Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-09-29


ed but the general staff thinks it is
likely to be correct. The Russians, 1t
is added, evacuated the pass without
resistance.
Fighting Continues.
London, Sept. 29-The fighting at
Port Arthur is incessant, according to
Chinese who have reached Chefoo
from the besieged fortress.
According TO the Chinese, the Jap
ancse have made little progress. They
are said to have taken forts 4, and
G. but were unable to hold them, and
withdrew on the afternoon of Sept. %.
Their loss in these assaults were enor-
nous, while the Russian casualties
also were severe.
The Japanese have done much tun-
neling towards the forts. The Rus
slams have counter tunneled and laid
mines which have inflicted terrible
losses.
The Chinese say the Japanese fleet
has gone to its base in the Elliott ISL
ands. Two or three Russian ships oc-
casionally go outside the harbor.
y dispatch 10 the Morning Post from
Shanghai says il is reported there that
the Port Arthur and VladivostOk
squadrons are ready for sea and it is
expected that they will attempt sim
ultaneous sortie.
Impatient at Toxic.
An undated dispatch to the Express
from Toxic sent by way of Shanghai,
Sept %, says:
For the first time since the war be-
-. in I1nan
regarding the delay in the capitulation
of Port Arthur. The newspapers edi-
torially complain about Gen. Nogis
failure TO capture the fortress. One
paper says: We would like TO send to
the august general a sharp sword
which hangs in our office This re
mark is a covert invitation to Gen.
Noci to commit hara kari. which in
Japan is the logical result of failing in
such task"
Way Last Three Months.
In view of the failure of the last
terrific assault the opinion is now
expressed that the fortress may hold
out three months longer. Reinforce
ments variously estimated to number
from 10000 TO 1900 infantry. a.d
some siege guns nave btGH StII HtH
Nogi this week.
"Invalided besiegers who have ar
rived home say the Russians are de
Tending Port Arthur almost frantiCally.
Every conceivable device is adopted
TO repel assaults even to throwing red
pepper during fighting in close quar-
tCrs.
The stories of terrible havoc
wrought by the land mines they say
are not exaggerated. The Russians
plant fresh mines at night. The ap-
proachCs TO the fortress practically
are strcwn with dynamite. Both sides
are physically exhausted.
Much SkirmIshinG.
Mukden. Sept 29.-Many skirmishes
and rcConnoissances are reported TO
headquarters here. but except for
these quiet still prevails. In the fight
ing that has been taking place the Rus
sian scouts have almost invariably
shown superior 10 the Japanese, both
in riding and fighting. The Japanese
movement up the Taitse river appears
10 be by a comparatively small force.
Raiding parties from the Russian army
bring in many prisoners. Beautiful
autumn weather continues.
ReinfOrcements are arriving rapid
ly. More than 1000 convalescents
have returned 10 duty. The railway
is in good working condition. officers
are distributing the reserve OF
stores that were brought up from Liao
yang. as adequate supplies are now
coming in from the north
Russia Orders Eleven ships.
Paris. Sept. pa dispatch to the
Temps from Toulon says.
The Russian government has nego
tiated for the construction of II tor
pedo boat destroyers of the latesr
model by the Compagnie des FORCES e
ChantieTs de Ia Mediterranee. WorI
will be begun shortly on four of then
at the shipyards in Normandy. fou
AT the shipyards at Havre and thre,
a the shipyards AT La Seyne Fiji
teen months are required for their con
struction. Other important orders ar,
anticipated, the present negotiation