THE BATTLE AT SUKWAN.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8081, 20 September 1894, Page 4

THE BATTLE AT SUKWAN.

I {Continued from page 4.)

Osbuna, was moving more slowly, and bad at) bbab timo arrived ab tbo pioo foreab in fronb of Soughawn, Tho Chinese were soon driven back to their entrenchment, wibh bbe loss of aboub 50 men. Tbore \b a little river called the Anaong which ruus from the flito of the Japanese camp at Sangbawan. The Chinese bad partially destroyed the bridge over this rivor, and bad, moreover, constructed a dam lower dowD, thus closing tbo river, and making it overflow its banks. This cawiod tho death of 15 Japanese soldiers belonging to tho storming division, and tho commissariat, who foil in unawares and were drowned. In tho meanwhile tho left wing quartered in front of tho enemy's camp began to lire tho fieldpieces at tho enomy, who were soon obliged to desert their second entrenchment constructed at the upper end of the hill, an i they joined those who were defending the works thrown up, The enemy lired at the Japanese, but the shell failed to explode, and not a soldior was injured by tho cannonade. The right and left wings began, as had been planned, to march against the enemy, firing at tho latter as they proceeded. A severe content ensued, and when tho two divisions were about to approach tho enemy's camp a detachment of tho loft wing was dispatched to the hill bohind, at the foot of which the enomy were entrenched. Having ascended it from bohind they suddenly began to rush down tho hill. Tho enemy wore thus attacked from three points, and woro no longer ablo to hold their ground, and the camp was taken just at 6 o'clock on tho morning of tho UOth. When the Japancso army entered tho camp all tho Chinese troopa had fled, apparently in great confusion, for arms, provisions, etc., had boon left behind. Even tho commander* in chief and his second in command left their important documents and their caps behind them. The three divisions of tho Japanese army now came together in the camp, and, waving tho regimental standard in the direction of Japan, gave cheers for tho Emperor. Tho prizes taken in the camp wore fivo pieces of cmnon, a quantity of powder, 00 or CO old spears, and an ambulance of clothing and provisions. Leaving tho camp under tho care of a small detachment, tho main body began to pursue tho fleeing enemy, another detachment having been already sent from tho first to oppose tho retreat. Till five in tho afternoon the noise of artillery was heard without intermission, causing tho death of moro than 1300 Chinese.

The following is tho Jnpaneso account of the battle at Sukwan : Tho Jnpaneso army took up ihoir position in a pino forest) aorao GOO metres away from whoro tho onomy wore entrenched. It was decided to march against tho enemy at midnight) on the 29th ultimo, by dividing the army into two wings, right and left. By 12.30 a musketry discharge began, and was kept up for 30 minutes. Then the Japanese charged with Qxed Ikyonets. The OoinoBO army had planned an assault on tho Japaneso under cover of darkness, and the two j armies suddenly came into collision about mid-way between their respective camps, and tiring opened at a short distance. It waa tho ri^hb win/? that now engaged in this close contest, for the lofb wing, led by General

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