The Springfield herald., 1904-07-29
RUSSIAN DEFEAT
REPORTED BY THE JAPANESE
kuroki Captures Heavily Fortified Po.
sition.-Russians Retire With
Heavy Loss.

Toxic, July 23.-General kuroki. af-
ter severe fight, occupied kiaotung
July 18th. The place had been fortified
by the Russians. who defended it stout
ly. In the fighting General Kuroki's
troops drove the Russians from their
strongly-fortified position on the Chi
river, which is northwest of Molten
pass and east of Anping. inficting up
on the enemy more serious losses than
they sustained themselves. The fight
began on the 18th and ended on the
18th. The Japanese lost 424 mon in
killed and wounded. The Russian
losses are estimated at 1000.
General Kuroki began his advance
early in the morning of the 18th. He
uncovered and followed the enemy
along the Chi river. The Russians
seemed to be retiring to the northward.
when suddenly two battalions, with
eight guns, turned and attacked the
Japanese vanguard vigorously. AT this
point the japanese suffered before re-
lief came. one company losing all Its
officers.
At late hour in the afternoon the
Russian position was developed. They
occupied an eminence on the banks of
the Chi. This river guarded their left
flank and high precipices protected the
Russians on the right. The only ap-
proach to their position was through a
narrow defile.
The fighting continued until dark,
when the Japanese forces bivouacked.
The Russians made two counter at
tacks, but were repulsed in each case.
The Japanese renewed the attack at
midnight, posting their artillery in the
valley below and on the high ground
to the south of the Russian position.
The main japanese body was assigned
to attack the Russian center, a small
detachment was sent toward the right
flank and another to watch the enemy's
left flank. After these positions had
been taken the fighting ceased for a
time. but it was resumed at dawn. The
Russians had thirty-two guns in ac-
tion, and they vigorously shelled the
Japanese. To this fire the Japanese re-
piled and the bombardment lasted for
four hours.
During this time the Japanese infan-
try moved forward and the fiankers had
succeeded in scaling the heights on the
Russians right by 3 o'clock in the af-
ternoon, at which hour the main force
was ordered to storm the Russian CEN
ter.
The Japanese artillery protected this
movement splendidly, but the infantry
met with severe fire and lost heavily
in gaining the heights. The final sue
cessful charge was delivered at $50 in
the afternoon.
The Japanese succeeded in partially
cutting off the Russian retreat and this
soon became rout. The enemy retired
in two directions, to the northward and
to the eastward, The Russian forces en-
gagged included. in addition to the ar
tillery. seven battalions of infantry and
a regiment of Cossacks. The enemy
left 131 dead and 800 rifles on the field.
Prisoners taken estimated the Russian
losses at 1000.
The Japanese lost one officer and fif-
ty-four men killed and eighteen officers
and 351 men wounded
July 18th japanese forces attacked
battalion of infantry and 1000 cavalry
who occupied Chechiato. to the north
ward of Shaotientzsu. After four hours
of fighting the Russians retired across
the Taitsu river. In this engagement
the japanese had seventeen men
wounded.