Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-08-26

10 effect a junction with the Vladi-
yostok squadron frustrated, but the
Port Arthur fleet was scattered and
many OF Its ships SO badly crippled
mat they must be stricken off the
list of electives. The "Czareyitch''
has He'd to the neutral port of Using
Tau, where she must be dismantled;
the live other battleships are reported
by Admiral Togo to have returned,
badly damaged, to Port Arthur.
where they will be again under the
fire of the japanese siege guns. OF
the cruisers, the "Askold" is in the
neutral port of Shanghai, badly
crippled, the Novik DESTROYED and
the other cruisers not yet accounted
for. The rout of the Port Arthur
fleet is complete. immediately fol-
lowing comes news of the defeat of
the Vladivostok squadron by the
ships under Admiral Ksmimura.
The "Rurik," of IO,94O tons, was
sunk; the "Rossia" and "Gromoboi''
fled to Vladivostok as wrecks.
The chips still at Port Arthur are
expected any moment to make
another dash. They cannot live
beneath the rain of fire and shell
from the Japanese land batteries.
Vlce-Admiral Prince Ouktomsky
has been ordered, should the worst
come, to sally forth for death
struggle, and there is no question
that these instructions will be
carried out both in letter and spirit,
but if for any reason final sortle
proves to be impossible the Admiral
Is to destroy his ships and to make
certain that their wreckage shall be
absolutely irreparable.
The storming of Port Arthur,
which the foreign dispatches say is
progressing, is riveting all attent ton.
The brave, stubborn resistance which
General Stoessel is making is evoking
high praise, and are hoping almost
against hope that he will be able to
hold out, in spite of the heavy odds
against him. The Japanese forces
are within two miles of the Port on
both sides and their guns command
the entire city. Great damage has
been done by the japanese artillery
hire, which has started blazes in
many sections of the town. The
Russians guns have been almost
sllenced but the four hundred Japa-
nese guns keep up a continuous
roar. According to the latest reports
received here, the japanese are mass
ing infantry columns at Else on the
west and below the Urlung forts on
the east for a simultaneous assault,
which they propose shall be the last.
General Stoessel is said to have less
than $4,000 effective men with
which to meet this attack.
japanese shells have isnited light
ers IN the docks which contained
supplies of coal, resulting in a ter
rifle conaagration. Many of the
buildings have been demolished and
and the hospitals are crowded.
The Mikado has received from the
commander of his forces at Port
Arthur the Russian generals reply
to the Imperial demand for the sur.
render of the forces. In his reply
Lieutenant-General Stoessel expresses
his thankG for the humanitarian
offer to grant safe conduct to all
non-combatants through the Russian
lines. The demand to surrender
Stoessel refuses uncompromisingly
and declares his garrison will fight
to the last man in defense of the
fortress.
The Japanese are charging, reck.
less of life, and taking the fortified.
tions around Port Arthur one by
one. In one attack last week they
charged over huge mine field, when
there was terrible explosion and
the men were blown to atoms. 1t is
estimated the Japanese had 10000
casualties. The Japanese are said to
be driving large herds of cattle over
the Russian mines, trying to explode
them. The Russians in some in
stances capture the cattle, and this
assists their food supplies.
Russians are compelled to at last
admit that Port Arthur must fall.
But the stolid Russian is making
the reckless lap pay dearly for his
prize. not even Sevastapsl or Plevna
knew such reckless seige and de.
structior of life, Port Arthur will
stand prominently in the history of
the world henceforth.
The japanese losses are said to
have been enormous during the
three days desperate fighting, 81, 900
men having been killed or wounded.
The Russian loss is said to have
been 10000.
The latest aayiees from Port
Arthur indicate that while the Japa.
nese have captured several additional
minor forts in the vicinity of Golden
Hill, there is no immediate prospect
of taking the fortress by storm.
PORT ARTHUR TO BE HIS TOMB.
Moscow, Aug. 22.-General Stoes-
sci, commander of the Russian gar.
rison at Port Arthur, has abandoned
all hope of holding out much longer
against the persistent attacks of the
Japanese troops under General Nogi.
This was shown in private tele.
gram received today by a friend of
the Russian general living here. The
telegram reads: Farewell forever.
Port Arthur will be my tomb"
This is taken to mean that the
Japanese are dangerously near the
main fortress, and that the fall of
the city is now only a matter of a
few days. The recipient of the tele.
gram says that he received letter
from the Russian general last week,
saying that the Japanese were max.
ing rapid advances ON the city,