The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-20
GENERAL ASSAULT
japanese Make Another Effort
to Take Port Arthur.
Attack Began Before Daybreak
and Lasted Till Dark.
Resumed This Morning and Two
Forts Taken.
STOESSEL HEARD FROM
Says His Men Are Still i'm Ex-
eellent Spirits.
His Big Guns Reported to Be
Nearly Worn Out.
STOESSEL HEARD FROM

AtNANe nCSlllIeS, so lar as today s
news from the seat of war is concern
ed. were manifested only at Port Arth-
ur, where the japanese resumed their
attack Of yesterday by land and sea.
They are reported to have captured
two important forts. General Kuropat-
kin reports to. st. Petersburg that the
japanese position at Bentsiaputze is
strongly held by a Japanese brigade
with guns. and that large Japanese
forces from Lao Yang have already
crossed to the right bank of the Taitse
river.
Shanghai, Sept. 20.-The general at
tack on Port Arthur which began yes
terday and in which the japanese fleet
Is cooperating. was resumed this morn
ing The japanese captured two i'm
portant forts on either side of Sueiszey-
ing, north of Port Arthur.
Chefoo. Sept. 2O.-5:8o P. M.-Authori-
tative information has been received
here of a general assault upon Port
Arthur by the Japanese which began
yesterday before daybreak and contin-
ued until dark. All indications point
10 an effort to capture the northeast
main forts
Ihis IS the attack for which the jap
ahese nave been preparing for the past
j. days, with slight hope of success
As forecasted in these dispatches, the
japanese attack on Port Arthur is di-
rected against the northeast front. The
main object is TO capture the fortihca-
lions on Kikwan mountain, Rihluug
mountain and the intermediate forts
The foregoing comes from a Russian
or standing whose. previous information
has been correct. He adds that the "a =
tack at the end of August which was
reported as two separate assaults real
~ constituted a ten days battle the
nghting being the heaviest during the
nrst three days and the last four DAYS
OF that period. Although the Japanese
retired August 81 along the greater part
OF their line they remained in four sup
Elementary forts on the northeast front
which they had captured from the Rus
slams These include two forts near
Rlhlung mountain and two others at a
somewhat greater distance. Since Aug
ust 81 the Japanese have bombardsd
very slightly. while the Russians have
been throwing approximately one thou
sand shells daily, chiefly against the
-FOUR japanese positions mentioned. !
Small sorties. as referred to by the
Novkrai of Port Arthur in the efforts
10 recapture the position have been of
almost nightly occurrence and have
been uniformly unsuccessful.
The Japanese have been taught I
wholesome respect for the resisting
power of the fortress, according to eV-
cry Japanese who has recently arrived |
here from Port Dalny- If they succeed |
In capturing Rihlung mountain or 9TH !
er forts they will realize that this Will |
only be one step, although an import |
ant one, towards the capture of Port I
Arthur. The Russians. who have been /
observing the new tactics of the Japa- /
nese, did not expect another attack be- /
fore the first week in October. The 4
Japanese are endeavOrfng to proceed 4
slowly but surely.
During the fighting in August the at
tempt TO capture Kirwan mountain /
cost the Japanese an entire regiment /
This statement has Deen absolutely /
confirmed and indicates the monument |
tai proportions of the task which the /
tempting to capture the fortress. which /
is composed of many forts equally
strong.
Two Attacks RepeIIed.
St Petersburg. Sept. 2O.-Lieutenant
General Stossel. commanding the
Russian military forces at Port Artn-
ur, reports by telegraph that on the
night of September 16 the garrison re-
PEELED two attacks on the redoubt pro-
tecting the waterworks.
The text of General Stoessel's dis
patch is as follows:
Port Arthur. Sept 16-The enemy
continues daily to lombard the forts
and batteries inside the fortress. but
still without showing any great activ
ity-
The wounded are recovering and
eagerly resume their places in the
ranks They are heroes.
The troops are in excellent spirits.
AT about this morning (Sept. 16)
at least one japanese bettalion attack
ed the redoubt protecting the water
works The garrison of the redoubt re-
pulsed the attack. but the enemy re-
ceived reinforcements and renewed the
attack after half an hour. The garTi-
son again repulsed them with rifles and
machine guns. supported by artillery.
The Japanese sustained great losses
and did not again attempt to take the
offensive
'Sub-Lieutenant Phillipoff Schiehy
distinguished himself. showing the
greatest bravery."@
Guns Wearing Out
London, Sept 2O.-The Morning
Posts Shanghai correspondent tele-
graphs that there is an unconfirmed
rumor there that Gen. Mistchenko.
cossack brigade has been killed. other
special dispatches from Shanghai re-
port that the japanese on Sunday last
an attack to the eastward
of Yumentzsushan. northeast of Yen
tai. infiicting a heavy loss on the Rus
slams.
According to the Daily Telegraph's ]
Tien Tsfn correspondent, Gen. Kuro-
patkin is in need of supplies but his
orders can not be filled
The Daily Telegram Chefoo cor
respondent telegraphs report which
he claims emanated from an officer at I
Port Arthur, the navy guns on Lao Ii {