The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1904-09-26
JAPS TAKE
SIX FORTS
Tightening the Grip on Port
Arthur.
CONTROL WATER SUPPLY
JapS Took Great Precautions and
Lost but 5000 Men in the
Assaults.

LONDON, Sept. 26.--It is reported
from Tokyo that the Japanese have
captured six forts in the second line OF
defense at Port Arthur. The hope Of u
speedy reduction of the fortress is run.
ming high.
A Chefu report says that as result
of the battle before Port Arthur the
Japanese have succeeded in capturin.
several important positions. and now
the Russian tenure of the big forts
guarding the north. northeast and
northwest sides of the town is serious
ly threatened. Chinese information
places the Japanese losses upder 5000
for three days fighting, and this com
paratively small casualty list is due
to the excessive care used by the Jap
anese in making their preparations
for the advance. Russian sources, how
ever claim to have information that
the Japanese losses were unusually Sc
we're amounting to fully thr"o ti'Ues
the number mentioned. Possibly the
most important capture during the
three days fighting was tina, 0f Fort
kuroratiin, which. while OF minor val
ue with regard 10 preventing the en-
trance into the town of the Japanese.
has been constructed for the purpose
OF protecting the source of the parri-
sons water supply The control Of this
water supply is now in the hands of
the Japanese.
a st. Petersburg report says that
Major General Orloff, whose precipi-
fancy in leaving Yentai to join in the
attack on the heights of SyRwantun
left flank and necessitated the aban-
donment of LiaOynng, will be detached
from the Manchurian army and given
another command in European Russia
or perhaps he may be retired.
The detachment of General Orloff
was ordered by General Kuropatkin.
who has full power to do so without
resorting to a court martial. The Off
cial report that Brigadier General Fo-
min of General Orloffs division was
dead and the subsequent development
that he is only severely wounded re-
veals the extent of confusion into
which Orloff's division was thrown
General Fomin is in hospital at Har-
bin.
The rumor of cholera at Port Arthur
received by naval officer at Tsintau
has caused the deepest concern in ma
val and military circles. 1t is hoped.
however, that, even If the report is
true, the outbreak will turn out TO be
mild one and that 1t will be quickly
lation Of suspicious cases. Port Arthur
has been free from cholera for several
years, thanks to constant precautions.
A special dispatch from St Peters
burg says that Emperor Nicholas has
sent the following autograph letter to
General Grippenberg:
''The intense energy with which ia
pan is conducting the war and the
stubbornness and high warlike quail
ties displayed by the japanese impel
me to considerably strengthen the
forces at the front in order to attain
decisive success in the shortest possi-
BILE time.
"Since by this increase the units will
reach figure making their continu-
ance in one army impossible without
prejudice to the proper direction,
maneuvering and mobility of the
troops, have found it necessary to di-
vide the active forces in Manchuria
into two armies, leaving one in the
hands of General Kuropatkin. ap-
point you to command the second.
Your many years service in warlike
exploits and your wide experience in
training troops assure me that you,
following the general directions Of the
commander in chief. will successfully
lead to the attainment of the objects of
the war the army intrusted to you.
God bless you for your great and
glorious services TO me and to Rus
sia."
General Grippenberg is slxty-six
years of age. He served in the Grim
can war and distinguished himself in
the Polish insurrection of 1863 and in
the Turkestan campaign Of 1S67-6S,
and for his part in the latter he re-
ceived the st. Georges cross and
sword of honor. He commanded the
Moscow guards regiment in the Turko-
Russian war