The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1904-06-06
THOUSANDS
WILL. DIE
japanese Must Sacrifice An
Army to Win Pt. Arthur.
KUROKI A CAPTIVE.
Resident OF Besiesed Fortress
Says Russia Will Defend 1t To
The Last.

LONDON, June Ga st. Petersburg
dispatch says:
w. s. Smith, brother of Samuel
Smith, United States consul at Mos
COW, and who is in business at Port
Arthur, has arrived here. Mr.. Smith
expresses confidence that Port Arthur
will never be taken unless the ,Iapa-
neSe sacrifice thousands of men. He
said
The Russians had $4,000 men at
Port Arthur at the time | left there,
and every man was hale and hearty
and prepared to fight till the last TO
prevent the capture of the fortress All
the surrounding heights are strongly
fortified by intrenchments. embank-
ments and gun emplacements scientific
ally disposed. l counted in one day
between 800 and 400 guns.
The japanese can only take the
place if they are in overwhelming force
or If the Russians are asleep, and | do
not believe the latter will occur in view
of the vigilance everywhere manifest
ed.
Before | left the Russians came to
me and asked me if intended to stay,
desiring me TO take arms and join the
fire patrol, and requesting my wife and
myself TO become members or the Red
Cross. Had it not been for my Ameri-
can citizenship | undoubtedly would
have been compelled to serve. All the
other men remaining in the fortress
are now on duty. | was allowed to
take out only a small amount of lug
gage owing to the rigid restrictions
under which the railway is being op-
Grated
Rarely a night passed at Port Ar
thur without cannonading by the Jap
anese. The fire always opened about
o'clock and stopped at G. Now awaken
regularly at 2 o'clock and cannot sleep
again for four hours"
A Tientsin report says:
-Four thousand Russians belonging
to General Stakelberg's brigade have
attacked 1900 Japanese, occupying a
position five miles south of Wafang-
ten The Russians were repulsed, los
ing 200 killed and 400 wounded, The
japanese lost more than 100 killed.
At st. Petersburg it is said that Rus
sia will stand or fall by Port Arthur
that is, so far aS the prestige of the
government with the lower classes is
concerned.
In the event of the capture of the
fortress internal troubles in Russia are
possible, and local complications and
disturbances are inevitable.
Advices from Tokyo say:
ut is suspected here that the Rus
Fians at Port Arthur are communicate
ing with points on the Chinese coast by
means of wireless telegraphy. II was
reported that wireless station had
been erected secretly at the village of
Pehwang, on Takin island, one Of the
Mlaotao group, situated in Pechili
strait, and the japanese cruiser Chitose
has been sent to the island TO invest-
gate. II is reported that another such
station has been erected near Shanhai-
kwan.
"The Chitose steamed in close to
Liaoteshan promontory and discovered
four masts and a watch house near
the coast. One of these masts evident
ly was fitted for wireless telegraphy
operations. The Chitose reports having
heard series of explosions at Port
Arthur and believes them to have re-
suited from blastings preparatory TO
the emplacing of new batteries.
The japanese torpedo boat destroy
er Ikazuchi has discovered and explod-
ed large mine Off Sanshan island at
the entrance to Talienwan bay.
The Japanese naval authorities en-
gagged In clearing out the mines in the
vicinity of Tnliepwan bay are employ
ing japanese shell divers from Kushiu
province for the purpose. These divers
volunteered for this work and are Won
derfully expert. 1t is said that with
their diving paraphernalia they can
stay under water for half a day at q
time. Hundreds of japanese fishermen
are volunteering to assist in clearing
away Russian mines, and it is proba-
BILE that some of them will be used for
this work. These voluntary offers are
taken TO illustrate the unity of the
Japanese people in the war"
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