The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-11-26
First Fort Taken ON the Morning OF
Nov. Fl and All the Others Seized
Before the Night OF the I'D.
0YAMA'S AND ITO'S REPORTS
ABOUT TWO HUNDRED JAPANESE
KILLED AND WOUNDED.
Chinese Loss Over 1000, Besides Many
Taken PrfsOners-The Town Re-
ported to BE Still Burning.

LONDON, Nov. 2S.-The Times this morn.
ing publishes a dispatch from Hiroshima,
Japan, giving the report of Field Marshal
Count Oyama, whose army captured Port
Arthur. The report says: ''The second
army began the attack on the landward
forts at Port Arthur at dawn Nov 81 The
Chinese offered very strong resistance
until, finally, we seized the fort to the
west of the cavalry and artillery parade
grounds at $50 o'clock. We took the fort
on Golden hill at oclock in the afternoon
of Nov. %. Then all the other forts
taken. over two hundred Japanese officers
and men were killed or wounded. The Chi
nese loss and the number of prisoners is
still unknown. The spoils are abundant
and include a specially large number of
heavy guns and a quantity OF ammunition.
The Chinese garrison at the lowest esti-
nate twenty thousand men,.
Another dispatch from Hiroshima gives
the text of the message sent by Admiral
Ito, commander Of the japanese ~ from
Port Arthur on Saturday. The message
says. This place captured by Mar
shall Oyama on Thursday. The united
squadrons stood off shore merely attracting
seaward the attention of the coast bat
teries. Since Friday morning the men of
the fleet have been hard at work removing
the torpedoes and protecting the mouth of
the entrance to the fort. The dock yard,
arsenal and ships in the port have been
handed over to the Japanese navy depart
ment The dock yard and arsenal are in
perfect working order"
dispatch sent from Port Arthur via
Hwang Ju Thursday has been received here.
1t stated that the Chinese fought vigorous
ly. The Japanese lost 80 men killed or
wounded. The Chinese loss was over one
thousand.
The dispatch adds that for over a fort
night past Count Oyama's army had been
steadily marching in two divisions down
the peninsula to Port Arthur, keeping in
touch as far as possible with the Japanese
fleet The country was very difficult of
passage, especially for the artillery. Ex-
cept in the cultivated valleys there were
practically no roads. The men worked
cheerfully. No organized resistance was Of
fered by the Chinese troops for three
quarters of the march. Since then, however.
there were occasional brushes with the en-
fply. The villages along the line of march
Yielded little in the way of supplies. Some
Of them were looted before the Japanese
arrived On Tuesday the right divisions
advance guard had skirnish with the en-
emy, who retired in good order. The enemys
positions were reconnoitered and found
to be strong and held in force. In the
afternoon the fort and village of Shuisy-
Ching were captured. Both divisions moved
forward during the night. Early in the
morning the right division crept up the
range of low hills to the northwest of Port
Arthur. and carried Item with a rush. Guns
were then dragged up and fire opened on a
al uIN or1o 1iCfon MT
The enemy returned the fiEe briskly. The
Japanese infantry advanced against a we'll
directed fire without faltering.
CARRIED BY STORM.
Shortly before 8 o'clock the fort was car
ried by storm in a most gallant fashion.
The Chinese stood for minute or two
against the final onslaught, fighting fiercely.
Then they fed towards the dock yard. The
right division then advanced in force
against the Kokinsan fort, which was
armed with several heavy Krupp guns,
which were well served. Scores Of men
were killed or wounded in this brief ad-
vance. The fort was strengthened by
trenches and loop-holed mud walls, but all
were carried without difficulty. At noon
the fort itself was stormed and captured
after a short but desperate fight. BY 3
O'Clock in the afternoon the right division
was in full possession of the western part
OF the stronghold Meanwhile the left di-
vision had been fiercely engaged on the
southeast where the ground was less diff
cult, but far from easy. Advancing over
the hills the first division had to clear the
enemy out of some outlying work, appar-
emily of recent construction. Then their
progress was moment1rily checked by a
heavy fire from three forts that were con-
nected by trenches. These forts were
strongly held and were we'll placed on the
highest ground in the vicinity. The Japan
ese artillery and the Chinese guns in the
forts kept up steady fire. The latter were
all heavy pieces. and they pounded away
for some time at the Japanese infantry,
who in the meantime were advancing all
along the line, taking skillful advantage of
the brushwood and other cover. The final
assault was splendidly delivered. the enemy
being driven headlong from the work after
making gallant stand.
BY evening Port Arthur was in possession
of the Japanese, but the enemy still held
some eight or ten redoubts, with a total
OF about twenty guns. on the coast line
The japanese bivouacked on the hills and
captured forts. Early Thursday morning
Lao Mu ard the other forts were attacked
serious loss On the Japanese side. 1t Il
estimated that the Chinese loss was over
] one thousand killed and wounded. Severa
| thousand were taken prisoners. The dap
anese have taken quite eighty guns and
mortars that were in use in the captured
| forts and redoubts and many others thai
were found in the dockyard. They have
also captured an immense quantity of am
| munition. completely equipped torpedo
stores and large quantities of rice ant
beans
| A dispatch from Shanghai, describing the
| fight, says that the chief stand was mad.
| at the chain OF forts at Hanshn-Chang
| overlooking the narrow channel leading Il
the inner port. Hundreds of Chinese wer.
killed there.
| A Che-Foo dispatch says that Port Ar
| thur Is still burning. Twelve Japanese val
| ships have been seen there. The Chimes,
| feet is at Wei-Hai-Wei.
| A dispatch from Hiroshima says that dur
| ing the attack on Port Arthur the Japan
| ese feet assisted the land troops All tn,
| Chinese ships, factories and docks wer.
taken intact and ready for use. The dis
| patch adds that the Tonghaks have re
| newed their activity In southern Corea
| The japanese are assisting the corear
troors In suppressing the trouble.