Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-04-10
RUSSIAN CAVALRY RAID.
Hsw csnsral nistchsnxs's Cossaeks
 Fought . Small Force.

] The account given by young Japa- nese officer, Lieutenant Iwai, while lying in hospital at Liaoyang, of the circumstances in which he received four wounds makes a vivid page in the story of General Mistchenko's cav airy raid down the western bank of the Liao river, in Manchuria, says Tokyo correspondent of the London Times.
 On Jan. 3, 1904, it became known to the Japanese garrison at Anshatien that the Russian cavalry was showing some activity in the valley beyond the Lao. No details were procurable, how ever, and the officer in command de- cided to send out company of infan- try to reconnolter. He did not suspect, it would seem, that more than few sotnias of Cossacks would be encoun- tered. Captain YasuhaSa went in com. mand of the company. It numbered over a hundred men-the exact detail has not been published with it were Lieutenant Iwai and Assistant Surgeon Namba. The little force moved slowly and cautiously, endeavoring to collect information as they went. Dur ing six days they saw nothing of the enemy, but on the 9th, when they had crossed the Taitse river and were in the region between 1t and the Liao, they discovered that large body of cavalry, some 5000 strong, was in front of them. It was then about half past 3 in the afternoon. To retreat at once would have been the natural course for Yasuhara's company, since to effect a reconnaissance had been their only object. But the close prox- imity of the Russians made safe re- treat impossible for infantry, and, moreover, an excellent position for de- fensive purposes offered itself in the immediate, nelghborhood. Yasuhara determined, therefore, to make a stand, sending meanwhile small detachment to the rear to convey the intelligence to headquarters.
 At half past the advance guard of the Cossacks detected the presence of the Japanese; but, seeing that the lat ter's number was insignificant, the Russian troopers rode on boldly. The first volley from Yasuhara's men emp tied over sixty saddles, and the re- mainder of the Cossacks, galloping back out of range, dismounted and ad- vanced on foot. It was evidently a hopeless combat. There had not been time for the Japanese to intrench ef- Actively, and they soon saw that to re- main where they were would be certain death. One chance suggested itself. At a short distance from the position first chosen there stood solidly built Chinese house. Could the infantrymen get possession of this edifice they might possibly hold it until darkness furnished some opportunity for retire ment.
 The Russians, however. detected this purpose before 1t could be successfully executed, and desperate struggle for the possession of the house took place. Two rushes made by the Japanese fail ed, and, though the third carried them into the building, they found when they counted their force that only twenty seven men remained fit for action. Eighteen others had reached the house, but all were wounded-Captain Yasu- hara, shot through the stomach; Lieu tenant Iwai, hit In four places; Assist ant Surgeon Namba, with broken leg, and three sergeants and twelve pri- yates, all crippled. More than one-half of the whole company lay killed or wounded outside It was a little past 6 o'clock. During the next two hours the Russians repeatedly attempted to recover the building, but were always driven back. Now, however, their ar- tillery came up, and simultaneously with the crashing of the shells which must soon settle the combat the little garrison found themselves enveloped in flames and smoke. A quantity of millet stalks piled against one side of the building had taken fire.
 In these desperate circumstances a proposal was made that they should all die by their own hands. But Iwai, who, though wounded in four places, had not become helpless, suggested that retreat might be possible under cover of the confagration. Calling up- ou oI1 xr,ho co,,ld foIIorr, lo c<r,,uulo,1 out, and with him went a sergeant and six privates. while a second sergeant at the head of twenty men made an exit in another quarter. The intention was to hold together. but in the dark ness and confusion the two parties be- came separated, one moving east to- ward the Taitse, while the other made its way south in the direction of Old Newchwang. Both ultimately effected their escape, Lieutenant Iwai and his seven comrades reaching Anshantien, while the other twenty-one passed through Newchwang and finally en- tered Niukiotun. Meanwhile Captain Yasuhara. the three sergeants and twelve privates who had remained in the building committed suicide.
 Assistant Surgeon Namba. however. met with an awful fate. He had strug- gled out simultaneously with Iwai: but, 1t being plain that he could not make any protracted effort to escape. his comrades left him, feeling assured that the Red Cross on his arm would insure his safety. But Iwai declares