BATTLE OF TASHI-CHIAO.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7846, 12 September 1904, Page 2

BATTLE OF TASHI-CHIAO.

MASTIBION

Graphic Description.

Fierce and Stubborn Fighting.

[From the Daily Mail.]

Niuchwang, July 25tb. The battle near Tashi-chiao, yesterday, began at dawn, while it was still dark, and the fighting was of the most fierce and stubborn description.

The Russian attack opened with fire from three central batteries, and compelled the Japanese to alter their line of advance, which at first was due east of Tashi-chiao. One battery north of Tapingshan became the. target of the concentrated Russian fire, while the new movement of the Japanese was being jA carried out, and it must have sustained severe damage.

While this duel between numerous Russian batteries and one Japanese battery was proceeding, the Japanese retired to the hills, and to those looking on from a distance appeared to suffer a repulse. Puffs of white smoke and red flashes donating bursting shells and shrapnel came from the Russian guns in ceaseless succession. The Japanese fire at tbe time was of a spasmodic nature, which ceased at noon when a ftesh Russian battery east of Tashi-chiao disclosed itself, and thundered across the intervening valley to the next hill.

At two o'clock in the afternoon three rings of smoke that followed the crest of the mountain slightly northeast of the Russian position indicated that the Japanese were stationed at a new point. These rings increased and spread out in vast half-circles.

The ridges of the highest surrounding hills soon showed a line confused and broken of Japanese, who began to descend to the next range. Surprised by this unexpected strategy, the Russians moved 10 guns to the top of a long, low hill, the dark brown colour of which stood out with startling conspicuousness _± from the green grass and tho white ancl "S|f red rocks that filled cut the landscape.

A terrific cannonade ensued for twenty minutes, and it became impossible to follow the progress of the fight because of the thick clouds of smoke. Presently there came a breeze, and the curtain lifted, showing the Japanese line ten miles from Tapingshan on a precipitous height to the east, dominating the whole country. The Russian guns were still firing, and appeared to make good practice. The noise was tremendous. There was one continual roll of thunder, punctuated each moment by thuds that shook the earth.

As the sun set there came about a dramatic development over one of the many ridges which abound in this mountainous country.

From a hill directly above the persistent Russian gunners, who were holding tbe last position east of Tashi-chiao with indomitable pluck, batteries of Japanese artillery, the existence of which had not been suspected, suddenly poured a tremendous fire on them, and in the meantime Japanese infantry descended the hill at a great rate from all sides. The Japanese now attacked, but not for two hours more did they silence the WL Russian guns, which kept on firing until the Japanese artillery, which had been reinforced, gained a position immediately opposite them. Then tbe Russians retired upon Tashi-chiao.

In company with many other people I wvitched the fight from a tower on the outskirts of Niuchwang. The atmosphere was clear, permitting us to see tins splendid spectacle. We were able to follow every move of the battle, though naturally it was impossible to make out the course of the fighting in detail.

This morning my courier arrived with some interesting particulars which he had gathered while hidden among the reeds in the valley between Tapingshan and Tashi-chiao.

The Japanese, in three divisions, came up from the east and south. Heavy firing started at half-past seven in the morning, and reached its climax between eleven and twelve, when the Japanese were compelled to alter their line of advance. Reinforcements for the Russians, numbering 5000 men, arrived at this time from Haicheng with 10 guns, and these temporarily stopped the Japanese division advancing from tho south-east. 9^ It was not until the Japanese attacked along their whole front that the Russians retreated. The Japanese artillery was immeasurably superior, and and their shrapnel was frightfully destructive. The Russian gunners went down in hundreds, but the guns were fought with magnificent bravery. The battle was a perfect hell of smoke and flame.

It is difficult to compute with accuracy the casualties, but they are estimated at many thousands. Two trains loaded with wounded left in the evening. The division which suffered the most was that of General Kondatorovitch, which bore the brunt of the battle.

The Russian force probably numbered 30,000, but was outgeneralled, and its artillery was inferior. The Japanese had twice as many guns. The Russian shots passed over the heads of the Japanese. In spite of this they compelled the Japanese to make three distinct movements.

There were two lines, one from the south-east, the other from the southwest. Finally the Japanese concentrated upon a position due east of Tashi-chiao, and the Russians retreated when Japanese fire from a single line ing 10 miles at close range silenced the last efforts of the defending force. A united torrent of shells followed the Russians in their retreat from Tashichiao.