The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-03-13
JAPANESE RUSHED
INTO DEATHS JAWS
Hundreds Killed in Attack on
Kankyachlen
VILLAGE FINALLY TAKEN
Russian Shells Moved Down the Ad-
vanelns Men unmTeIfuIIy, But
the Advance Was Never
Checked.
VILLAGE FINALLY TAKEN

General Oku's Headquarters, Monday,
March 6. evening, via Tien Tsin, March
12.-Kankyachien was captured this Il
ternoon. From a small hill two miles
west the advance and attack were plain
ly visible. KanlSyachien Is a small village
in an angle two miles north, and then
four miles west of the railway. The
Japanese ON March occupied villages
half mile west and north of Kanky-
achien after hard fight, and this morn
ing began the attack on Kankyachien,
heavily bombarding it with field guns and
howitzers from abandoned railway
embankment, a mile southwest
Russian guns east cf the village re-
piled, obliging the Japanese to bring up
more guns to look after the Russian bat
teries. Until afternoon the artillery duel
continued, thousands of shells being ex-
changed. the Japanese pouring their fire
In the village and the Russian artillery
positions. and the Russians In turn at
tempting to Ind the Japanese batteries
searching the plain west OF Kankyachien,
where hundreds of shrapnel and percus-
sion shells from fields guns and 6-inch
howitzers fell useless, the only Japanese
on the whole plain being occasional
mounted orderiies. The Russians also
heavily bombarded the Japanese in the
villages east and rorth Of kankyachien,
which they had taken on March and
set fire to both the villages. At o'clock
in the afternoon the Japanese lombard
ment was redoubled, hundreds of per-
ctssion shells and shrapnel being rained
on the village. and setting fire to the
roofs of the houses of the Chinese.
General oku Mounto His Horse.
At o'clock General Oku left his tent
at the foot of the hill and, mounted on
1. 1T . .,aft
of the hill with his big field glasses. A
few minutes later the infantry attack
began. The task had been given to a
famous division from northern Japan. The
attack began with the advance of dozen
men from Hankyachien, the village to the
north, who rushed several hundred yards
across the plain and dropped behind
cover. They were followed by another
small section, and then, by another. When
about a company had been assembled,
the advance was continued in the same
manner.
The Russians threw hundreds of shells
at the advancing men. cutting them up
badly, but not stopping the advance.
Scores of men dropped and remained
where they fell, while the others ad-
vanced, after which some painfully re-
turned to the starting point. Drawing the
Russian shells again. One party of five
started to return, but only one OF them ar
rived at the shelter. At the same time
an advance began from the western vii
lage, men going forward in the same man
ner. From an old railway embankment,
a long column struggled forward at wide
intervals to reinforce the western vii
lage.
Wounded Scores of Men.
The Russians shelled all the advancing
men numerically. killing or wounding
scores, but the advance never stopped.
A rife fire cut a wide gap in the advance
but still the Japanese did not halt. The
last third of the distance the men could
advance only in short rushes. Finally.
after the last rush came. the men disap-
peared into the village and the rifle fire
was transferred to the other side OF the
village, while the Japanese artillery re-
opened fire. A few moments later the
telephone operator on the hill reported
that the village had been captured.
The attack on the next village was
then begun. The Russians heavily bonn
barded Kankyachien and a rattlirsg fire
was delivered on several places. but with
out succeeding In dslodging the Japan
ese, who continued the. attack on other
villages.
At nightfall Mukden seems as goPd as
captured. The Russians are evifently
making desperate stand near thel rail-
way to give the main army time for re-
treat and to carry away the baggage and
supplies. The ground has not yet paved
bu- the roads are In perfect condipon Tor
transporting baggage and guns.