Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-07

TOKYO, December z, noon.-The COM
manaer of the Japanese naval guns in front
of Pert Arthur telegraphing on December
u. says:
AN observation taken from 2O3-Meter
Hill shows that the turret ship Poltava is
sunk and that the battle ship Retvizan is
listing heavily to port.
Observations taken December covered
the results of the bombardment OF Decem-
Der g. Are now taking observations from
a hill near Shuishiying.
Since December we have daily bonn
barded the enemys feet lying south Of
Paiyu mountain. From that point only
the masts and funnel tops of the battle
ships Pobieda. Retvizan or the cruiser Pal
lada could be seen but it was impossible to
effect.
''On other ships explosions resulting
from our shells, could be seen, but owing
TO their positions behind hills it was diff
ficult exactly to i'd nifty them.
THE total of our shells taking effect on
the enemys ships were as follows: On a
vessel of the Pobieda type thir .y-four; on
the battle ship Retvizan or the cruiser Pal
lada, thirty y-four; on the turret ship Pol
tava, eleven. Besides these fifty other
shells struck. from which explosions fol-
lowed.
"On December 5 seven shells struck the
battle ship Pobieda, and about $3.50 pm. a
big explosion was observed south of Paiyu
mountain, resulting from the effect of our
shells evidently on a powder magazine.
The successful result of the lombard
ment on December is inspiring our men to
still greater effort"
The Poltava was an armored turret ship
of 1850 tons displacement and IL 255 indi-
Gated horse power. She was built in st.
Petersburg in 1894 and went into commits
ufn in vIAr A-t Hfn ,etr ,att &C
nearly sG000.OO0. Her armament consisted
of four Pinch twelve 5.9-inch and thirty
four smaller caliber breechloading rifle
guns of the Russian Krupp pattern. She
had a crew of 100 men. She had a speed OF
1852 knots.
The Retvizan is a battle ship of 1900
tons displacement and 10000 indicated
horse power. She was built in Phiadel-
phia in 1902. Her armament consisted of
four 12-inch twelve 6-inch, twenty 3-inch
twenty 3-pounder and six 1-pounder guns
of Russian Krupp pattern. Her speed was
Is knots per hour
Japs Now Occupy Prominent Hill.
The Japanese troops occupied Akasaka
Hill, fronting on Port Arthur, yesterday,
December 6.
The Russian armored cruiser Bayan is
reported to be aground.
Tremendous Canncnading Heard.
PEkING, December 7.-Mukden reports a
tremendous noise of cannonade around Pou-
tilof Hill and the railway, which began De-
cember in the morning and reached it's
height from to in the afternoon. 1t was
unlike anything of the kind heretofore ex-
cept at Port Arthur. The effect is due to
the constantly increasing number of siege
guns of large caliber. all of which seemed to
be in use at the time
Rumors of a Japanese attack, set for va
rious dates, have been current during the
past two weeks, and 1t was the impression
that the bombardment of December 6 was
in anticipation of a Japanese offensive
movement.
Today the first sleet and snow fell.
News Confirmed.
TOKYO, December 7-Noon-The head
quarters of the japanese army in front of
Port Arthur has reported. confirming the
disabling of the Russian battle ships Retvi-
zan and Poltava, and stating that the cruis-
er Bayan is aground.
The report goes on to say as follows:
Owing to the plunging fire from 2O3-
Meter Hill the enemy has withdrawn to
Akasaka Hill.
"On December 6 our forces occupied an
entire fort at l pm Subsequently our
pied an eminence north of Suerh Kou and
two eminences north of Sanlichiam at d. m.
On December O, at pm. in response TO
the bearer of the enemy's flag of truce, an
armistice of five hours was granted for the
removal of the dead"