The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-02-28
: KUR0PATkIN'S EYE"
Carnival of Blood In Storming OF
Hill Named For the General.
GALLANT DEEDS ON BOTH SIDES

who Exposed Himself to japanese
SharpshOoters-Brav Of the Mi
kado's Infantry-General KurokPs
Tribute to the Gallantry Of His Foe.
NJ. II. DOnOhOe, a war correspondent
of the London Chronicle in Manchuria,
sends the following description Of
desperate battle on hill between the
Russian and Japanese forces, says the
London correspondent of the Philadel-
phia North American:
Somebody had christened the hill
"Kuropatkin's Eye" and for want of
more euphonious one the title had
chung to it. The name appealed to
General Kuroki, and it now appears
officially in the Japanese maps. There
is little to distinguish the hill from its
neighbors unless it be that it is low
lier, less pretentious than they. A vii
lage nestled at the foot of its eastern
slope. It's south face was furrowed
by deep donga, into the sides of
which the Russians had burrowed a
series of shelter trenches that irresisti-
bly, recalled Paardeberg.
A razorbacked ridge crowned the top,
and on its half mile or so of surface
more men have been killed in action
than perhaps on any corresponding area
in the whole Of Manchuria. From the
center of the ridge rose rocky pro-
tuberance resembling in shape the
hump on camel's back.
When the Japanese bombarded the
, hill Russian officer was stationed In
this natural coming tower in order
to direct the first of the Russian guns
As he stood there he was the constant
target for japanese sharpshoOters and
gunners alike. He seemed to bear a
charmed life. We could see him dis
tinctly without the aid of glasses, and
his sublime courage held us spellbound.
| We became deeply interested in him
and in his dangerous task and eager
| ly looked for his coming each morn
ing. The chiyalrous Japanese respect
ed his bravery, and on the second
day of his appearance in SO dramatic
a role bullets that ought to have bowl
ed him over were intentionally wide
Under cover of darkness KurOki's in
fantry crept through the millet fields
and rushed the hill on the south and
east. They climbed halfway up and
| then encountered the full force Of a
bullet storm that swept them down
much faster than they could ascend.
Hand grenades fell among them, add
| ing to the work of destruction and de-
moralization.
At the foot Of the slope they rallied
and tried again. Fighting their way
upward step by step in the teeth of a
decimating fire, they succeeded in gain
ing the top and in driving out the Rus
slams. But the latter were not yet
beaten. Before the victorious Japa-
nese had had time to intrench them
selves the Russians came swarming
back in increased strength and hurled
the japanese down. The repulse was
but temporary. Reforming, the plucky
japanese surged back with fixed bayo-
nets and were soon within twenty
yards of the Russians. At this muir
derous range both sides fought blindly
on In the darkness.
Soon the Russians had had enough,
and they drew off, taking their wound
ed with them and leaving the japanese
in possession. At daylight the Russian
guns got to work upon the hill from
two sides. The Smelling drove the Japa-
nese from the ridge to the shelter Of
| In hos lint xrho do b.
ness came and the Russian gunners
could no longer see the garrison climb
ed to the top Of the crest again. At
midnight the Russians launched four
regiments against the hill, which was
held by about an equal number. Mass
ing in the mdllet fields, regimental
band at their head, they dashed for
ward with a cheer.
AS the leading companies climbed the
grassy slope, already slippery with the
blood Of their fallen comrades, they
opened out, the band at the same mo-
ment striking up the Russian national
anthem. The music and the cheering
reached the Japanese on the hilltop as
with leveled rifles they awaited the
Russian onslaught. They had no band,
but they determined not to be outdone.
All the buglers were summoned, and
they blew a fanfare, while the men in
the trenches sang snatches Of patriotic
songs or shouted defiance at the on
coming foe The leading line OF Rus
SLAMS reached the japanese trenches
and died there with the sound of their
country's anthem ringing in their ears.
So, too, died line after line of men
that hurled themselves impotently
against the wall Of japanese infantry.
But the Russians came on anew and
unflinching, those behind clambering
over the wall Of dead that impeded
their progress. Yet another human
wave flung itself against the blood
dyed bayonets Of the defenders, this
time with such impetuosity as to
sweep everything before it. Into the
breach thus formed poured others, and
soon the whole ridge was mass OF
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