Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1904-11-30

The attack was preceded by terrible
bombardment lasting two and half
days. After that the japanese poured
in over the forts and by sheer weight
of numbers drove out the Russian gar.
risons, which had been weakened by
the shell fire. There was a terrific
carnage, however, the japanese losing
about $500 men. II is almost inpos-
sible to get the exact amount of the
japanese losses as the dead are ere.
mated. The Banrusan forts are in the
regular line of forts but do not belong
to the permanent category.
AT the capture of Fort Hichimaki.
yama the japanese used their big rs.
sentimeter guns and 11.2 coast defense
lowitzers, which their engineers with
incredible skill had brought to within
Smelling distance. After a lombard.
ment lasting for Ave hours, at which
shells costing G100 piece were fired,
the japanese advanced their infantry,
which, after 10 minutes fighting with
but small losses, captured the fort, the
garrison of which was demoralized by
the terrible bombardmeRt.
when left the Japanese were pay.
ing their principal attention to the
forts Nirrusan, Kaikanson and Shogu.
sun, and think they are still there.
THESE forts are protected by an enor.
nous ditch and provided with q great
number of machine guns, which will
make them difficult to capture. From
a friend Of mine who came out of Port
Arthur just before left, learned con.
siderable about the conditions prevail.
ing there. ! am sure that the Russians
will hold out for long time yet. Some
day when the Russians find that they
can no longer hold the outer line Of
forts they will abandon them without
fighting and will retreat to the inner
line, the real nucleus of Port Arthur.
which they will hold to the very last.
Should the japanese ever capture Port
Arthur their list of casualties will be
something tremendous.
"The japanese attack the fortified.
tons first by concentration of shell
fire, during which they run parallels up
to the forts. Then when the word for
attack is given the soldiers jump from
the trenches and swarm up the hills
like ants. 1t is give and take fight
on both sides and no quarter is shown.
The Russians began the shooting of
wounded lying on the hillsides and the
japanese replied by taking up the
same practice. This, in addition to the
enormous losses Inflicted by shell fire
from modern guns, hand grenades, tor
pedoes, etc, makes the carnage a tor
rible one.
"Of the japanese in front Of Port
Arthur the Seventh Regiment Is con
lsidered the brayest, with the First n
lgood second. The Osaka regiment are
spoken of with but little respect. II is
1.-THE only poor regiment there. The Jap.
lanese have gained the respect of the
Russians, at least as soldiers. How
lever, IL is probable that the japanese
preserves which will now be drawn up.
ION, will show themselves far inferior
to the men now in the field. The Jap
anese soldier, as | saw him at Port
, Arthur, was worth three Russians in
a hand.to-hand encounter, to which
their great agility adapts them splen
didly. The japanese officers are high
spirited and well trained. The bad
position of the Russian army, think
is due more to oflicialdom than II is ia
the officers and soldiers, who are be
yond criticism.
The situation, as ] see 1t, now
bangs on the Baltic fleet. This fleet
counts several very modern battleships
and may quite possibly defeat Togo
On board the Baltic fleet are all the
officers and crew of the Variag ani
when II reaches Asiati" waters the Via
Givostok squadron will try to transfer
10 II many men who have already seen
fighting. Even II the Baltic fleet should
defeat Togo the japanese in Manchui Ia
will not be in immediate trouble as
there is at present provisions enough
in Manchurla to feed the army for eight
months. Port Arthur will, however, b(
saved from capture.