The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-11-08
TERRIBLE ASSAULTS
MADE ON PORT ARTHUR

q Od-tdIESE Or
feer, regardless of the danger, stood
up called out an order. planted his
regimental flag on the wall and was
Immediately riddied with bullets. The
effect on the Japanese of this sacri-
nee was instantaneous. The retreat
Ing infantrymen stopped in their
tracks. hesitated and then charged
pack, fought like demons, dumped
over the wall. charged the Russians
with bayonets and forced many of
them M the Blacis. over the ram
parts and into the fort. The fact
that they a reached the corner wall
on the dead ground enabled the IAN
anese TO hold on, though the entire
Russian fire was concentrated on that
point for six hours. The Japanese
were reinforced from time 10 time bv
rushes made by their comrades up
the death way from the trenches and
they s~tubbornly held the corner wall
and a small section of the Russian
until two companies of an
otner regiment worked through the
and captured the west Ban
jusan fort, the magazine of which
had been blown up by a shell e short
time before. Later a part of the
south Eeekwan fort was captured.
The dawn of the gard developed q
peculiar position. The assault of the
previous afternoon had resulted in
piercing the Russian fortified ridge
east of Port Arthur in the form OF n
wedge. while he entire line east and
west still strongly held. At daylight
n Russians concentrated their
Shrapnel fire on the captured forts
and the Japanese south of Kcekwan
were elected from thir positions. The
Banjusan forts were subjected to an
awful fire but the japanese in posses
sion Of them continued making bomb
proof trenches on the hills. There
was a fierce bombardment all day.
There was tremendous activity, the
rear lines sending forward ammuni-
ton. The news came in whispers
that a general assault along the whole
line would take place between mid
night n three in the morning. The
Russians anticipating an assault
made a strong ounter attack. The
Japanese advance tines were driven
from the forts and were furiously
attacked by large bodies of Russians.
The Russian move was c1ever1y
planned and their artillery
ders were Informed for they opened
fire with Shrapnef on the advance
of the japanese supports across the
valley, using star1ights and search
lights with good effect in the counter
attack on the Japanese foces. The
general assault then began and for
twenty minute the whole japanese
1.-Two u-nc anoa-a1 Tho loft IivicinD
from the trenches I'm front OF the
Keekwan forts charged the fortified
hills. Part of the advance had gain
ed the crestS and shouted "BanZai!"
when their triumph was cut short.
Suddenly the two powerful search
lights of the east forts lighted up the
Japanese lines and Russian rifles and
machine guns poured a dealy hail into
the clearly visible ranks of the at
tacking troops. The Japanese were
slowly forced down the slope to the
trenches below. On the west pank the
search lights OF Etren n ~Taiyankow
forts played along the japanese troops,
preventing the movement of the troops,
the Japanese a~rtillerymen concentrat-
ing their fire on the search lights, shells
continually blanketing the lights. Sud
denly the light of Else fort disappear
ed and the , light of Taiyankow fort
followed. The japanese infantry on
the right lank advanced on the trench
es close to the Russian lines when the
Else light was flashed out in the faces
of the advance troops and the Russian
machine guns, previously we'll placed,
swept the fire along the lines, while
rifles bIazed with continual rattle. The
Japanese captured the Banjusan forts,
o~utfianking the Russian forces ana
slowly forcing their lires back to the
foot of the fortified hills. Though the
japanese plan of attack was destroyed
by the Russian counter attack, the
japanese fought with splendid determI-
nation. Slowly the Russians were driv-
en- back up the slopes, fighting desper-
ately with rifles. The Russian machine
guns were used with great effect when
the Japanese lines were lighted up by
the search lights, while the fort guns
pounded in the valley. The japanese
artillery was unable to fire at this
point. as the Japanese forces were
mixed. The skillful working of the
Russian starlights and search lights
were utterly unexpected and bewiIder-
ing. Ihey never IdlISu 10 4ONdNc HhU
Japanese lines, which offered splendid
marks for the Russian rifles and ma
chine guns and rendered the japanese
machine guns of little use, as they
were located and silenced by quicR
firers before they could 10 any execu.
ion.
The Russians along the whole line
fought in the blacklist darkness and the
Japanese with the most dazzling light
in their faces. The rattle of muske-
try. the laundering of the Russian
guns. the purring of the machine guns.
the bursting of starlights and the
flashing of searchlights along the whole
| line was a wonderfully impressive
| sight. The fight lasted continuously for
six hours, till dawn, when the out
iankers were forced back over the
| captured fortified hills. ollowed by the
| Japanese, who despite the fire OF the
Sorts oopturad tina forts and Joined