THE VALLEY OF THE YALU.
Between China and Korea nature has thrown a barrier of mountain and
river that looks impregnable. Behind this defence the Russians decided
to make their first stand. The Yalu is the longest river in Korea,
and has its source on the Southern slopes of Chang-poi-Chang. Its
upper reaches traverse an almost inaccessible region of forest and
mountain, but from its junction with the Eastern Hun river the valley
is cultivated. From the Manchurian side the Yalu receives several
tributaries that descend from the Ever White Mountains, making it in
spring and autumn a turbulent flood. After a sinuous course of three
hundred and twenty miles like the writhing of a dragon, the Yalu,
swollen by the waters of the Ai-ho, empties itself into the Yellow Sea.
Wiju is situated about two miles South of the main stream of the Yalu,
in the hollow of the hills over which runs a wall of light stone. A
steep ridge separates the city from its port on the river, which is
navigable as far as Tchang-cheng, a noted trading place sixty miles
from the sea. The population of Wiju--“the stronghold of the West”--in
ordinary times is twelve thousand, exclusive of one thousand Korean
soldiers, whose chief business was to scrutinise all persons entering
or leaving the Hermit Kingdom by the Mandarin road which passes through
the city.
Screened by cavalry whose lines stretched from Yongampo, near the mouth
of the Yalu, through Wiju to a point some miles East of Suikochin on
the upper stream, the Japanese infantry pressed forward toward the
scene of their first battle. The Guards marched along the main road and
were the first to enter Wiju. The Second Division came up on the West,
while the Twelfth Division, armed with mountain guns, and composed of
expert hill-fighters, continued to traverse the mountainous country on
the East. On April 21st the concentration was completed.
Almost every foot of the way was made under difficulties. So bad were
the roads that the passage of one field gun rendered it necessary for
the artillery to halt and repair the path for the next gun. Infantry as
well as pioneers were employed in constructing roads from the Peninsula
of Tyolsan. In some places the ground was very rocky, and involved
much labour. Elsewhere morass and paddy field had to be spanned with
timber. There are few districts in Korea that have not been denuded of
forest, and wood is scarce. Fortunately, to the South of Wiju is an
Imperial preserve known as White Horse Hill, the slopes of which gave a
plentiful supply of timber.
[Illustration: General View of the Russian Positions on the
North Bank of the Yalu.
(From a Japanese water colour sketch.)]
When General Kuroki and his Staff arrived at Wiju and surveyed the
valley of the Yalu from the temple on the North of the city they
were filled with foreboding. To cross that network of rivers and
attack an enemy of unknown strength entrenched in the hills beyond
was a hazardous enterprise. At first glance it seemed hopeless. Even
on a clear day field glasses were required to see the white walls of
Chiu-lien-cheng. From the Temple to Conical Hill, North of the village,
where the Russians had their artillery position, was a distance of six
thousand mètres, and between these points were five or six deep and
swift streams that must be bridged.
A study of the river is essential to an understanding of the battle.
Opposite Wiju the Yalu and the Ai-ho flow through a broad delta bounded
on the North by a steep and rugged mountain range that descends West of
Antung into small hills and cultivated flats. The rivers separate into
several streams and form many islands over which are scattered tiny
hamlets. Close to Wiju, between the Yalu and a branch of that river,
lies the island of Kontonto, seamed with deep dongas in which Russian
riflemen were concealed. North of Kontonto, beyond the main stream, is
the island of Wozakto, West of which, between branches of the Yalu and
the Ai-ho, rises Tiger Hill, a bold promontory three thousand mètres
from Wiju. Enclosed by the same branch of the Ai-ho and the main stream
of that river stretches another delta known as Chonchagtai, whereon
the most conspicuous building is a temple surrounded by a red wall.
West of this island flows the main stream of the Ai-ho, which passes
within one thousand mètres from Conical Hill before it approaches
Chiu-lien-cheng. Near to the Korean shore the Yalu and another of its
branches form the island of Nanzato. The South-west of the delta is
opposite Antung, where the river is five hundred mètres wide and is
deep enough to allow small coasting vessels to steam within three or
four miles from the town. At the Northern extremity of the delta lies
the island of Kulito. In considering the tactical possibilities of the
river it is most important to keep in mind the fact that at Kulito the
main stream of the Yalu runs along the Russian side, while near Wiju
it flows along the Japanese side, making a sharp turn almost North and
South and bending again toward the South-west.
Tiger Hill and the heights to the North between the main streams of
the Yalu and the Ai-ho, stand next in tactical importance. Would these
mountains admit of any big movement of troops? The experience of 1894
was of little value, seeing that in the Chinese War only one regiment
crossed these mountains. At that time the Japanese were of opinion that
the heights were useless for offensive purposes, since they were steep
and rugged and had no paths running East and West. Natives declared
that only men and pack ponies could traverse them, and that at one or
two places alone could roads be made with extreme labour owing to the
hardness of the rock. These difficulties, so far from deterring General
Kuroki, were a strong incentive. If these mountains were inaccessible
then they were the very quarter from which to surprise the enemy and
turn his flank.
How and at what points should the river be crossed? The solution of
these problems depended on several factors that could be ascertained
only by careful and extensive reconnaisances. In the Autumn of 1894,
when the Japanese invaded Manchuria, the water was low and there was
a ford near Suikochin. Now that the ice was melting in the mountains
the river was deep. There was no ford and the Russians had taken away
all the native boats. Seventy boats had been brought from Japan in the
hope that they might be of service, but it was impossible to bring them
up the river under the guns and rifles of the enemy. Many soldiers
volunteered to swim the rivers, to cross on rafts and on inflated
bladders. But General Kuroki would listen to none of these wild
schemes, deeming them too hazardous before an enemy whose strength and
purpose were unknown.
Before the rivers could be bridged it was necessary to make sure that
the water was not rising, for there was always the danger that while
the ice on the lower stream melted, the upper stream would remain
frozen and that ice floes would descend and sweep away the bridges.
Cavalry were accordingly employed to place hydrometers in various
places and to note the rise or fall of the river. As the waters of the
Yalu rose or fell so rose or fell the hopes of General Kuroki and his
staff.
To reconnoitre the valley for battle was very difficult. All the rivers
were wider, deeper and swifter than was expected. The main stream was
four hundred and fifty mètres wide, and the smaller not less than one
hundred mètres in width.
Koreans reported vaguely that near the enemy’s main position the Ai-ho
was fordable in two or three places where the water rose no higher
than a man’s chest. A shower of rain or the melting of ice on the
upper stream would drown these fords. Moreover, the lives of men and
the issues of war could not be committed to native rumours. Careful
investigation must be made. But the Ai-ho flowed only one thousand
mètres in front of the Russian position and two thousand mètres behind
their outposts. Reconnaissance was therefore impracticable as long as
the enemy remained in possession of the islands, of Tiger Hill and of
the hills to the North. Cossacks also patrolled the country from Tiger
Hill to Antung and Westward beyond the mouth of the Yalu as far as
Takushan.
General Kuroki was of opinion that no fewer than twelve bridges were
needed. Before their construction could be attempted every stream
must be carefully examined for places where the water was shallowest,
the river bed suitable for driving piles, and the distance between
the banks shortest. It was essential that the Russians should be
kept as long as possible in ignorance of the points at which the
Japanese purposed bridging, for every yard of the valley was visible
from their position and they had marked the ranges. To make many
reconnaissances in any quarter would be to betray the probable position
of a bridge and to offer it for a target to the enemy’s artillery.
[Illustration: Japanese Infantry fording the Yalu.]
To transport men was difficult enough, but to pass heavy guns across
the river in face of the enemy seemed impossible. Yet it must be done.
The hills North and East of Chiu-lien-cheng were beyond the range of
Japanese guns South of the main stream. Unless both field and heavy
artillery could be carried across the Yalu they could not be used with
effect. It was hazardous to carry guns over a deep river four hundred
and fifty mètres wide under fire from the enemy. Even in the night the
attempt might be frustrated, since the range at every point was known
to the Russians.