The-Hong-Kong-Weekly-Press-1904-06-04 — Page 24

Hongkong Weekly Press AND China Overland Trade Report All

436

The Japanese cavalry appeared to the south. east of Fengwangcheng, but, seeing two com- panies with two guns opposed to it, did not venture to approach.

The transport of the wounded by hired bearers to Fengwangcheng was very difficult. Two-wheeled carts, and horses lent by the cavalry, were also utilised for bringing in the wounded. Most of these, however, arrived on foot, assisted by their comrades, and reached Fengwangcheng within twenty-four hours.

General Sassoulitch declares that the troops retained their morale, notwithstanding their heavy losses, and are ready for fresh engage- ments.

The Japanese losses were very heavy at the passage of the Aiho, at their position at Turen- chen, and on the hill occupied by the two battalions of the 11th Regiment. According to the statements of men who took part in the battle, at least three to four thousand were killed.'

GENERAL KASHTALINSKY'S REPORT. General Kashtalinsky reported :~

I consider it my duty to report the painful but glorious circumstances of the fight sustained by the troops under my orders against superior Japanese forces on May 1st at Turentchen (Chiu-lien-cheng).

On the morning of April 30th the Japanese had already turned my left flank, which had the evening before occupied the heights of KhosaD after a fight. It was on this account that I ordered the battalions of the 22nd Regiment which had occupied Khosan, to retire across the Tho on the position of Potietintzy.

THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND

Battery of the Sixth Brigade, having attempted to rejoin the reserve by another route, could not ascend the mountain slopes with only half its horses, and returning to its original position, received the Japanese attack.

The 11th Regiment, which held its ground for two hours more with heavy losses, forced a passage at the point of the bayonet and crossed the ravines with its colours.

|

(June 13, 1904.

some 300 miles, and at six in the evening it sighted a Japanese trading steamer, which had on board war stores. The crew of fifteen Coreans and twelve Japanese were placed in safety, and the steamer was then sunk by means of a pyroxoline cartridge, which Lieutenaut Bolothikoff fired from the Gromovoi. That night, towards eleven o'clock, when the squadron was about twelve miles from Plaksin Bay, a large Japanese transport, the Kinshiu Maru, of 6,000 tons, was overhauled. Her commander took the Russian squadron for a Japanese The Japanese losses must have been squadron, and signalled, "I am bringing you coal." The reply "Stop instantly" was promptly The Russians retired in good order on Feng-signalled. When the crew of the transport wangcheng. The men of the 3rd Division maintained their excellent morale, and more than 700 wounded proceeded with their regiments to Fengwangcheng.

It lost its colonel commandant, forty officers, and about 2,000 non-commissioned officers and men.

enormous.

A GENERAL ORDER TO THE PORT ARTHUR GARRISON.

After the battle of the Yalu, General Stössel, commanding the garrison at Port Arthur, issued the following order of the day :-"On April 30 and May I the enemy crossed the Yalu in great force, and our troops fell back on positions which had been previously selected. Yesterday the enemy effected an important landing on the Liaotung Peninsula, south of Pitazawo and in the vicinity of Kinchau Bay. Now our work is beginning. Naturally the enemy will destroy railway communication, and endeavour to drive our troops back to Port Arthur and besiege this fortress, Russia's bulwark in the Far East. Defend it until the arrival of the troops which are coming to relieve us. I On the morning of the same day an extraor-consider it my duty to call upon you to display dinarily violent and prolonged bombardment unceasing vigilance and caution, and you must of the whole position of Turenchen was begun be ready at all times to demean yourselves from Wiju. It was anticipated that the towards your general with the dignity and Japanese, after the bombardment, in which order beseeming the glorious troops of Russia, more than 2,000 shells were fired, would take No matter what happens, you must not lose the offensive.

your heads, but remember that everything is possible in war, and that we shall be able, with the help of God, to cope with the arduous task imposed upon us.'

On the night of May 1st I received from General Sassulitch orders to accept battle by remaining on my former position. On the left flank of my position the fords of Potietinsky were defended by two battalions of the 22nd Regiment and the 3rd battery of the Sixth Brigade.

The Japanese took the offensive at five o'clock in the morning, sending towards the fords of the Iho River at least one division of infantry, which, advancing in column, sustained enormous losses, but crossed the fords and attacked. The position was cannonaded in flank by thirty-six field guns and by siege batteries.

The 12th Regiment, covered by the fire of the brigade, and by a company of machine guns, which, by a terrible fire, arrested the advance of the Japanese, advanced and occupied the posi-

tion.

Towards noon I assertained that the Japanese had routed a battalion of the 22nd Regiment. posted at Chin-gan, and were turning my left flank. At one o'clock in the afternoon my left flank was reinforced by two battalions of the 11th Regiment and a battery commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Mouravsky, who were sent from the reserve by General Sassulitch, with orders to hold their ground until the departure of the 9th and 10th Regiments from Shakedza.

I ordered the 11th Regiment to occupy a com- manding position in the rear from which they could fire on the enemy from two sides.

I held Lient-Colonel Mouravsky's battery in reserve, and ordered the 12th Regiment, the 3rd Battery, and the quickfiring guns to retire under cover of the 11th Regiment. My Chief of Staff led the rearguard to its position.

At one o'clock the Japanese approached so close to the position held by the 11th Regiment that the 3rd Battery could not pass along under cross fire, and, taking up a short distance from the Japanese, remained there until the end of the fight, losing its commander, Lieut.-Colonel Mouravsky.

A company with quickfiring guns was brought up from the rearguard. The officer commanding this force, seeing the difficult situation of Colonel Mouravsky's battery, took пр a position on his own initiative. He lost half his men and all his horses, and attempted to bring away his guns by hand and take them under shelter of the hills under a cross fire.

The quickfirers discharged about 35,000 bullets. The 12th Regiment out its way through and saved its colours. The 2nd

|

་་

JAPAN'S WAR EXPENSES.

|

recognised their mistake, they lowered their boats and steam pinnaces in the greatest haste, and endeavoured to escape in them, but the Russian steam cutters captured them all. On the transport were found four Hotchkiss guns of 47 millimetres. At the outset it looked as if no one had been left on board, but when the Russians carried the examination further they found that a cabin was locked and barred. In it were six infantry officers, who surrendered without resistance, and were taken on board the Rurik. In another part of the ship were discovered 130 infantry soldiers, who refused to surrender. The Russian Admiral, whose vessel was about eight cables off, sent orders to his men to quit the transport. The Japanese soldiers opened fire, and wounded a sailor who was steering. Soon afterwards the transport was sent to the bottom with a mechanical mine and a few shells. The Japanese on board did not cease firing, and made no attempt to save themselves, although they had a launch at their disposal. In fact, they maintained their fusillade until the waves closed over the ship. The steamer had on board not only ammunition for big guns, but also 2,000 tons of coal for Admiral Kawamura. The prisoners numbered 183 men, including seventeen officers and some persons whose status has not been determined. Altogether the prisoners taken by the squadron were 210, and these were safely landed at Vladivostock on the return of the squadron to that place. They were at once taken on by railway to Nikolsk, in the Ussuri territory. Reports are current that at the very time when the Russian cruisers were returning to Vladi- vostock a Japanese fleet, consisting of ten vessels, was making for that port, but failed to reach it owing to thick fog. A message by wireless, telegraphy was picked up by the Russian ships. It was in code and unintelligi- ble, but was evidently being exchanged between the Japanese ships. Among the Japanese prisoners are a colonel and an officer of high rank of the General Staff, and the soldiers include a number of Japanese who before the war worked as artisans at Vladivostock.

RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR FUND.

(1) Providing additional comforts in hospital treating all sick and wounded from the War.

(2) In aid of the families of Japanese killed in the War.

A Tokyo despatch gives the following as the statement of the finance authorities:-The estimated war disbursements from the com- mencement up to the end of the present fiscal year amount to 410,000,000 yen, which sum is to be raised by temporary loans or the issue of bonds. Of this sum, 200,000,000 yen has already been raised by the first issue of the Domestic Bonds and the loans contracted in England and America. Of the remaining 210,000,000 yen. 100,000.000 yen will be derived from the second issue of Domestic Bonds just announced. The term of redemption of these bonds has been prolonged by two years beyond that of the first issue, making seven years. As already stated, the price of the new issue has been fixed at 92 yen, three yen below the figure for the first issue, a concession stated to be made in con- sideration of the prolongation of the term of redemption and also of the economic conditions now prevailing. It is added that the field of campaign as the result of the successive victories of Japan has Mr. J. B. M. Smith, the Hon. Treasurer, begs now greatly extended, large forces of troops to acknowle ige with thanks the following sub- being sent out in quick succession, with a conscriptions--for either (or both) of the above sequent rapid increase in the disbursement. It objects, as indicated on the subscription lists. is not expected, however, that the money market Already acknowledged

$30,271.86 will be much affected by the issue of the new H.E. General V. Hatton, C.E. loan, as ample time is given for the payment of Carmichael & Clarke the calls, but it is natural that the market should be affected in some degree as the war expenditure increases. Both opposing armies are now on the field of Manchuria, and it is expected the campaign will reach a climax shortly, but it must be remembered that the end of the war is still far off. The nation is urged to subscribe to the bonds without hesita- tion and so help to final success in the war. The result of the first issue of domestic bonds was quite successful, more than double the amount being applied for, while almost the whole amount was taken up by those subscribers who applied for 200 yen or less. It is expected, concludes the despatch, that the second issue will be similarly successful.

14

THE BLUNDER OF THE KINSHIU MARU.

11

The following account of the sinking of the Japanese transport Kinshiu Maru was sent to Russia from Vladivostock :-Late at night on the 26th April the squadron started on a fresh expedition. In twenty-two hours it had covered

H. Jackson L. S. Lewis

L

100

100

25

10

$30,506.86

The death is announced of Mr. J. N. Tatas who died on the 19th ultimo while on his way to Germany. The Kobe Chronicle says Mr. Tata was one of the pioneers of the import of Indian raw cotton to Japan, in connection with which the Japan-Bombay line of the N.Y.K. was started in 1893. A few years ago the decoration of the Fourth Order of Merit was conferred upon Mr. Tata by the Japanese Government, and he received other tokens of recognition of the important part he took in the development of this branch of the nation's commerce and the opening of direct trade. The Spinning Union of Japan has sent a telegram of condolence to Mr. Tata's family. The deceased gentleman was born in 1839, and therefore 65 years of age.

i

J

Comments

Approved members can add comments, bookmarks, and private notes.

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.