Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-11-08

Oi0ging Port Arthur, ignoring lAeuteH-
ant General Stoessel, have offered
terms OF surrender to the Russian
soldiers, according to advices leaving
Port Dalny yesterday. In the mean
while the ceaseless activity Of picks
and spades continues. The Japanese
are gradually advancing their trenches
which spell an inexorablc fate to the
watching Russians. A Russian pris-
cner captured October rs said the
troops composing the garrison OF Port
Arthur were in want and dispirited.
They saw the uselessness Of the stuug-
j gie and in the end the Japanese vic
tory was ultimately inevitable.
The soldiers, according to the pris-
oner, see no reason to prolong the re-
seistancn which brings glcry to their Of
Acers, but chiefly hardship and death
to them. Upon hearing the prisoners
story, General Nogf assembled his staff,
discussed the matter briefly and then
under the light Of q bicycle lantern,
drafted a letter to be circulated among
the soldiers themselves, the prisoner
having promised to deliversit insfnercy
70 his comrades. The letter related
Kuropatkin's retreats and his inabil-
1ty to make an impression on the army
OF Field Marshal Oyama, to say Moth
1ng about the thought of his forces
relieving Port Arthur. The letter also
pointed cut that the second Pacific
squadron had Just started on its slow
voyage. Continuing it called attention
to the resistless advance OF Japanese
trenches. making 1t matter of weeks
when the Japanese would walk into the
main Russian strongholds. In conclu-
sion the letter offered humane treat
ment to all who surrender, saying it
was in the interests of humanity to
prevent further manslaughter. In the
darkness Of the early morning of No
vember A, several copies Of the letter,
written in Russian, were given to the
prisoner, who regained the Russian
lines unObserved by his officers. That
night the Russian returned saying his
comrades would answer within a few
days. fIe said the temper of the men
seemed to show that while they were
1nutinous towards fate, they also did
not like the idea of unofficial surrer-
der. The letter did much, however,
to dispel among the Russian troops
the impression fostered by their Off
GERS that massacre would follow VIC
tory.
The company to which the prisoner
belonged, originally numbered 500 and
now totals about thirty men. AS the
Japanese are sufficiently near the sum-
mits Of the hills to render tunneltng
highly practicable. much Of this work
IL now being done. The Russians are
building counter tunnels. Whichever
side finds it's tunnel under the ene-
my's, blows up the latter's tunnel. To
prevent explosives being rolled down
into their trenches the Japanese have
made ranges or hillocks of earth above
the trenches. Five Russian mine
sweeping steamers have been sunk by
Japanese shells.
Toxic. Nov. 8.-Unofficial news re-
ceived from Port Arthur since Satur-
days report says the progress made
by the. besiegers inlicate Japanese op-
eratiols are proceeding satisfactorily,
tho slowly. Reports from Shakhe riv-
en- state both armies are still strength
ening their positions along the river
and are otherwise busily preparing for
another great battle, but there is no
likelihood of a general engagement for
the present. Reinforcements of Rus
sian troops guns and supplies are con-
stantly arriving at the 'front.'
Japanese are Repulsed.
Mulsden, Nov. s.-The Japanese on
Saturday night attacked some of the
Russian outposts in considerable force
but the Russians had been warned ane |
the Japanese were repuisea. They |
were not able to take away all their |
killed or wounded. leaving twenty
eight bodies on the field. The Russians
II, m,