The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-26

with the army in the east sector and for
cooperation in the attack on Machuntun.
PIERCE ARTILLERY DUEL IN THE CENTER.
Until Feb. p the army in the central sec
tor CNodzu'sl, obedient to the general
scheme Of strategy, showed no sign Of
activity. Then suddenly on the morning Of
Feb. 81 this army, together with the left
wing Of the army in the east central sector,
opened a furious cannonade all along the
front powerful park Of artillery, includ-
ing many guns Of position had been quietly
assembled, and whereas all through the
winter under Intellectual but frequent gun
practise on the Russian side the Japanese
had kept silence, there now burst from the
japanese trenches a furious hail Of pro-
jectiles.
The Russians. supposing this the prelude
10 a general attack rapidly massed three
hundred guns 20 reply, and throughout the
afternoon a tremendous artillery duel ragged.
It continued the two following days The
japanese did not suffer severely, but had
the satisfaction Of putting many Of the
enemy's guns out Of action and witnessing
the piecemeal destruction Of his fortifca-
tons.
On the third day the Russians re enforced
their artillery with fifteen, batteries Of
field pieces and four batteries Of heavy
guns, but the weight Of the fire was still
on the japanese side.
During the first night after the opening
Of the fire the Russians made gallant
but strangely inadequate attempt against
the left Of the army in the central sector,
After a concentrated artillery fire eight
companies Of infantry moved down on each
side Of the railway an hour before midnight
and forced their way into the trenches Of
the japanese outposts, where a fierce hand
TO hand encounter took place. The men
Of the outpost held their ground with logged
tenacity. and being reinforced, drove out
their assailants after three hour combat.
The Russians left sixty dead, They claimed
a victory, but on what grounds the claim
was based il il dificult to discover.
This incident, though exceptionally reso-
lutte in character. accorded with the general
course Of events. During the preceding
months futile cannonadlng and petty,
frivoloua attacks had been typical Of the
Russian game Of war. Il seemed as though
activity, however Intellectual, was a ne
oessity to the soldiers Of the Car.
The sequel OF this SCATTERING oannonade
was that the army Of the central sector
pushed the enemy from his last outworks
south OF the Sha River near Liuchwang-
tun and Wanpasohan, and having Effected
this between March land March o, II awaited
the development Of tie turning attacks
east and west.
It must be noted in considering these
japanese attacks that they took place at
the close Of the Manchurian winter with
the mercury averaging S to 10 degrees
below. In such conditions II is out OF the
question for the attacking PARTY to have
recourse 10 entrenchinR. The pick and
shovel are powerless against the iron hard
ground. Nothing offered for entrench-
ments except the very inadequate substi-
tute Of sand bsgs Each soldier carried one
and e happened not infTequently that the
men had TO lie for hours on or under the
snow behind these frail defen rs while the
enemy from his secure position poured
shot and she'll into them.
The idea suggests itself that the opera
tons ought to have been advantageously
postponed until the climatic conditions were
more favorable. but postponement would
have created the serious impeachment Of
unbridged rivers The Japanese chose
the interval between midwinter's almost
uncomfortable cold and the opening Of spring
They did not begin operations a moment
too soon. The delay Of few days would
have converted the Hun River from an ice
road into deep waterway. The troops
in the center and west parts we're only just
In time 10 escape an obstacle which might
have changed the whole complexion Of the
campaign.
oKU, APPARENTLY cHEcKED. Rad DONE HIS
woRK.
Meanwhile Gen. Oku, on Feb. %. began
his advance between the Sha and Hun
rivers and beyond the west bank OF the
latter. Ever since the Heikautai combat
the Russians had been entrenohinE various
points in this district, probably with the
view 20 renewing the offensive, for they
asserted that although repulsed at Heikau-
tai they had won positions valuable for
a repetition Of their turning movement az
a more favorable season.
Thus, when Oku be gan his advance ne
was received by q oannonAde from twenty
eight batteries. This happened on the
eaet bank OF the Hun River, south Of ChanR
tau. No progress could Immediately he
ehected in face Of this storm Of shells.
The japanese had not only TO suspend
their advance, hut also % receive that night
a herce counter attack which they shook
on with sons effort. Thess were Olu's