THE BATTLE OF LIAOYANG.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 98, 22 October 1904, Page 12

THE BATTLE OF LIAOYANG.

AS SEEN FROM INSIDE LIAOYANG. SCENES OF DISSIPATION AND DISORDER. The London Daily Chronicle publishes the following graphic description of the Battle of Liaoyang, sent by Reuter's cotrespondent, who was in Liaoyang at the tim«. Tho message is dated 4th September. At eight o'clock yesterday evening the Japanese discovered that the Russians were in retreat. Scouting opearfcions carried out to the west and couth of tn© town walls up to eleven o'clock failed to reveal any sign of the enemy, and the troops of the victorious army quietly entered and occupied the City of Liaoyang, General Kuropatkin's base and stronghold, at three o'clock this morning, after five days' glorious lighting. On 29th August General Nod'u hotly bombarded the Russian position, consisting of three hills at Chiaofangtun. Meanwhile General Oko waa working forward by means of rifle trenches and artillery fire, which the Russians were unable to locate, and slowly advanced along the railway, in spite of the Russian fortifications on all the eminences, in the direction of Shusan. The character of the Japanese advance apparently warned General Kuropatkin to make sure of his retreat, and bis transport immediately began to cover the railway bridge on its way north. On the 39th the Japanese closed in upon the Russian mountain position at Chiaofangtun, cannon screening their advance, until it was almost possible for the opposing battery commanders to see each other's faces. The wounded, of whom on the previous day hardly any were seen, were now trailing along all the roads from the south and soutn-wesfc into Liaoyang. , JAPANESE SILENCx, RUSSIAN BATTERIES. The Russians used a field balloon all day. They got the range of one Japanese battery, putting it out of action, but generally they failed to find either Japanese batteries or troops, while the Japanese continued to silence battery after battery on the Russian side. The fighting began before dawn on the 31st, and again continued until evening, the Japanese officers urging on their fainting men with the points of their swords. When they reached the trenches on the south exposure of the innermost battery position, the central feature of which waa an ugly round-topped hill fort protected by wire entanglements, the Russians refused to retire, and after the final occupation of the hill seven Russians were found in a gallery of one of the trenches who fought until they were surrounded, battling with sandbags. These irrecon- I cilables killed one officer and wounded j another before surrendering. ! The dead at this point lay touching each other for a thousand feet, covering the approaches to the fort. LIKE THE HOWLING OF WOLVES. At five o'clock the battle, which had raged all day at Chiaofangtun, centred on the south road, where for two hours a sustained cannonade raged, involving a record expenditure of ammunition. During this time in the valley under the Rus. sian gun positions the air seemed as though filled with the howlings of a myriad of wolves, as thousands of projectiles hurtled shrieking overhead, while the bursting shells in the area covered by the Japanese advance, and the Russian infantry defence gave the impression of a continuous eruption several miles wide. The Russian rifle fire during the whole day was indescribably furious, but it was mainly without target, and so ineffectual. It ended only at -ten o'clock that night. It was estimated that a thousand Russian shells fell iv the south road valley j alone, where there was nothing to destroy but the Japanese Red Cross camp. On the morning of the Ist inst., all non combatants were ordered to leave Liaoyang, and the Commissary of Police sent an urgent order to the Liaoyang Magi* trate that all Chinese should leave the city within two days. The Japanese w^resseen to be in possession of Shusan, having dis covered Ueueral Stackeiberg'a withdrawal the previous night, and the Chinese in the city grew apprehensive, and began to make Japanese flags. EFFECTS OF THE BOMBARDMENT. At noon I »vas lunching at the station when the first Japanese shell struck the settlement. In fifteen minutes the troop and hospital trains and others crowded with traders and residents cleared out. Meanwhile the Japanese mounted addi» tional guns on Shusan, under a heavy Rus sian shrapnel fire. Shells burst over the Post Office the Red Cross tents, the station garden, the hospital, and also in the park under the ancient pagoda, where a crowd of people who had been refreshing themselves at a restaurant there, headed by the restaurant keepers, fled heltersklter with panic-stricken officers, orderlies, and a horde of miscellaneous neople, seeking refuge behind the north wall of the city. The Chinese immediately began looting, but swift punishment overtook them. At this point the Russians filled all the trenches, rifle-pits, and forts west and south of the town with fresh troops, who kept up an incessant fire of shrapnel over the approaches to the town, although they were without precise knowledge of the enemy's movements. At this time the main body was in active retreat. At six o'clock in the even ing shells were falling just outside the west wall and on the heliograph station in the north-west corner of the city, whence the Japanese could be seen moving forward regularly in open order under a deadly fire, advancing in splendid fashion over the southern hills, where the Russians had measured the distances, and their artillery wrought terrible destruction. The positions, at Chiaofangtun were now deserted, and the right flank of Nodzu's army encircled the .three peaks west of that place. They came grandly over the Russian breastworks. One battalion lost every officer, and a corporal took command. This battalion finally entrenched itself in the vicinity of General Ivanoff's headquarters of the day before. At eight in the morning of 2nd September General Kuropatkin's train proceeded north, two-thirds of the distance lo Yentai, five miles from which place a battle had begun at daybreak. An incessant rain of shells covered the entire line. KUROKI'S DASH.' Kuroki, severing connection with Nodzu and leaving the Amping road unprotected, had arrived at the last hill positions of the Russians in the coal district east of Yentai. The critical importance of Kuroki's dash for Kuropatkin's rear and the force with which he was pressing it were now evident, and had the effect of dislodging Kuropatkin's hitherto concealed movements. The position was indeed extremely critical, and an immediate precipitate retreat of the entire Liaoyang army was only prevented by the recapture of another hill east of Yentai. It was soon lost again, but the end was achieved. Kuroki relaxed his efforts, and General Mischenko was sent west of the railway to make a demonstratior in the Kailiang and cover the retreat. At noon on the 3rd the Japanese rifle fire swept through the city, and beyond it to the farther bank of the Taitse. The infantry holding the southern approaches retired immediately to a position in front of the south wall. Bullets were now striking the railway station, and all tim-

ber work and the wooden bridge were in flames. Shells fell everywhere in tho 1 city, and 220 Chinese were wounded. The battle of Liaoyang is accepted here as determining the mastery of Manchuria. The Russians were fully equal in numerical strength to the Japanese. They had approximately 180,000 men, and their artillery was superior in range and rapidity of fire to the Japanese. The latter were forced to capture a series of strongly-fortified positions at enormous peril to themselves, and it was here that i they proved their" superiority. In the plain it was thought that the Russians would at least have the advantage in cavalry and bayonet charges, but even these expectations proved deceptive. The Russian losses amounted to 10 per cent, of the troops engaged on their side. The reasons of the Bussian failure at Liaoyang axe largely involved in the demoralisation caused by four months of continuous defeat and retreat, beginning at Kiulienching. General Kuropatkin's task was nearly hopeless. The railway in July scarcely replaced the losses through death, wounds and sickness during the month, and it was evident that twice as many Russians as Japanese were necessary for even a moderate success to be attained. ! GAY SCENES AT LIAOYANG. The scenes at Liaoyang before the bat- 1 tie were oppressive in the extreme. Even when th Japanese were successful in their attack on the entire line of Anshanchan, Kaofengshis, and Kuchiatzu on the 26th August, and were swiftly marching on Liaoyang and the inner defences, the officers, flinging aside their responsibilities in the field, immediately they arrived at Liaoyang plunged into dissipation. They were pleased with the salutes of the street arabs, and did everything, to forget their accumulated disasters. The Pagoda Gardens presented a gay scene. From the officers' quarters could be heard the clink of glasses and th<; tinkle of musical boxes. The privileged Port Arthur cafe chantant women remained until the battle was half finished or their retreat assured. At the beginning of the five days' fight the soldiers and officers who werfe left in the city hotel and resorts were ord'.n-.l to rejoin their regiments. Few were unable to do so, yet ob the morning of the great Japanese victory many were found in unworthy places. The brave Russian army appears to have lost its battles through demoralisation and dissipation, and also because the enemy was persistently underestimated. The entire deportment of the Russians towards the Japanese has hitherto been absurd in the extreme. THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PICTURE The Daily phronicle's correspondent with the Japanese Army writes under date sth September, of the great battle : Liaoyang is now (sth September) in full occupation of the Japanese, after six days of the bloodiest fighting witnessed during this war, the first, second, and central Japanese armies being engaged in the attack. Kuropatkin brought a large force, probably 150,000, against the Japanese, who sought to drive him from Liaoyang. He also had plenty of heavy artillery. The second and central armies, advancing from the soratSi, pressed the outer defence works cimultaneously. Kuroki, advancing westwards, drove the enemy out of Anqing; then halted, awaiting developments. On 3Utn August there was a fierce bombardment by the combined guns of the second and central armies. Liaoyang is in the centre t>f a large plain, surrounded by a series of strong defensive works, the perimeter of the defences being many miles from the town itself. On the first day the roar of the opposing/guns was unceasing, the plain to the south-west being wreathed in mist. The shell fire of the Russian heavy guns was effective, keping down the Japanese artillery fire. Early on the morning of the 31st masses of infantry assaulted the works, being twice repulsed with heavy ' losses. The Russian rifle fire was lyThe third Japanese attempt was successful, the works being captured and the Russians driven back to Liaoyang, suffering heavily. The Japanese pressed forward, and the enemy evacuated the town, crossing to the north bank of the Liao River, where he occupied another strong position. Japanese artillery now commanded the town at short range, and the Russians, with many locomotives and rolling-stock, were sent north, The Japanese shelled these, destroying a portion, and inadvertently setting fire to the railway station. KUROKI'S FORCED MARCH. With the object of intercepting the Russian retreat, General Kuroki was ordered to move to the north-east, and throw himself astride the railway 1 . He made a forced march, the men behaving splendidly. Having crossed the Taitse River, on two pontoon bridges, Kuroki made an encircling movement, debouching on the foothills of a mountain range twelve miles eastwards of Liaoyang. Except in the north Kuropatkin was now surrounded. Kuroki strove hard to complete the chain of investment and effect a junction with the nearest Japanese army. The Russian position facing Kuroki was a series of low hills intercepted by cultivated fields, where the grain stalks were 12ft high, and afforded ad- j mirable concealment and cover for the artillery supporting the infantry. The centre position in the path of Kuroki's advance was a low rugged hill, nicknamed "Kuropatkin's eye, ' a short distance to the south, overlooking the | Taitse river, a gaunt hill with sipping ' sides and devoid of vegetation, wbicfi j was the veritable key to the Russian position. Day after day, with heroic pertinacity, the Japanese flung themselves against the Russian line. A fierce artillery duel ushered in the morning of Ist September, since then then until to-day the guns, have been rarely silent! Fighting Has been carried on night and day, with scarcely a rest for the wearied troops of the opposing armies; subsequently under cover of night tney stormed and captured "I^uropatkin's eye," losing heavily. The Russians fought desperately, utilising wjre entanglements and hand grenades, the latter causing havoc in the ranks of the stormers. NIGHT ATTACKS. On 2nd September the Japanese clung to the captured hill. The Russians concentrated several guns, which enfiladed the Japanese, literally covering every yard of the hill with shrapnel. Tfie Japanese were unsuccessful in silencing the Russian guns, which at one time threatened to decimate the gallant infantry holding the hill. Both sides embarked on night attacks. The Russians attempted to retake "Kuropatkin's Eye," carrying everything before them, until the trenches at the top of the ridge were gained; there they flung themselves unavailingly against the entrenched Japanese, their successive advances being shattered by un. erring rifle fire at thirty yards' range. Both slopes of the hill were littered with the dead and dying after the attack. Simultaneously the Japanese drove the Russians from a hill further north, bringing Kuroki's advanced line within six thousand yards of the railway. The defeated Russians retired a short distance, but during succeeding days they directed a harassing artillery fire against the advanced Japanese positions, especially "Kuropatkin's Eye," which was swept with shell fire from end to end. On 4th September, the Russians, strongly reinforced, assumed offensive daylight operations, pushing the Japanese hard. At one time they threatened, to cross the river and turn Kuroki's left and the nearest co-

operating force. For hours the situation was one of peril for the Japanese. Reinforcements, however, wefe sent. One division, which was operating southwards, rejoined Kuroki, averting the danger of being outflanked by the Russians. Throughout the day Kuroki's right wan practically stationary. The Russians con* tested every yard, this column only ad-« vancing one mile in two days. The Jt&us* sians were superior in artillery, also ia infantry. The Japanese computation of Kuropatkin's total strength was much-wider-estimated. The enemy displayed in> wonted mobility, speedily reinforcing threatened points and holding the Japan" ese «sncircling column, despite the magnifioeat bravery of the latter, the Russian infantry tardily adopting an extended formation and fighting with steadiness and determination. They repeatedly charged with »he bayonet, and remained unshaken in fiwe of heavy shelling. A wounded Russian says Kuropatkin ordered the fore« opposing Kuroki to hohi the positions to the last man rather than evacuate before the moment was ripe for retreat. On the morning of the 6th the Russians fronting Kuroki, with the object of keeping open Kuropatkin's line of retreat, drew off from our front, retiring slowly in the direction of Mukden. AN AWFUL SPECTACLE. Owing to the constant fighting, many of ,the wounded in the zone of fire remained unrescued, and in consequence of the intense heat and heavy rain then? sufferings were terrible. " Kuropatkin'i Eye," which I visited after the battle, presented an awful spectacle. The rabbit warren of trenches on the surface wa» covered with Japanese and Russians. Tha slopes were a veritable shambles, anfi were covered with debris. On the Wesfc side were 200 unburied Russians in a long line, close to the Japanese trenches, lying, as they fell, with their faces to th« foe. Kuropatkin burni the bridges across the river and the supply magazines when abandoning the town. The remnant of Kuropatkin's army is in full retreat northwards. All the positions in the immediate neighbourhood ot Liaoyang have been abandoned, and tb* Japanese are in full possession. AFTER THE BATTLE. The food magaiines and a portion oi the Russian town are still burning (Bth September), and the railway station in it rains. Little roiling stock and no locomotives have been, captured. The absence of the latter is hampering th« Japanese railway transport. But few Russian wounded have remained behind. Kuropatkin's main position west and south of Liaoyang was a crescent-shaped line of gently undulating hills sevea miles from flank to flank, with redoubts skilfully constructed, and miniature fortresses. One of these waa called "Littlo Pore Arthur," owing to ite supposed impregnability, the works being protected from assault by wire entanglement* and deep pits, with impalements. The stoiming attempts by the eecondl army entailed fearful losses on the at. tackers. The Russians had destroyed: the grain crops along the whole length of the* front, consequently there waß no cover for the assaulting infantry. A section of the Japanese advance wad over a glacis. Here the losses were terribly heavj, whole companies being mowed down by Russian fire. The trenches were scenes of appalling butchery. No quarter was ask«d or given. There wera hours of hand-to-hand fighting with club-, bed rifles and bayonets. The Japanesa and Russian killed 'ay in heaps, in aomo instances filling the trenches, and liter* ally forming a bridge of dead men, who had lost their rifles in the progress of the bloody melee, and fought to th* death with knives and bayonets. Manywere found locked ia a death fcmbraco clutching each other round the throat, The dead or both sides were inextricably mingled, testifying to the relentless ferocity of the fight. A Russian bayonetted a Japanese officer and the latter shot his assailant. Both were dead beneath a pile of slam with a bayonet through the officer. The heroism of the troops on both sides was unparalleled. The conduct of th« Russian infantry was in striking contrast to that of some of their officers, who preferred Liaoyang hotels to tht firing line. The interregnum on the night of 3rd September between the Russian evacua* tion and the Japanese occupation of tho town was one of indescribable horror. Freed from restraint, soldiers ran amok, murder,, arson, and pillage being rampant. Furniture was flung into . thfi streets and smashed to atoms. ' The failure of the Japanese encircling movement, and the consequent unharassed retreat of Kuropatkin's main body, precludes the anticipated early conclusion of th|s year's operations, and may prolong the duration of the campaign. The following details of the fighting a| Liaoyang are sent by Reuter's corresponr dents at the front :— - At night the scene was a remarkable display of fireworks. The Russian bony bardment of the hills which had been steady all day increased towards sunset, and when darkness fell the bursting shells over the hill tops and the plain' resembled electric lights. The summits of the hilli were outlined by continuous tiny streams of rifle flashes. In the nearer plains, under the protection of the low hills, th« camp fires of tihe reserves glowed lik» the lights of cities. Great beacons shone where the dead were being cremated. Hundreds of Chinese, men, women, and) children, all carrying heavy loads of their possessions, were fleeing from the village* in the plain and disappearing in long lines over the eastern hills. An ordinary battle, vrth a, few batteries throwing shells about, has heretofore not sufficed to drive the enterprising M^nchurianff from their homes. They hover around the fighting, playing the part of scavengers, and strip the battlefields of every vestige of debris. They rob wounded persons and take the clothing from the dead and have even been seen between the firing, lines gathering cartridges. Their exodus indicated Chat they expected greater dangers. j Tie area Qver which fighting took placa ! to the north of the river presents a tei Irible picture of the results of war. The I fields are scored with a hundred lines of trenches, marking the successive stages of the retreat. The fires in which tht bodies of the fallen were consumed art still burning, and searching parties arc still bringing the J-panese dead to them. At every turn can be seen the graves of Russians — some dug by their own comrades, others by Japanese. On one hillside is a group of two or three hundred graves, marked by roughly-cut sticks. Ir the high grain many bodies remain undiscovered, filling the air with their stench. Flocks of crows hover over the fields, and about a hundred Chinese dogs ronin among the crops. The which Haiyentai Hill presented has seldom been equalled in any war. The hilltop is less thap a quartei or a mile long. The crest, slopes, and ravines were literally honeycombed with trenches, ditcnes, and furrows for shelter. Trenches and counter-trenches ran in every direction, testifying to the numbers of attacks and the different pointr from which assaults had beeD attempted. Hundreds of shells had fallen on the hill, tearing pits and furrows ia it. Fragments of steel were everywnere under foot. Several Russian drums, and two or three hundred Russian rifles and cooking pots were all torn and shattered by shot, bayonets were twisted and broken, and the rags of uniforms and caps were Bhofctorn and blood-soaked. Blood, was smear* ed everywhere.