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


methods and the efficiency of the two
armies and explains the unvarying sue
cess on land OF the yankees of the
East" against one of the great military
powers Of Europe.
Two days before this attack the
Japanese knew through their remark
able intelligence service that 1t WAS
planned. They fOresaw largely how 1t
would be executed, though probably
they did not anticipate how stubbornly
the Russians, fred with ambition to
maintain the prestige of European
troops and inspired by the name of
Skobeler linked with the memories
of Schipka Pass, would storm the
stronghold. 1t was Skobeieff's fighting
md Skobelefr's men against the men
and methods of quarter century later.
On the morning of the 18th several
correspondents camped at the Division
Generals headquarters, some miles
from the pass, were awakened at day
light by the sound of distant vOlleys.
! a fog covered the hills so dense that
| tents could not be seen hundred
yards away. The ground WAS muddy
md trees dripped as though there had
been heavy rain.
GOING INTO ACTION.
Several infantry battalions came up
lie road at II dog trot, the mems Khaki
tunics plnstered to their backs with
sweat, While they mopped their faces
| with towels presented by the patriotic
societies of Japan bearing blue prints
Of the Mikndos soldiers storming I'M
possible blue precipices in the face Of
gigantic blue-bearded Russians.
Most of the men looked MS eager for
their work MS IL football team racing
onto the field.
| A hospital company marched past
with the stretchers roped to the backs
of horses, and some OF the Red Cross
men shouldered wooden crutches TO
! help soldiers with leg wounds from the
field.
Trains of the small black Japanese
stations passed bearing ammunition
| boxes and trenching spades, which are
also utilized for burying the dead.
Ammunition caissOns with lathering
| six-horse teams rumbled over the roaG,
serve appeared and embarrassed on the
square where the marks of Russian
| tents remained TO await possible orders
for the front.
A company of engineers, shouldering
bamboo poles and coils of copper wire
began to stretch a new telephone line.
which extended across the fields, as
fast as the coils could be unwound.
| Probably no other army has as light
and durable material for many uses as
the Japanese lind in their bamboo.
Occasionally nm officer wearing the
gold and white sash of the stan gal
loped In from tho direction OF the
| firing.
But there was no confusion, no dis
order and seemingly little hurry.
Every officer and man and every organ
ization knew its business and proceed
ed about 1t without excitement or fuss.
| The whole machine operated with the
same smoothness that It has exhibited
from the day the mobliizing began In
| Toxic.
The sounds of battle were Increasing
| Mt Z O'clock and the expectant wit
nesses became impatient. The guns be-
/; gan booming about that time, and the
| explosion of a shell was heard every
two or thyee minutes, while the unre-
hitting rattle of rife fire became
louder, punctuated by frequent volleys,
and every one knew that the volleys
came from Russian rifles and that the
Japanese were firing at will In accord
ance with their usual tactics.
The Chinese were getting frightened
and parties of women and children
went skurrying up the hill roads with
bundles Of valuables.
TELEPHONE IN THE FIELD.
About 0 the telephone bell in the
stan office gave sharp ring and an
officer emerged to announce that all
might start. Word bad come that the
Russians were running.
Correspondents and officers were OF
at full speed. the cavalcade with the
various uniforms of different national
| tiles making an unusual group.
Just at the foot Of the high hill where
begins the steep ascent Of the pass
came squad of wounded soldiers, 60
ing to the base hospital. Some had
arms in sings, others were bandaged
across their faces. Most were very
pale from loss of blood and heat, but
all smiled and saluted.
A long procession of wounded de-
scended the hill. Part were carried on
stretches with their guns and equip
ments beside them: for nothing is
wasted or lost with the Japanese army,
and when the soldiers 60 into a tight
they leave no trail of discarded bian-
kets and haversacks.
All the wounded were quiet and sto-
ical as usual. One boy shot through
both armS was walking, and us he
could not salute he stopped and bowed