Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 May 1904 — GRAND ASSAULT BY JAPS BEGINS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

GRAND ASSAULT BY JAPS BEGINS

Russians Driven from Their Position mt the Point of Crossing. After describing numerous preliminary actions fiom Tuesday to Saturday the account proceeds as follow*: **Tho Twelfth division of the Japanese army was chosen to make tbe first crossing of the Yalu. It began Itß preparations on Friday by driving the Russians from their position on the honk of the river opposite Bulkoafcdn, wihleh is eight nrtlee above Wlju, god the point selected for the crossing. This (IK talon oonstnirtsd a pontoon hrdsge over this rtvwr, and at 3 d'CkxA Saturday mornthg began croaatng. The entire division passed imr the river during the day, and by 6 o’dock Saturday evening ft was to tit position assigned to It tor the battle of Sunday. Hhe movement of the Twelfth Japanese (Hvteion was covered by the Second regiment of field artillery and another artillery regiment of heavy guns. At KL4O a. m. Saturday the Russian artillery posted to the north and east of Chiu-Tlen-Cbeng began shelling the patrols of Japanese Infantry which had been dispatched from Klntelto island to Cbnkodni. another island north of Klntelto, and on-

der Chiu-TicD-Cheng. The Japanese batteries peplkd to this shelling and silenced the Russian fire. “Later eight Russian guns posted on a bill to the east of the village of Makao opened upon the imperial guards. To this shelling the Japanese artillery to the east of Wtju responded. and tl»e Russians ceased firing. Then lioth the CbiiNTSen-Obcng and the Makao batteries reopened, and this fires brought a vigorous response from the claim of Japanese batteries on tho Korean side of tbe river. The Russian guns fired for two hours before they were silenced. In his report General Kuroki expresses the belief that his shelling was very effective against the Russians. >

KUROKI KEEPS BIS PROMISE

Japs Charge Across the Stream and Sweep tin' Huasians Back. “A bridge across the main stream of the Yaln Just above Wiju was completed at 8 p. m. Saturday, and the second Japanese division and the imperial gtsuds immediately begun crossing. They advanced and oosupted the hills back of Kosan, faring the Russian position on the right bank of Che rives. All through Saturday night regiment after regiment of Japanese sodliere poured across the bridge, and at a late hour General Kur»ld telegraphed to the general staff of the army: *1 will attack the enemy on May 1 at dfcwn.’ "Triie to his promise General Kurokl at daylight today centered all bis artillery on the. Russian pewit ion lietwwen Chin-Tien-Oheug and Yoshoko. To this fire the Russians made reply with all their batteries. At 7 a. m. the Russian battery at Yocboko woe sOonoed, and half an hoar later General Ktrrakl ordered his line, stretching for four miles, to attack. The apanese infantry, on the word of commend, charged across the Ibo, wadffig that stream bseast deep, and began storming the heights at 8:15 a. m. At 9 a. m. they had swept the Russian line back across the plateau. "The Russians made two stands. The enemy's strength included all at the Third division, two regiments of the Sixth division, one cavalry brigade, about forty qtdeie firing gups and eight machine gtfns. We have taken twenty-eight quick-firing guns, many rifles, much ammunition, move than twenty officers and many noncommissioned officers and men as prisoners “I am informed that Major Kaahtalinsky. commander of the third Siberian rifles brigade, and Lieutenant Genera] Saseulltch, commander of the tnond Siberian army corps, were wounded. Our casualties number about 700 and the Russian loss is more than 800 men.’’

RUSSIA VS LOSK OVtB 8,000 SIX Avoordtes to the OfflrUl Battmuto of tho Bam Oommudti In the H(M. St Petersburg, May 5, 3:47 a. nra— Tt*p Russian losses at the battle of Kin-Lien- Cheng were 2,000 men end forty officers —far greater than previous reports Indicated. This is tba official estimate of Major General

Kashtaltosky, who directly commanded the division that suffered the brunt of the attack, and whose report was received' yesterday by the emperor. Many are inclined to pluce the Russian losses even higher. General Kasbtaiinsky mentions also that more than 700 wounded had arrived at Feng-Weng-Cheng. and these may not be Included in his calculations. He made no attenjpt) to estimate the Japanese losses, merely stating that they must have betm colossal. The magnitude of the Russian losses had an almost stunning effect on the authorities, and aroused general grief, mitigated only by satisfaction at the bravery displayed by tin* Russian troops. Not for a moment was there any intention to pay such a terrible price for delaying the enemy’s crossing of Che Yalu. This fact was known throughout the City and gave rise to renewed reports. attributed to official source*, that General Kuropotkin had officially censured Lieutenant General ZassaUtxrh. if this was so General liuroputkin’s telegraphed criticism of Zasaafitdh was carefully cut out of the dtapatebee which have been publishes!, end the general impresstn now heid b that he will remain to Manchuria.

GENERAL HUROKI.