The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1905-02-18

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
gigantic axe had cut swathe through
them. ~,
The Russians were yielding ground
slowly with their firing line spread out
across the fields and hillsides in an. al
most solid barrier.
RUSSIAN INDIGESTION. q
Behind the firing line and sheltered
by clump Of magnificent trees-which
must have concealed them from the
Japanese advance-a regiment was
stopping In solid formation on cross
road.
With the regiment was a battery
which had fine opportunity for effec-
tive action, but was huddled together
in field where a single well-placed
japanese shell might have worked
great execution In its midst. Further
down the road more TROOPS were re-
turning to their camping places slowly,
and with their many wagons Of bag
gage. The whole attitude of the force
betokened indeclsion and lack OF plans.
The Japanese utilized all tile cover
MS they advanced, while the Russian
tactics of preserving close company
formations sacrificed much of the nat
ural advantages of the ground.
That stiffness and precision of the
German school, which some foreign
officers netting in the home maneuvres
had thought might handicap the jap
anese in the field, was abandoned.
CONTRAST IN FIRING.
Between the methods of shooting
of the two armies there was as great
n contrast as in other essentials. Rus
sian firing is almost all by volleys,
with quite mechanical regularity.
Even in the use of artillery they fol-
low plan Of discharging one gun
after another rapidly and with pre-
clsion.
To-day four Russian guns saluted
the japanese for an hour as a regi-
ment Of the latter was moving into po-
sitlon before the Russian front. The
manner of 1t was zone, two, three,
four" again.
Their infantry work is on the same
order-three or four sharp volleys and
then rest.
Occasionally the japanese use vol
leys, but most of the time they fire at
will, giving the enemy less information
of their position and gaining the advan-
tages of individual craftsmanship.
They lie like a hunter in the bush
waiting for game, and when they see
it they blaze away.
No one who has seen this campaign
questions Russian bravery. The great
superiority of the Japanese lies In the
head work Of officers and men.
The scene around the temple neares!
the Pass when the correspondents ar.
rived on the field bore witness elo-
Iuently to the courage of the patient
Siay. Through four terrible hours the
Thirty-fourth European Regiment held
Its ground under q fierce fire from
the Japanese redoubts above them.
The temple itself became yeritable
slaughter house. All over the temple
yard, over the rond and the fields about
1T, shrapnel balls were strewn thickly,
and the ground was sowed with rifle
bullets. They testified convincIngly of
the staying powers of the Russian
soldiers.
Not since Hamatan has this army
seen more men disabled on small
area. Along the line where the Rus
sian wave broke 1t left fringe of dead
and wounded.
RUSSIAN is WEIGHTED DOWN.
The Russians go into battle with
heavy marching equipment, weighted
down by NIL their effects.
One soldier, mortally wounded, wore
his heavy coat in roll over his Shout
der, and an entrenching spade, cook
ing pot, a canvas bag filed with black
bread, canteen and a bandolier Of
cartridges were strapped to him, and
saw japanese stop to cut these
weights from his enemy and drag him
into the shade Of n bush, putting a
blanket under his head and handker-
chief over his face.
Russian impedimenta were strewn
all over the field. Most noticeable
were the heavy snu e-colored coats.
which prove useful in Japanese hos
pitfalls, the crude wooden water TASKS,
the pouches. of coarse bread, numerous
rifles dropped in retreat, and two or
three drums emblazoned with the dou-
ole-headed eagle, to abandon which is
almost like giving up the colors.
GENERALS TAKE IT EASY.
General Nichi observed the end of
the engagement from the summit of
hill close by the temple. He had
dressed at his usual hour, taken leis-
urely breakfast, keeping in touch with
his command by cobweb of tele-
graphs and telephones, and only when
he learned that the Russians had be-
gun to retreat and the business of the
day was practically decided did he