Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-09-28
Russians Report Repulse
of the Enemy's
Advance.
PORT ARTHUR RUMORS
Have it That the Defenders Are
Near End of Their
Endurance.

St Petersburg, Sept. 2S.-A dispatch
from Gen. KurOpatkin dated yesterday
afternoon announces that numerous
skirmishes have occurred along most
parts of the Russian front. The Japa-
nese have not altered their positions
east of the railroad and confine them
selves to outpost attacks to the north
all of which so far have been repulsed.
"Reminiscences have established
the fact that the main Japanese forces
are still along the branch railroad
10 the Yentai mines. Both sides are
in constant contact. Samsonon's
troops particularly have frequent en-
counters but have sustained very few
casualties. The Russians have cap
tured some Japanese cattle and horses.
The japanese have constructed pom
tOon bridges over the Taitse river at
Ponsiku.
Crisis Approaches.
London. Sept. 2S.-A dispatch to the
Standard from Liaoyang, dated Sept.
20, via Tien Tsin. states that the crisis
at Port Arthur is rapidly approaching.
The speedy capture of the last line OF
defense is anticipated. The recent
successful assault by the Japanese
sealed the fate of the fortress. enabling
the besiegers to mount heavy guns on
the hills 70 the eastward. which com
mand a section of the town and the
harbor.
The Russian fire for many days has
not been as vigorous as usual. Ii is
believed their ammunition is scarce.
The correspondent confirms the reports
no
by the garrison. and the cutting off of
the main aqueduct supplying the fort
ress with water
BatterinG the Inst Line.
A dispatch to the Chronicle. vaguely
dated "Liaoyang Peninsula. Sept. %
reports that the bombardmcnt of Port
Arthur goes on increasingly. The fort
ress is surrounded by a ring of fire
from Japanese shells. The last line
of the defenses is being battered to
pieces preparatory to the final as
saut.
At one point the japanese have sap
ped to within few hundred yards of
the Russians. but it will be difficult to
cross the intervening space owing to
the intensity of the Russian rifle fire.
The correspondent mentions that the
Russians made a sortie. but were driv
en back into the fortress. They lost
some howitzers. Both sides are dis
playing unparalleled fortitude and de-
termination. The bands of Port Ar
thur play anthems nightly, while the
defenders in the advanced works sing.
The Japanese respond with the cries
OF "BanZai" and by singing patriotic
songs.
End Near Mt Hand.
A dispatch TO the Daily Mail from
Chefoo says a junk which left Port
Arthur at midnight Monday has ar
rived there having on board a Russian
woman, her child. and several Chi
nese. The woman says there has been
continuous and severe fighting since
Sept 20. Large numbers of the gar
rson have been killed or wounded.
The terrific bombardment causes con
sternation in the town. a rain of huge
shells falling upon it, She is of the
opinion that the capture of the fort
ress is near.
Two Japanese torpedo boat destroy
ers entered Chefoo at O'Clock this
evening. one proceeded south after
hasty exchange of signals from the
shore. II is believed there have been
important developments at Port Ar
thur. \ number sof refugees have ar
rived At the Chefoo islands. Two Japa-
nesc destroyerS are outside the har-
Dor. presumably watching the move
ments of these refugees.
kurOPntkIn Must Retire.
St. Petersburg, Sept. 2S.-Beyond
the fact that Kuropatkin's cavalry is
trying vainly To discover the nature of
the japanese movements nothing new
Is known. The Japanese are making
wide detours through the mountains
and building roads 10 make the pass
age possible. Europatkin. unless he
can stop the turning movements. will
shortly have to retire.
The Port Arthur squadron will make
a sortie as soon as the Vladivostok
cruisers are ready TO repeat the move
ment for cooperation tried On Aug. 10.
4 naval officer repeats that Stoes-
sci will never give in and that he has
plenty OF stores of all kinds Ii is un-
true that NeEirOvich Dapschenko has
been expelled. He merely has gone