As to the passage by the Twelfth Division to Sukuchin, it must be remembered that the bed of the Yalu in the vicinity of Wiju is occupied by a group of islands, and that by these its stream is divided into three branches, all of which have to be crossed. The key of the whole position is the highland on an island called Husan (Tiger's Hill), which lies near the northern bank of the river nearly opposite to Sukuchin, So long as Husan remained in the enemy's hands and so long as its artillery was posted there, any attempt to pass a large force over the stream must have been highly perilous and could hardly hi succeeded, at all events without heavy loss.
The General Programme adopted by General Kuroki was that during the 29th April, the Second (Sendai) Division under Lieut-General Baron Nishi (below Wiju) should cross to the island of Keumchong which lies nearest to the southern bank at that side, there to prepare for bridging the middle branch of the stream, which in this position would separate it from the middle island Cheung-sang. Siraultaneously the Guard Division under Lieut. Gonoral Baron Hasegawa (above Wiju) was to pass to Kulido Island and similarly prepare for bridging the central branch of the river. The Second and Guards Divisions, thus posted, advanced on either side of the main road which traverses the Yalu islands from Wiju to Kiulienchéng. Meantime the Twelfth Division, during the night of the 29th st., had bridged the branch of the river immediately Lefore Sukuchin, to which 1 referred above, but thereafter throughout the 29th the Division re-noamed inactive, waiting until the operations on either side of Wiju had developed sufficiently to be a pressing menace to the Russians, This state of affairs having ar ived towards evening, the Twelft! Division crossed and reached x position in the rear of the Tiger's Hill (Husan).
the night of the 29th of April passed with the Three Divisions in these positions. Atdawn of the 30th the three Divisions resumed operations. The Twelfth Division took the lead in point of time by taking Tiger's Hill, thus converting the passage of the last branches of the river above and below Wiju into a com-Fory on both sides was largely brought paratively easy performance. The artil-into activity on this day, On the night of the 30th the Japanese were all posted on the north side of the river. The Twelfth Division however, had still before ita stiff task. It had to cross the River Ai, a tributary of the Yalu which runs between the latter and Kiulionchéng. The Muscovites had entrenched themselves on the right—Kiulion—bank of the river, and apparently presumed that the Japanese could only cross the stream upon the completion of bridging. Nevertheless, the Japanese, advancing yairist the enemy over a front of five miles in skirmishing order, successfully crossed the Ai-ho by wading through the water up to their armpits. By 8.50 a.m. this serious obstacle had: been traversed uudl seven entrenchments of the Russians on the Yushikau and Makau heights captured, together with eight guns. By these encircling movements, the twelfth Division then found itself on the left rear of the enemy at Kiulien, while the other Divisions—the Second and Guards—were marching on its right. The three Divisions attacked the place simultaneously. Apparently the Russians had artillery posted in the immediate neighbourhood, for, when the position was stormed, twenty guns were captured together with twenty officers and many men.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.