The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-05-11

zers using the common shell with terrible
effect. The field guns up the river used
sh-apnel. which. bursting high in the air.
threw a storm OF bullets among the Rus
SLAMS.
Despite the awful fire. the Russian. con-
tinued pushing across the knob until the
trench was manned. when a heavy rife
nre opened upon the japanese lines from
Shins-Ping. The japanese. lying nat re-
turned the fire hotly. 1t was a difficult
range. one firing uphill. the other down.
but both sides suffered severely.
JAPANESE BATTERIES
WONDERFULLY ACCURATE.
Meantime the Japanese batteries pound
ed the Russian trenches, delivering an er-
tracrdinarily rapid ard accurate IRE. The
hrssisns showed something OF their old
nshting spirit. holding the trenches OBJ
silnsteiy, despite the deadly Are
Aases2wa now sent forward part OF his
line and succeeded in fordlnz a channel
next TO the mainland. He quickly swung
downstream and. climbing into the hills,
enveloped the left OF the Russian trenches
AT the same time Nishi. farther down.
found ford. throwing q strong force over
which climbed the hills. threatening the
right OF the Russian trench.
Leading each line was q large japanese
nag, showing the batteries the position of
tneir men The japanese advanced through
the hills with incredible rapidity and soon
began climbing the ridge next to that held
by the Russians. As the japanese ad-
vanced the battery ire slackened, but two
shells fell short. causing some loss to
Nishi
Notwithstanding the heavy Russian rife
hre the Japanese infantrymen swiftly ad-
vanced. The Russians held the trench
manfuily until the Japanese threatened TO
crumple both ends, when they retrea,ea
rapidly. apparently taking the PekIn road
toward Funs-wang-Cheng. 1t was tus,
i've minutes to when the first Japanese
entered this trench carrying a large flag.
The crowds along the Win line gave three
cheers for the victory.
The japanese evidently suspected the
Russians of having another line west of
Chiulien-Chenx and continued shellinx the
hills in that direction for several hours.
SUSPECT RUSSIANS
OF NOT MAKING EFFORT.
The comparative ease with which Cen
eral knroki took the strong Russian post-
tion excites suspicion that the Russians
did not intend to dispute the Yalu cross
ing stubbornly. 1t is hardly conceivable
that any commander meaning to make a
determined resistance in such a position
would leave his entire left completely un-
guarded. which the Russians did. but
whatever the Russians intentions were.
the battle rave Kuroki an opportunity TO
show his fine strategic ability. although
this mornings neht displayed the old JAP
anese fondness for direct frontal attacks
against a very strong position.
Through the two dayS aat!on the ae-
curscy OF the Japanese artillery wa. re-
The way in which the ranges.
once found. were maintained showed an
even quality. Their new ex-
plosive and their entire artillery work and
FIRE were demonstrations Of the effective
ness Of their new guns.
The immediate result OF to-day's work
will be TO greatly shorten their line of
land communications. enabling them to
use a sea base much nearer the scene of
active operations.
The japanese sent a strong force Of IN
fantry and two battaiions Of artillery in
pursuit These captured twenty-eight field
guns and twenty officers and many men.
They estimate the total Russian strength
at more than 1000.
hundred. but arc not reported exactly. At |
this writing the Russians attempted to |
from Hoo-Chou. but the Japa- |
nese were too quick