The San Francisco call., 1904-09-26


Chefu states that the Japanese, hav-
ing augmented their artillery with
12-inch guns. began a fresh lombard
ment of Port Arthur on September 10,
lasting until September. 10. when ii
eliminated with q hleayAsat tttack, which
was .puIseG with = iskersnous losses.
LONDON. Sept. 26.-The Daily
Mails Chefu correspondent says that
the Japanese are now devoting their
energies to an attempt TO drive the
Russian fleet from Port Arthur.
Japan. the correspondent says, is de-
termined to destroy the Russians be-
fore ii is possible for the Baltic fleet
to arrive.
CHEFU, Sept. 25-As a result of the
battle before Port Arthur. which began
on September 10, the Japanese succeed
ed in capturing several important posi-
tions. and to-day the Russian tenure OF
the big forts guarding the nortn'
northeast and northwest sides of the
town is seriously threatened. Chinese
information places the japanese losses
under 5000 for the three days f1ghtlng.
This comparatively small casualty list
is due to the excessive care used by the
Japanese in making their preparations
for the advance. Russian sources,
hoyveY er, aclairo~ to have information
that the Japanese ~1osseE< were unusu~
ally severe, amounting to fully three
times the number reported by Chinese.
Possibly the most important capture
during the three days fighting was
that of Fort Kuropatkin, which, while
of minor value with regard to prevent
ing the entrance into the town of the
Japanese. had been constructed for the
purpose of protecting the source of the
garrison's water supply The control
Of this water supply is now in the
hands of the Japanese.
AS was announced in these dis
patches on September 20, the battle be-
gan before daybreak on September 49,
At that hour the citizens and garrison
of Port Arthur, after the enjoyment of
weeks of comparative security, awokes
to the thunderous reports OF artillery
along the line extending from the west
of Itz Mountain to Rihlung and Xix
wan Mountains This was but a pre-
face to the assault which was destined
to result in the capture of three new
and important Russian positions, to-
gether with six small but annoying
forts lying between Shushiyen and
Rihlung Mountain.
NEW GUNS IN ACTION.
During the day and night of the 10th
and until noon of the goth the bonn
bar6ment continued without cessation,
and the many shells falling from quar-
ters which previously haq oeen silent
made il obvious that the Japanese had
at last succeeded either in mounting
many heavy guns in new positions or
in strenethening their old positions
The infantry fighting during this pc
riod was comparatively trivial.
At noon of September 20 the Japan
ese right and center, the former being
to the west and the latter to the east
of the railroad, commenced the ad-
vance. The troops made use of the
trenches and infreuuent natural cover
that Law in their way. The small forts
to the south of Shushiyen resisted this
advance but briefly. their garrisons not
being strong numerically.
Since the beginning of the lombard
ment the artillery fire from Fort Kuro
patkin had been growing steadily
weaker. and. it having become appar-
ent that it had been practically ST.
fenced. the Japanese assaulted the fort
Fort Kuropatkin is situated to the
south of Palichuang and to the north
east of the parade ground. on a low
hill. 1t derives its name from the time
when General Kuropatkin inspected it.
pointed out the weakness of the posi-
ton and ordered that it be strength
ened as far as possible, because of the
necessity of protecting the water sun
Div While situated in the chain of
main forts, Fort Kuropatlin never has
been as strong as the others. After Sc
we're fighting it fell into the hands of !
the Japanese.
MAIN FORTS ENDANGERED.
This capture lessons the security of |
The fort on Rihlung Mountain, which is
~w.4,aa ~, paoo . roI,,,,,x.