General Kuroki,
It is my solemn duty and honour to submit to you here the report of the actions of His Imperial Majesty's 6th Division for our actions against the invaders in Mihara Valley on 1908-07-09. At your wise direction, our forces were to advance into the valley, eliminate any invaders encountered and establish a defensive position along the line of the Tedori-gawa.
Our forces arrived in the valley from the North at approximately 1000, our intention being to establish a secure position in Kihoran, deploying the 2nd Battery 6th Field Artillery Regiment there to cover our advance to the river.
Once our position had been established and organised, the 13th Cavalry Regiment was ordered to move to Mihara and report on the status of the ammunition and supply dump, while the infantry remained in defensive positions around Kihoran. At 1035, rifle fire was heard in the distance, our first confirmation that the invaders were operating in the area.
In response to the fire, I sent order to 13th Cavalry Regiment to move to secure Nishigama (East of Mihara) and ordered 4th Battalion to advance along the road to the south while remaining in cover with orders to engage any enemy who fired upon them.
At 1045, a report was received from the 13th Cavalry that they had located the munitions cache, so I ordered the machine gun company to advance to resupply and sent orders to the 2nd Battalion to follow and support 13th Cavalry. Shortly thereafter, at approximately 1050, 13th Cavalry reported sighting fires ahead of their advance. 4th Battalion also reported that they had killed an enemy scout advancing up the road to Mihara.
At 1100, 4th Battalion reported contact with enemy forces, and that they were inflicting significant losses, around the fork in the road just north of the Tedori-gawa. While this firefight continued, smoke was sighted to the South East beyond the Tedori-gawa, presumed the result of some enemy action. I ordered the 2nd Battery to fire on the approximate location of the smoke.
As 4th Battalion reported increasing casualties, I sent orders for 2nd Battalion to move west to support them and pressure the enemy flank, and for the Machine Gun Company to move South and provide fire support.
During this time, there had been no response from 13th Cavalry to repeated requests for status reports, but at 1125 a message was finally received reporting they had driven enemy infantry out of Nishigama and had sighted enemy cavalry, which they were planning to engage. Enemy artillery began firing on 4th Battalion, whose losses continued to mount, but were unable to pull back.
At 1130, I ordered the 2nd Battery to advance to Mihara to restock their ammunition supply. The firefight between 4th Battalion continued. 13th Cavalry reported being forced back by enemy cavalry and requested support. I sent orders for them to fall back behind the machine gun company who were now in position and engaging the enemy.
4th Battalion reported at 1135 that they were driving in the enemy position ahead of them, but still taking effective artillery fire, which forced them to withdraw at 1145 with heavy losses. At 1155, 2nd Battalion reported driving off enemy cavalry forces, while 4th Battalion arrived in Mihara and reported that they were combat ineffective. By the time 2nd Battalion were able to move to the identified enemy positions, they had retreated leaving the field to us. We were subsequently able to dig in along the Tedori-gawa and surrounding hills.
Before withdrawing, the invaders destroyed the village of Nishigama, which has been completely burned. The nearby textile factory has also been destroyed. The reasoning behind these acts of barbarism is unclear.
The status of our units at the end of the actions were as follows:
2nd Battalion 23rd Infantry Regiment - Light losses, in position in trenches along the Tedori-gawa
4th Battalion 23rd Infantry Regiment - Heavy losses, unit combat ineffective. Resting in Mihara.
Requires rotating off the line and a replacement unit as reserves for 2nd Battalion to make the position effective.
Machine Gun Company 23rd Infantry Regiment - One weapon disabled, requires maintenance crew to bring back into action. Deployed in defensive positions along the Tedori-gawa.
13th Cavalry Regiment - Regiment scattered, heavy losses in both men and horses. Cannot be considered a viable combat unit.
2nd Battery 6th Field Artillery Regiment - Resupplied and ready for action, full strength.
Our losses amounted to approximately 600 killed, wounded and missing, while we believe enemy losses amounted to at at least 1100. We took approximately 150 prisoners, two thirds of whom are wounded.
I trust this report from your humble servant meets your expectations, and ask only to continue to serve the Empire.
General Kotohito, commanding 6th Division
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