Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-05-03
Had 1t Failed, Nosi's Turning M~e-
ment Might Have Been Unsucess-
ful-Jap Loss Was 4,1oe While tus-
slams Had 5000 kiIIed-The Official
Report is Very Brief.

oly 1lShllllSo. AioNt sHS SoPei't~.'N 49,
held their ground Nosi's turning move
ment might have failed.
The official report is almost silert on
the incident, which ranks as one OF the
greatest feats at arms in hi,tory. 1t
only says:
"This day our troops took ABOUT two
thirds of Likwanpau. In theafternoon
division of the enemy made a counter
attack, but after a severe fight our
men held their ground"
These few words refer toione OF the
most desperate conflicts Of the war.
Lfkwanpau is a village nine miles west
of Mukden. Its capture formed part
of the program assigned to General
Oku's army Of forcing the Russians
back from all their positions southwest
Of Mukden, thus masking the turning
movement of General Nogi's army.
A brigade of the Nagoya division I'M
der command of General Nambu, at
tackled Likwanpau. The district is fiat,
affording no cover, and the ground was
frozen SO hard it defied intrenching
tools. A rush during the darkness Of
fered the only hope of success.
Japs Outnumbered to 1.
The Russian forces comprised four
army corps, one division. General
Nambu's brigade ultimately found it
self struggling against this whole army
corps, being outnumbered four to one.
The men nevertheless persevefe1 In
their attack, forcing the army from
house to house, until tWo-thlrds OF the
place was in their hands.
Then they saw themselves threaten
ed With complete failure of amrnuni-
ton. They had used every cartridge in
the pouches of their fallen comrades,
had used even the rifles and ammuni-
ton of the eneny's dead and wounded.
A message must be carried to division
headquarters, but the regiment was
surrounded. It's fellow regiment upon
which the maintenance of communica-
ton depended, had been borne back by
sheer weight of numbers. To emerge
from the cover of the village into the
open could scarcely result in anything
but death.
Col. Takenouchi was wounded in
three places, yet supporting himself
on his sword he called for volunteers.
HlCC lIitIl ddSucu OIL ny inherent
routes to summon succor, among them
Maj. Okoshi.
Prefers Death to Failure.
He galloped safely thru the village,
but on emerging fell fatally hurt by
shrapnel. 1t had been his hope to re-
join his comrades after delivering the
message to Gen. Nsmbu, or at least
to meet their fate on his return Jour-
ney, but now he saw himself struck
down in the act of riding away from
the scene Of combat.
Taking paper and pencil from his
pocket he wrote as follows:
To Gen. Nambu-Testament of Maj.
Okoshi--Sir: That instead Of fighting
side by side with the colonel of my
regiment and its battalion command
ers have left the battlefield alone be-
cause by desire of my colonel I am
about to report the state of affairs to
you. did not disregard the dangers
on the way, but, being unable to wit
ness the straits to which my colonel
and comrades We're reduced, it was my
purpose to adventure my life in order
to convey the facts to the commander
of the brigade so some means Of sue
cor might be continued, after which I
intended to return to the field to share
the fate of my brother officers and
men.
But I have been wounded on the
way, and to my bittel. regret have fail
ed to accomplish my purpose. There
fore, am about TO die in order to re-
join beyond the grave my comrades
and the soldiers under my command.
My right arm being wounded, how
ever, / cannot use my sword and must |
therefore have. recourse to ny pistol.
Il beg you to pardon thisinow. For
all your kindnesses thru many years |
I thank you from sincere heart. n
pray you may acquire lasting military
fame. Being exhausted find difficulty |
in writing, so ask you excuse my
brevity.
"OKoSHI, Major"
Lying near by was a soldierwho was
severely wounded. Major Otoshi in
trusted the letter to him and then shot
himself
Help Arrives in Time!
The ammunition and reinfoleements
arrived in time, but the casualties to
the regiments had been LOG Officers and |
4 200 of the rank and file. OF tie enc
my more than 5000 lay killed OF
wounded. The Nayoga division had |
lone its duty nobly, FOR, thought hal
not driven back the enemy it hal held
in checl, greatly superior force, which
if released would have imperilal the
turning movement of General yogts
army and might have changed tie IS
sue of the battle
A kanjo address Of praise) sibse-
auently was handed this division b.,
Field Marshal Oyama. 1t ran this:
"On the 18th of March continuously
until the Sth at Likwanpau. you suc-
resisted an attack by a orca
If the enemy many times your su,er-
or in numbers in a desperate fight
With the numerous bs.ttalions statiOped
% guard Likwanpau. You were pot
deferred by your heavy casualties Tut
inflicted enormous losses on the eie-
ny, finally frustrating his design aud
enabling the third army successfully
to carry out its turning operations.
your achievement has ben
.ruly great and ! confer on you tbs
sanjo. OYAM-A."
Noted for Its VaIor.
This division already had disstirt
yuished itself at Nanshan hill by wad