Tokio, Saturday.
General Oku estimates the Russian losses at Ta-shi-chao at 2,000 at least. Immediate withdrawal alone averted greater disaster to the Russians. The fighting round the fortifications on Tai-ping-ling was desperate. It was there that the Japanese sustained the heaviest losses. Their casualties in the entire engagement are estimated at 1,000.
The Russian defences were the beat the Japanese have yet encountered. Folds of rooted-in trenches were extended round the steep bills, and gun emplacements protected by wire entanglements barred the ravines. A hundred and twenty guns barred the progress of the infantry. On Sunday a single Japanese detachment succeeded in penetrated the Russian line, but was driven back. The Japanese artillery, being at disadvantage, was unable to make any impression on the enemy.
The situation seemed hopeless at nightfall. With the prospect of a bloody renewal of the fight at dawn, the right wing asked and obtained permission to make a surprise night attack. This brought victory. The Japanese swept over the trenches into the first fortress at 10 o’clock, and followed this up with an assault on the second fortress, which was mastered at three o’clock.—Reuter’ s Special Service.
PARIS, Saturday.—The following telegram has been received here from Liao-yang, dated July 27: The number of projectiles fired at the battle of Ta-chi-chao on July 24 was enormous. Six Japanese batteries which were stationed in the centre of the line were silenced. The Chinese assert that the Japanese losses amounted to over 10,000 men. The Russian 9th Division, which formed the rear-guard, covered the retreat.
Espionage continues very active. On July 26 at noon the Japanese discovered the position of some Russian batteries at which Chinamen had been working during the night, but fortunately guns had not been placed on them. The natives in the Haicheng region begin to manifest hostile feelings towards the Russians. On the night of the 25th about a hundred Chunchuses attacked the Cossacks north of Haicheng, but were repulsed, leaving Japanese maps and other effects on the ground. General Sylvestre, the senior French military attaché with the Russians, left yesterday morning for Haicheng.—Reuter
Lloyd’s Weekly Newspaper, London, England, July 31, 1904
