi village
Six hundred yards south of the vii
lage the way into the city was protect
ed by four advance half moon forts in
the form of hollow square open at
the rear and connected by bomb proof
trenches and having a twenty foot
moat in front.
Japanese Va1or Unavafling.
desperate attempt was made by
the japanese during the afternoon to
capture the strongest half moon fort.
The infantry charged. cut the entan-
clements. crossed the moat with seal
ing ladders formed the fort and drove
the Russians back. But the real
strength of the defenders position lay
in the bomb proof trenches extending
south of the other half moon forts.
They We're filled with troops and con-
cealed machine guns which poured
deadly hail of bullets into the Japanese
and forced them TO retire. At about
the same time the Russians recapturel
the trenches in front of the redoubt in
advance of Rihlung fort
Took Fort at Bayonets Point.
On the right flank the Russian line
was forced back. One Japanese regi-
ment worked up the east slope and an
other regiment made its way up the
west slope of One Hundred and Sew
enty-four Yards hill under the concen-
trated fire of the Russian artillery and
captured the fort at the point of the
bayOnet at noon. The fort and hill
We're strongly supported by bomb proof
trenches, lOopholed and with sand bag
walls, and were armed with two four
inch guns, besides other guns.
During the evening a division on the
japanese left flank cut the entangle-
mentS on the slope east of Keekwan
Fort hill, and before dawn ON the 21st
the central division Of the Japanese
gained the foot of East Panlung fort,
called by the japanese East Banjusan
fort, and cut the entanglements, but
were repulsed.
At daylight on Aug. q all the Japa-
nese batteries of the center division
concentrated their fire on the Banju-
san and Keekwan forts, but despite the
artillery support the Japanese were
driven out of East Keekwan fort by
an attack Of massed body of Rus
slams from the Chinese wall. The as
sault threatened to result in an utter
failure to secure foothod on the for
titled ridge, and General Nogi summon
ed the generals of the left and center
divisions to consult with him concern
ing the operations.
Did Not Wait For NogPs Order,
During his absence. at IL in the
morning, without special orders. sever
oil companies of regiment of the cen
Ter division emerged from their trench
es at the foot of East Banjusan fort
and in tens and twenties charged up
the slope to the broken wall of the
french around the crest of the fortified
hill under cover of a splendid shrapnel
practice from their field batteries in
the valley.
The Russians behind the wall and in
the fort poured out hall of rifle bull
let's, and machine and quick firing guns
belched forth on the intrepid Japanese
Twice the latter We're forced back till
the slope was covered with bodies. but
a third attempt was made, and score
of japanese reached the broken wall