As said before, the Japanese commander not only washed to confront General Kuropatkin in battle, but he wished also to get behind the Russian general and cut him off from a possible retreat northward along the line of the railroad. For this reason, while General Oku and General Nodzu hammered at the Russian front, General Kuroki struck the Russian line in the far east, and did his best to turn the enemy’s flank.
Liao-Yang is on the Tai-tse River, which flows almost east and west. In order to get around the Russian flank it was necessary for General Kuroki to cross the river, as well as cross several smaller streams. All of the hills in that vicinity were in the possession of the Russians and were protected by batteries. There was a strong Russian detachment at An-Ping, and another at Liandiansian.
General Kuroki’s army advanced in three columns, through the valley of the Lan, a small stream flowing into the Tai-tse, and here it was that a hot fight was experienced, in which both Japanese and Russians showed uncommon bravery. The Japanese general wished to separate the two Russian fighting forces, but his plan was only partly successful, and before the third day’s fighting in that vicinity, General Kuropatkin became alarmed at the possibility of having his flank turned, and ordered his troops to fall back, which they did, leaving An-Ping and numerous other places of advantage in the hands of the Japanese.
The first shock of this great battle was felt by Gilbert and Ben the second day after the general advance was begun. The battalion was ordered to help drive a Russian battery from its position on a small hill, and away went the Japanese soldiers on the double-quick, with fixed bayonets. “Banzai! banzai!” was the cry, and the charge was delivered with tremendous fierceness. The Russians answered by pouring in a deadly fire which killed fully a quarter of the companies. But the Japanese did not waver, and went forward once more with louder shouts than ever.
“This is war, if ever there was such a thing!” panted Ben, as he came up beside Gilbert, after the fighting had continued the best part of half an hour. He was dripping from perspiration and so out of breath he could scarcely speak.
“Both sides seem to know how to fight,” was Gilbert’s reply.
“What is the matter with your left hand?”
“I got stuck with a bayonet. But it doesn’t amount to much.”
“Do you think the Russians will retreat?”
“We are ordered to charge until they do, Ben. There is no retreat for our side,” answered the acting major of the battalion.