The San Francisco call., 1904-09-05

Special Gable to The Call and New YORK
Herald. Copyright. 1904. by the New York
Herald Publishing Company.
CHEFU, Sept 4.-Since August 81,
when the second general attack on Port
Arthur ceased, quietness has prevailed
there.
Ii has been ascertained that the at
tacking forces numbered $4,000 men,
consisting of three divisions-the First,
commanded by Lieutenant General
Matsumura: the Ninth. by Lieutenant
Oshima, and the Eleventh. by ysLieuten-
ant Tsuchlya. the whole being under
the supreme command of General Nogi.
The Ninth Division suffered most.
The army is now being heavily REM
forced from Japan. -
The plan tor an immediate infantry
assault has been abandoned, and 400
heavy guns. are being mounted on the
Japanese positions for a continual bonn
bardment Of the enemy. with view to
silenclng the Russian guns before the
infantry renews the advance.
Lieutenant General Nogi is said to
have been disheartened and to have
been restrained with difficulty from
charging al the head OF his troops to
the walls of the forts.
One large naval gun at Liaoshan has
burst. This indicates that the life of
the similar weapons is growing preca-
rious.
A more stringent blockade has been
instituted by the Japanese. Their war
ships were cruising along the Chinese
coast. where there are hundreds of
junks and blockade runners-at Wei
haiwei particularly.
Chinese refugees reports are worth
less. but it is officially announced by
japanese and Russians that a lull has
taken place in the operations.
The Russians are relaxing their regu-
lations with reference to correspond
ents. and are inviting those in China
TO join Kuropatkin's army.
FOUR DAYS FIERCE FIGHTING.
The second general assault on Port
Arthur assumed crushing proportions
on August q and continued unabated
until the morning of August 81, when
the Japanese retired everywhere ex-
cept from Palichuang, which they have
apparently firmly secured.
Etzshan was re-attacked on August
50 with great fury. hut the Japanese
were unable to secure a position. A
fierce assault was made on the left
flank at o'clock in the morning The
assault lasted until 8 q. m, when the
Japanese retired. The bombardment
then recommended. the Japanese firing
chiefly from Suishiying and Palichu
ang. the Russians from Antszshan.
The Japanese losses, according to the
Russian estimate, were 5000 during the
four days from August q TO August 81.
The Russian losses are placed at 3000
During the assault shells from the field
guns and rife bullets fell in the city.
The Russian ships in the harbor par
ticipated occasionally in the firing.
GARRISON Is DWINDLING.
A reliable authority in touch with
events at Port Arthur declares that a
week ago the garrison numbered ap-
proximately $1,000. Accepting the Chi
nese report of the recent losses. the eff
cient men now number 12,000. The past
weeks advices confirm previous deduc-
tions that the Japanese are bending
their fiercest energy to secure an in
gress along the railroad.
The japanese now expect. il is said,
two months or possibly more of fight
ing before the fortress is taken. The
garrison is said to be greatly worn and
weary. but determined TO continue re-
sistance. always hoping that General
Kuropatkin viii soon gain sufficient
strength to come to its relief