The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1904-12-08

The Japanese soldiers are siralning
every nerve TO get into Port Arthur
before the Baltic feet shall arrive
there. That feet Ii slowly moving
eastward. IL was reported last week
that Admiral Rojestvcnsky's division
was coallng OF Swakopsmund. I'm Ger.
man Southwest Africa. The division
which went by way OF the suez Canal
has passed out OF the Red Sea. and
before long will be In touch with the
division which II circumnavigating
Africa. Some OF the vessels which
left the Baltic last OF oil have coaled
at Tangier aud are on their way to
Port Said.
The japanese have made progress
at Port Arthur. They have gained the
eminence called Two Hundred and
Three Meter hill and the fort which
crowns II. That hill Is dominated by
others of which the Russians retain
possession, but the Japanese think II
Is worth the price paid for IL. which In
said. though the figures probably are
exaggerated. TO have been 5000 In kill
cd and wounded.
The seizure OF the hill Is n breach
In the inner line OF defenses OF Port
Arthur. The desperate and unsuc.
cessful effort OF General stocssei 10 re-
gain Il shows how much Importance
he attaches TO It's possession. II Is ad-
mitted at st. Petersburg that the loss
In irreparable and the fall OF the fort
ress only a question OF time. But
while the advanced position held by
the Japanese commands the town and
harbor OF Port Arthur. the Russians
can fall back TO the forts on the Liaoti
promonotory south OF the town. and II
they hold on TO those forts as stub
bornly as they have TO the others Il
may be weeks before General Stocs-
sci hoists the white flag. He may be
relied on not to do 50 till the last mo-
ment.
General Nogi made the last day OF
November memorable In the history OF
the siege OF Port Arthur by capturing
Two Hundred and Three Meter Fin,
overlooking the Etsxhan and Antsz-
shan forts. Once before. In the middle
of September. he had succeeded In
placing a company OF his men well up
toward the summit, but after a day
and a night without food or water the
company was driven OF by the Rus
SLAMS. The ail-day lighting Of Nov. 30
followed several days OF premilinary
attacks. Repeated charges were re-
quired before the fierce Russian resist
ance was overcome. and II was not till
late In the evening that the entire
summit was In japanese hands.
II speaks well for the indomltabie
courage OF the Russian soldiers. both
officers and men. that In the face OF all
their losses and dlscouragements they
were keen enough 10 attempt n sortie
the following day TO recover the hill.
80 reduced are the Russian soldiers In
number that they are not sufficient TO
nan even the short line OF forts on
which the fighting has now centered.
Port Arthur will have n place In
history as one OF the most famous OF
sicxes. The Japanese assailants will
be remembered for their cheerful In
difference TO death In their terrible
charges, but the Russian defenders
will make an eve stronger appeal 10
the im~aginations OF men In the future.
As far as Is known the situation on
the line OF the Shakkhe River is much
what IL was n week ago. There have
been Russian reports OF movements In
which the japanese got the worst OF
Il and japanese reports In which the
Russians came OF second best. II Is
intimated that General Kuroki IN NOV.
ing around the Russian left flank. but
there is no evidence OF It.
Nearly all the correspondents and
military attaches have left the Rus.
sian army. This In an indication that
no great battle In looked for during the
winter. But IL is hard TO believe that
the two huge armies will remain
where they are until spring. II Is said
that the Russians are suffering for
lack OF fuel and are thinking OF n for
ward movement TO get possession OF
the Yentai coal mines, OF which the
Japanese have the benefit. III so II
will be the first battle on record for
the possession OF n coal mine. The
question OF water supply may become
n serious one now that the streams
are frozen up. The epidemics which
come from the drinking Of polluted
water may break out.
The Japanese diet has met and Is
preparing to vote the money needed TO
carry ON the war next year. The terms
which 10 was intimated during tho
week would he acceptable 10 Japan
the restoration OF Manchurla TO China
and the remuneration by Russla OF her
lease OF the tip OF the Liaotung pen
insula. Port Arthur 10 he ~dlsmantled-
are not acceptable 10 Russia. The ru-
NOR that she Is willing 60 make peace
with Japan II that country will enter
into n close alliance. the two 10 be
Joint masters OF China and the Orient.
hardly deserves notice.