The state herald., 1904-10-07
MORE SLAUGHTER
IN FORTS AROUND PORT ARTHUR,
Defenses Taken and Retaken in Bloody
Hand to Hand Conflicto.-General
StoesseLs Proclamation.


St. Petersburg, Oct. Am official
report from General Stoessel, dated
September 23d, reached Che Foo to-
day, confirming a previous report of
the repulse of the Japanese attack on
Port Arthur. which began September
18th and ended September 22d. The
fighting was of an extremely severe
character. The Japanese having re
tired, General Stoessel issued the fol
lowing proclamation:
GLORY. Thanks to God, Glory to our
heroic garrison' Glory to lllman, Sy-
chaff and oggorskyl-heroes all.
| Thanks to our valiant volunteers who
routed the enemy from the trenches,
destroying them. God has permitted
us to repulse the enemy. Praise to
God"
The volunteers referred to by Gen
eral Stoessel in the proclamation
which he issued after the desperate
fighting which took place between
September 10Th and 22d We're made
up of regulars called upon to take a
hill which had been captured by the
Japanese.
From semi-of1icial sources II is
learned that the attack began on the
10Th along the whole line and lasted
four days, various positions changing
hands many times.
The high hill mentioned was n very
important position to the Russians.
The Japanese attacked repeatedly, day
and night, finally occupying the posi-
tlon on the night of September 22d
after suffering very severe losses. The
attempt to retake the hill being eX-
tremely hazardous, General Stoessel
refused to issue the order, but called
for volunteers. Everybody called
upon responded, whereupon requisite
number of men were selected, Lieu
tenant Poggorslty and Captain Sy-
chaff leading them. Soldiers and OIL.
GERS alike carried gTenades texplosive
shells weighing from two to six
pounds. which are thrown by hand)
and with these they attacked the
Japanese temporary fortifications and
drove the latter from all of their po-
sitions. Several mines were exploded
during the general battle. causing Sc
we're losses. The Russians calculate
that the total Japanese losses for the
four days fighting reach 10000 men.
The attack began with a heavy bonn
bardment directed against nearly all
the Russian outposts and many of the
main forts. The shelling of the re.
doubts protecting the water supply of
Port Arthur was tremendous. Night
fall September 18th found the water
works redoubts reduced to mere heaps
of debris. The garrisons of the re-
doubts thereupun retreated safely to
the main fortifications under the cover
of darkness.
At 4 O'Clock the same afternoon the
Japanese assault on High Hill' began,
The japanese plan of attack never va
ried. First a bombardment and then
an assault and when rcpulscd a bonn
bardment again and then another as
sault The desperate determination of
the Japanese to capture this position
amounted to fanaticism, their efforts
never ceasing during four days. One
battalion Of japanese, having retreated
into valley. were exposed to the Rus.
sian shrapnel fire and were almost an
initiated.
Eventually the japanese succeeded
In placing one field gun and two ma
chine guns in position behind hastily
made barriers. Their tenure of the
position. owing to the fire OF the inner
forts. was very Insecure. and when
Lieutenant Poggursky and the volun.
teers charged the tide turned against
them. One battalion, composed OF the
remnants of two companies, was an
initiated In trenches which they re.
fused TO desert. Another detachment
was driven into the Russian entangle,
ments. where Captain Sychaff's foS,e
was waiting, and completed its rout,
Two other attempts made by the Jap
anese to retako the positions failed.