Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-06-18
A SPLENDID FIGHT.
vafangow Will Long Be Remembered
BY All Who Were There.

Liaoyang. June IA correspondent of
The Associated Press. who was present at
the battle of Vafangow, describes the
THE stern. logged fighting at the battle
of Vafangow was like another Borodino.
The roar of the machine guns and the
boom Of the cannon still ring in ones
ears.
the officers and men We'd with each other
in pluck and heroism. They have added
glorious page to Russias military his
Zine enemy's advance originally includ-
ed the fifth, eighth and eleventh divis-
ions. u sauadrons of cavalry and splendid
artillery. About 200 guns were belching
a continuous stream of shot and shell.
Large achievements enabled them to
turn the Russian TANKS A diversion on
the right precipitated the battle in the
morning of June ID.
Maj. Gen. GerngrosS, who was wound
ed, commanded the left flank and Gen.
Guiding four battalions concealed in a
small wood, whence they dealt death and
destruction on the enemy.
1.-The Russian right was protected by
While the big guns We're laundering
made my way, at about II A. NJ, to the
Russians right flank and climbed a hill
whence could view the whole field of bat
tie. Behind me battery had taken up
position from which it kept up a contn-
uous fire upon the advancing ranks of the
enemy. Through glasses l could see the
sandy valley Of the Tassa; with the Chi,
Foochou. the railroad bridge and the sur
rounding copses were occupied by Jap
anese infantry. Then Iblack lines of in
through the Verdure Nearer t The slope Of
a hill was dotted by the gray shirts of
Russian ri1emen. A brownish smoke
overhung some of the batteries and 9TH
ers showed flashes of flame. The crackle
of rifle fire was punctuated by the roar OF
guns. Occasionally l heard the hiss of a
Japanese bullet. +
1.-THE scene was awe-inspiring; Over the
Russian center and left flank lowered
| chocolate colored clouds. 1t was evident
| that the tide of battle was coming to-
ward the Russian right. l saw reserves
| ing forward by columns of infantry at the
double. Suddenly they disappeared in an
adjacent defile. The valley where the
| Russians had camped was emptied as if
| by magic. Rafting volleys were fired
behind the screen of hills which concealed
| the fighting troops from view in that di-
rection, the sound of the firing being the
only evidence of the deadly struggle pro-
| ceeding there. This continued for half
an hour. Suddenly company of Cos
| sacks appeared on the crest of hill and
| began to descend. They were followed by
| infantry. The japanese gunners promptly
pursued them with shrapnel. Horses and
men began falling.
"A moment of narrowing suspense was
relieved by thunderous shout of Hur-
| rah' 1t was from a couple of thousand
| Russian troops just brought up by train.
They quickly jumped from the cars. fixed
bayonets and literally ran into the fight.
| again the crackle of musketry under
cover, during which the retiring Russian
regiments formed and moved off in COM
plete order to the rear. While long line
| of commissariat wagons escorted by Cos
! sacks took to the road. a battery OF
horse artillery, stationed near the rail-
road. banged away furiously as it cover
ed the retreat. The japanese shells were
then falling on the station buildings from
Il descended the hill and just succeeded
in jumping on the footboard of the last
car. Some of the Russian batteries on
the left flank were still firing. The main
force then began slowly to retreat to-
ward Vantsialn go miles north of Vafan-
gow), and at about o'clock in the after
noon had accomplished it's strategic mis-
sion The battle of Vafangow had defect
ed considerable Japanese troops from
Port Arthur.
days the Russian regiments valorously
maintained their positions and took the
offensive on the left so pressing the en-
envy there that couple of japanese bat
teries fell iEto the Cossacks' hands. The
Russian soldiers went into the battle sing
ing. their spirits not affected by the fierce
heat and furious cannonading. whose in
tensity may be gauged from the influence
1t had on the atmospheric conditions. Rain
drops fell like tears at the height of bat
tie, although the day dawned clear.
MANY Russians have fallen, but a
greater number of Japanese were killed
The Russian shells and bullets moved
them down like wheat The whole valley
was bestrewn with their corpses and the
river Tassa ran red. But it was with the
Japanese more than with Russian blood
II left on the last train with Cen Sta
kelberg. This train colided with the one
preceding it near Vantsielin, but it was
not damaged.
when passing Kaichou we saw three
Japanese cruisers.
THE whole road north was occupied by
Russian troops. The Russians say the
japanese cannot advance much farther
north. even when they recover from the
effects of the battle of Vafangow."