New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-19
RUSSIANS STILL CLING TO HOPE OF PORTS RELIEF.

St. Petersburg. Dec. 1S.-The dispatches from
General stoesseI to the Emperor which reached
Che-Foo on Friday were made public to-day.
They do not carry the story of the garrison's
stubborn defence beyond December 10. leaving
q gap of at least five days between the official
word of the military commander and the un-
officia. story of Commander Mizzenofr. which
given out at Che-Foo
It is not pretended that the dispatches are
published in full They contain much that is
of strategic interest and matter which IT is
oovssusly impossible to disclose to the public,
The story of the operations shows that there
had been an almost uninterrupted assault Of the
most desperate character from November 20 to
December 10, when the Japanese. after losing
over twenty-five thousand men. captured 2o3-
Metre Hill, and were able from that position to
shell the squadron in the Port Arthur roadstead.
There the official account ends; but it is ex-
explained that the japanese do not occupy the
top of the hill, which is still exposed to a deadly
fire from the Russian artillery. The Japanese
are using plungng fire from heavy guns be-
hind the crest of the hill but that this fire is
efficiently directed is shown by the damage
suffered by the Russian squadron. The Jap
anese are believed to be employing 11-inch and
16-inch mortars and howitzers. The effect of
these must be most deadly when turned upon
the neighborilg forts
The public reception OF General StoesseTs
dispatches as whole IS not had. Every one is
loud in praise of the defence of Port Arthur.
while the authorities assert that the main line
of forts has not yet been broken. The Jap
anese SO far have used every device of engineer
ing skill in making approaches. but with enor-
nous sacrifices have been able TO take only
the outer line of defences 1t is said that the
garrison probably will be able to hold out for
some time
General Stoessers first dispatch is dated No
vember % and is as follows:
I happy to inform your majesty that on
November 20 after increased bomba rdment
tho japanese attacked one Of the forts on the
nCrtheastern front and Ieaped with portion
OF their forces on the parapet They we're an
initiated by rifle fire and the bayonet. and
thrown back into the trenches. Their reserves
were scattered by shrapnel
From November 2l 10 November 23 the enemy
violently bombarded the fort and in spite
of great losses. effected by their perseverance,
a passage between two forts on the northeastern
front
At $50 o'clock in the evening of November
%. after heavy firing. the Japanese suddenly
hurled themselves against several works OF this
front end seized portion of tho trenches but
they were thrown back by the reserves after
fierce bayonet struggle.
They returned 10 the assault at midnight and
asain occupied part of the trenches. but were
annlhilate2 by our bayOncts- At O'Clock in
the morning all was over, and your maiesty's
heroic troops were able to rest and start repair
ing the damage caused by the bonbardment.
From the 2Gth TO the 24th. the Japanese lost
more than 200 men, All OF our troops he
haved as heroes. The following especially dis
tinguished themselves -ienerals KOndrat-
chenko Niktin commander of the artillery and
GOrbatOvsky and Lieutenant Colonel NaoU-
meuko. "a dozen other officers in lower grades
also mentioned in the dispdtChl
Bombardment of the town and harbor con-
tinues daily number of buildings have been
destroyed and the harbor has sustained somo
damage. The sarrisOns are in excellent spirits.
In another dispatch dated November 2s. Gen
eraI Stoessel says:
The 26th and 2Ith were the bloodtest days in
the assaults on Port Arthur. The attacks be-
gan on the night Of the 10Th against our left
flank. near Pigeon Bay The first repused
with great loss to the Japanese. The Same
night the enemy attacked detachment on Pan
Lung Mountain. but was repulsed, as also was
an attack on NisOkatl cos -Mstre) Hin.
On the 26th the Japanese began to lombard
and attack hercely the forts on the northeastern
front and the advanced trenches The trenches
night OF the 26th threw back the Japanese
at the point of the bayonet The enemy sue
ceeded in blowing up the parapet OF one of the
forts. and began building parallels there.
At Gnother fort the same night they laid
sacks along the rampant but our artillery dis
PerSed them. Toward 10 o'clock III the evening
the ia panese attacked battery on left
flank IN considerable strength. and at first OBJ
tanned possession of portion of the works. but
our heroes brought b1yonets into use. and the
japanese retired leaving heap of their men.
Along the whole front the japanese reopened
q violent fire against the interior OF the fortress
keeping IT up until O'Clock on the morning of
November "a
The help which God sent MS on the birJhday
of our mother the Czariaa. gave US further vic
tory.
The message mentions the same four officers
named in the preceding dispatch. together with
several others who especially distinguished
themselves.
a further dispatch from General stoessel dat
&C November 50, says;
Since November 81 the Japanasc have been
carrying on a violent bombardp1ent and making
tnCessant assaults in considera HE force against
Visokaie t203-Aetre) Hu Their assaults were
repused
On December u December % General stoes-
sci reports as follows
The twelve days assault which began on No
vember 20 was definitely repuIsed last night 1
happy 10 say that Your matestv's heroic
troops alone could nave been capable OF doing
this There has never been such fierce as
sault
The following contributed principally TO It's