The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-09-12
THE RUSSIAN AND
JAPANESE ARMIES COMPARED
Their Methods of Fighting Shown in the Battle
Of Mo.TienLing.


fair at Mo-Tien-Ling on July IT, may
have the proportions merely of an out
post engagement. But it brings into
strong light the methods and the ef-
fciency of the two armies at the pres
ent stage of hostiliues and it explains
the continuous and unvarying success
on land of the Yankees of the East
against one of the great military pow
ers of Europe. Why the Russians
should have abandoned the best de-
fensive position between the Yalu and
Lao Yang without a fight and soon
afterward make two costly and unsuc-
cessful efforts to regain il. remains yet
a mystery. Two days before this at
tack the japanese knew through their
remarkable intelligence service that it
was planned. They foresaw largely
how it would be executed, though prob
ably they did not anticipate how stub
bornly the Russians. fired with ambi-
ton to maintain the prestige of Eu-
ropean troops and inspired by the
name of Skobeleff linked with the
memories of Schipks pass, would
storm the stronghold. 1t was Skobe-
leff's fighting and Skobeleff's men
against the men and the methods Of
q quarter century later.
Beginning of the Battle.
On the morning of the 18th several
of the correspondents who were camp
ed at the division generals headqudr-
ters some miles from the pass were
awakened at daylight by the sound of
distant volleys. A thick white fog COW
I foar in,
December so dense that tents could
not be seen a hundred yards away. The
ground was muddy and trees dripped
as though there had been a heavy rain.
The correspondents were soon i'm their
saddles, but word came from the press
censor that they were not to go until
given permission. Within an hour most
of the military attaches and newspa-
per men had gathered in front of head
quarters fretting to be unleashed. Del
egates from each camp were labor
ing with the staff officers Word came
from within that the general was ac-
quiescent, but part of the staff unwill-
ing. We were to wait little" a
phrase that became familiar during
two months of waiting in Toxic La
ter the general might go and perhaps
the correspondents could accompany
him.
The waiting was protracted until 9
O'Clock and meantime could be seen
the machinery of battle behind the
stage. Several infantry battalions came
up the road at a dog trot the mems
khaki tunics plastered TO their backs
with sweat, while they mopped their
faces with towels presented by the pa
triotic societies of Japan bearing blue
prints of the Mikado's soldiers storm
ing impossible blue precipices in the
face OF gigantic blue bearded Russians.
Most of the men looked as eager for
their work as a football team racing
onto the field. There were no strikers.
although some followed the rear Of
their companies painting painfully I'M
der the fifty pounds weight of equip
ment which they all carry. A hospital
company marched past with the
stretchers roped to the backs of horses
and some of the Red Cross men shout
dered wooden crutches TO help soldiers
with leg wounds from the field.
The Ammunition Trains.
Trains of the small black japanese
stations passed bearing ammunition
boxes and trenching spades. which are
also utilized for burying the dead. Am
,nunition caissons with lathering six
horse teams rumbled over the road,
and two or three field batteries in re-
serve appeared and Embarrassed on the
square where the marks of Russian
tents remained, to await possible Or
ders for the front. company of en-
gineers shouldering bamboo poles and
coils Of copper wire began to stretch
new telephone line which extended
across the fields as fast as the coils
could be unwound. Probably no other
army has as light and durable mater
ial for many uses as the Japanese find
in their bamboo. Occasionally an Of
ficer wearing the gold and white sash
of the staff galloped in from the direc-
tion of the firing. But there was no
confusion nor disorder and seemingly
little hurry. Every officer and man,
and every organization knew its bust
ness and proceeded about II without
excitement or fuss. The whole ma
chine operated with the same smooth
ness that II has exhibited, from the
day the mobilization began in Toxic.
The sounds of battle were increasing
at O'Clock and the eXpectant wit
nesses became impatient. The guns
began booming about that time and the
explosion Of a shell was heard every
two or three minutes while the unre-
hitting rattle of rife fire because
louder. punctuated by frequent vol
leys, and everyone knew that the vol
leys came from Russian rifles and that
the Japanese were firing at will in ac-
cordance with their usual tactics. Some
AdNtltu lndL Iue NOIk WAS coming
closer. 1t certainly sounded nearer
than on the morning of the 4th, and
the listeners began TO speculate
whether the Russians had carried the
PISS. The Chinese were getting fright
ened and parties of women and chill
dren went slcurrying up the hill roads
with bundles Of valuables
The order to Move.
About nine the telephone bell in the
STAFF Office gave long sharp ring
and an officer emerged to announce
that all might start. Word had come
that the Russians were running. Cor
respondents and officers were off at
full speed the Calvacade with the
various uniforms of different natlonali-
ties making an unusual group. The
tall German captain lowered above all
others. wearing a cap of the same
color and pattern as a Russian Of
fcers, which suggested the realiza-
ton OF the Japanese fear that for
eigners on the battlefield might bc
shot by their own troops. Just at the
foot of the high hill were begins the
steep ascent Of the pass, came a squad
Of wounded soldiers. going to the base
hospital. Some had their arms in
sings. others were bandaged across
their faces. Most OF them were verN
pale from loss of blood and heat. bal
all smiled and saluted A long pro.
cesssion OF wounded descended the hill
Part were carried on stretchers with
their guns and equipments beside them
for nothing rs wasted or lost with IA,
japanese army and when the soldier,