The Hawaiian gazette., 1904-10-14

JAPANESE

| ST. PETERSBURG, Oct. 5, $40 p. NJ
Emperor Nicholas has at last receiv-
ed General Stoessers official report OF
the desperate four days assault of the
besiegers upon Port Arthur from Sep
TENDER 18th to September 23d, from
which 1t appears that the unofficial re-
port from Chefoo was by no means ex-
aggerated. The japanese displayed
frenzied bravery, but they lost 10000
men, and their only success was the
capture of two redoubts guarding the
water works.
They prepared for the assault by a
general bombardment, and then launch
ed their attacks simultaneously from
the north and west. Night and day
they fought under cover of a continual
bombardment from their siege guns,
and finally reached the redoubts on the
north side. but only after the defenses
there We're completely demolished by
shell fire from the west.
The Japanese efforts We're directed
chiefly against the commanding posi-
ton on High mountain, which faces
Pigeon bay, slightly south of Fort Else.
The mountain is 500 feet high, and If II
had fallen its position would have Civ
en- n tremendous lever against the chain
of inner defenses The carnage there
was terrible and eliminated September
22d, when the Japanese succeeded in
reaching and occupying the Russian
armored shelter trenches, whence they
expected undoubtedly to storm the
summit. During the night Lieutenant
Poggorsky of the navy, at the head of
n detachment of volunteers, descended
upon the trenches and blew them up
with pyroXylin bombs, producing a
panic among the besegers, who fled,
leaving the mountain side strewn with
dead.
The Japanese then abandoned further
attempts, but after a day or two TO
recuperate, according to General Stoes-
sells second dispatch, dated September
Both, they resumed the bombardment
of the city and outer works and began
to construct zigzag approaches, to get
nearer point, from which to launch
their next assault
The loss of the water works Is not
considered vital, as there is n fresh
water lake and numerous wells, as
well as Il condensng apparatus within
the defenses.
General Stoessel recommends Cen
eral Kondratenko. Lieutenant Poggor-
sky, Colonel Irman of the artillery and
Captain Sychan of the Fifth Siberian
Regiment for the st. George Cross.
The complete repulse of the Japanese
has evidently greatly inspired the gar
rison of Port Arthur General Stoessel
says the gallantry of the Russian troops
garrison will hold out to the last drop
of blood. General Stocssel adds that
practically nothing remained of the wa
ter works redoubts when the surviving
Russian evacuated them.
General Stoessel's dispatch, which
was dated September Both says: aft
er bloody assaults from the 18th to the
23d of September there has been COM
paratlve tranquility around the fort
ress. on the night OF September 23d the
japanese, after being repulsed by Lieu
tenant Poggorsky, fled In panic They
are now working very actively ana are
approaching by a tunnel and intrench-
ments. The bombardment was main
tanned both upon the forts and the
buildings within the fortress
we make sol ties frequently, driving
back the enemy The repulse of the
last attack was especially due 10 Lieu
tenant Poggorsky, General kondraten-
ko, Colonel lrman ana Captain Sychan.
The spirit of the troops Is heroic.
Wound d men are every day returning
from the hospitals 10 the ranks. We
pray God for victory ana for the health
Of your majesty"
General StOossel'a report created great
~ jOloing ana revived hope IN his abil-
ity 10 defend the fortress, After the |
failure ~ the siormng operations tho |
War once here would not be- surprised |
Il the Japanese changed their plan a. a
regular engineering siege