The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-26
EASTERN FLANK DOES ITS FART,

kuroki, Nodzu, Oku and Nogi.
EASTERN FLANK DOES ITS FART.
The operations began in the eastern
sector, according to design. suggesting
this 70 be the main turning movement.
When the troops took the field II Was in
tensely cold, but not many days Of as
sured frost remained and the necessity
for utilizing the frozen rivers was i'm
perative. The japanese moved in two
columns, the right taking the Tita road
and the left moving toward Machuntun.
The enemy's outposts were driven in, AZ
the right column on Feb. %, e1pelling from
an i1trenched position regiment Of Rus
sian infantry, with a battery, began its
march for Tita, while the left made prepa-
rations for storming the formidable defiles
at Chin ghocheng.
The Inter operation entailed a severe
struggle. The assailants attacked through
a snowstorm which was so heavy that
objects could not be distin guished al
an arms length. To reach the foot Of
the defies the troops had 10 cross the
Taitse River, and as a rise in the tempera-
ture had partially melted the ice the mems
progress was much impeded. In face Of
these difficulties the utmost bravery failed
to carry the troops up the PERCEPTIONS slopes
which we're crowned>by a whole division Of
the enemy with twenty field guns.
The attack was resumed at dawn on Feb.
p after a nights bivouac in the snow.
After twelve hours fierce fighting the
Russians were finally expelled at sunset.
They had about thousand casualties.
Then the pursuit began. Oyama's main
object being to cripple the enemy's army.
He issued a general order that the pursuing
operations be conducted with the utmost
Nigor The Russians offered frequent re-
sistance, and it was not until Feb. % that
the two columns reached their first objec-
tives, Machuntun and Tita.
There now began a struggle that lasted
seven days. The Russians, more and more
convinced that a great turning movement
in the Fushun direction constituted the
main feature Of the Japanese plan, fastened
70 dispatch reenforcements. Their auTil
larry railway on the south bank Of the Hun
River proved Of good service. A large
part Of the general reserve, which consisted
Of a whole army corps, marched to Machun-
tun and Tita.
Thus disposing Of their reserves the
Russians unwittingly furthered the Japanese
plan. which aimed at diverting the whole
attention 70 the east. On the other hand
the columns confronting Mschuntun and
Tita found that the Russians far from yield
ing showed signs OF assuming the offensive
No pen has yet undertaken TO describe
the hardships undergone by these Japanese
soldiers during the whole week Of such
operations in midwinter and in face OF
frequent snowstorms The men were Of
] ~ a -
diers Of mature age, and they appeared
to surmouat all difficulties without finohing.
At last, on March s, attacks in full force
were delivered against both places. That
at Machuntun succeeded and before evening
the Japanese were in full pursuit Of the
Russians, who retreated hurriedly toward
! Fusbun, but at Tita twenty-one hours OF
| continuous fighting was required before
the Russians broke and fed northward.
| Their defeat was 20 crushing that they
made no halt until they reached the high
! lands north Of Flshun beyond the Hun
River, where they rallied in entienched
! positions,
The Japanese arrived on the southern
! bank OF the Hun River after the fleeing
enemy had crossed and found the ice would
! not bear them. This unlocked for i'm
pediment caused great embarrassment,
! but the difficulty was overcome and the
! Fishun position was carried, the Russians
retiring along the road TO Telling.
In this series Of enga gements the japanese
lost $500 men and the enemy's casualties
were estimated TO have been four times
as many. The Russian forces consisted
| Of three divisions and three regiments Of
infantry, with RennenkRmpff's division
| Of cavalry.
VALIANT WORK By KUBoKI's FORCES.
Meanwhile much had happened else
| where. The army in the east central sec
tor, Kuroki's, began operations. kuroh's
immediate detectives were first to break
through the formidable plexus Of works
which guarded the approaches TO the road
leading northws nd toward the Hun River
from Pensihu, and. second TO beat back
the Russia ms posted between the east CEN
trail sector and the east sector-in other
words. 10 effect a junction between his right
and Kawamura's left, operating against
Machuntun. By establishing itself along
this line Kuroki's right would also gain
access to the road leading north from Tau
taoSau TO the banks Of the Hun River,
40 that four japanese columns would be able
10 move simultaneously in the east and
east central sectors toward the Hun River
east Of Mukden.
Il need scarcely be said that the attain
nent OF the first objective was attended
by extreme difficulties, the task being
nothing lees than 10 carry the eastern
flank Of a long line Of Russian defenses In
the valley Of the sha River, defenses upon
which months Of labor had been expended
| One attack took place at night amid
snow storm, but although the men suffered
much from tho cold and we're blinded by
! the thickly falling flakes. the snow did
! friendly service by outlining the positions
| OF the Russian stake pits 90 that not one
| casualty resulted from them. The soldiers
| had hidden each other farewell before
/ moving. and With the japanese troops
that ceremony means death or success
I Their experience served them usefully in
! dealing " ith the wire entanglements for
/ instead Of attempting to cut passage
/ as hitherto they employed balks Of timbers
/ as levers to pry these distractions out OF
/ place.
This particular attack was one Of many
/ prefaced by an incident unhappily not
'no,-ei Uhere Russian troops are concerned.