FIGHTING IN FORMOSA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 27 August 1907, Page 3

FIGHTING IN FORMOSA.

YOKOHAMA, June 28. Much fighting still continues in Formosa, the savage head-hunters of the north-east corner making a desperate attempt to maintain their independence. The latest accounts of the fighting bring details of an attack made by the Japanese on a mountain fortress called Chaitozan, 4000 ft above sea-level, which was only taken after a desperate struggle. The Japanese are using Chinese, natives of Formosa, Japanese gendarmes, and a few regular Japanese soldiers for these punitive expeditions, and they call the combined force the "Aiyu." It appears that on the present occasion the "Aiyu," numbering about" 500, moved out of camp at 0 p.m. on the sth inst. and entered the enemy's territory on the following morning at 8 o'clock, after a most arduous march through dense forests, trackless wildernesses, and up and down precipitous ravines. Thenceforth for more than three days they were continuously fighting and ad-

vancmg.

The savages proved themselves ex-, feeding formidable adversaries. Their intimate knowledge of the ground and their great agility enabled them to iake advantage of the abundant cover which presented itself, and they were thus able to deliver their fire'in virtual security for themselves. One Japanese eye-wit-ness speaks of them as showing a lizardlike faculty in climbing rocks to discharge their pieces and then disappearing with incredible rapidity. The Aivu, who had advanced during (lie first fourteen hours in adsoliite silence and without any lights, over ground so rough that they suffered many casualties from this cause alone, were actually cheeked in tin ir forward movemcrt anil compelled to uiireneli themselves in a position which socnert '"im afforded very poor shelter, bci'g commanded at several point.- from plan's available to the enemy. The arrival of reinforcements numbering 100 men with a machine gun did not mend matters much, for the features of the ground protected the savages almost completely. Lieutenant-Colonel Hayakawa finally decided, therefore, that the only course offering any hope of success was a resolute charge. The morning of the 9th saw tlie Aiyu ill complete possession of the savages' stronghold 011 the heights of Chintozan. It had been a costly charge. Out of the 50(1 men w'lo made it, 13(1 had fallen, including their gallant leader, Hayakawa.