The San Francisco call., 1904-08-10

CHEFU, Aug s--The officers OF the
German cruiser Fuerst Bismarck. lying
AT the outer edge OF this harbor,
express the opinion that the firing
heard last night was an en-
counter between detachments Of the
beuigereut warships. apparently TWEEN
" miles northwest Of Chefu. From the
cruisers advantageous position the
flashes preceding the decorations could
be seen.
ST. PETERSBURG, Aug. s.-A dis
patch received from Lieutenant
/ General StoesseI, commander Of the
Russian military forces at Port Arthur.
confirms previous reports that the Jap
snese before Port Arthur are in pos
session OF Wolf Hill. The general says
that on July 90 the Russians withdrew
from their positions on Wolf Hill be-
fore the numerical superiority OF the
japanese. General StoesseI estimates
the number Of japanese attacking Port
Arthur at 10000
ONLY SIX MILES FROM CITY.
/ General Stoessel locates Tupilsza
/ Mountain as situated ten miles north
I east Of Port Arthur, and says that the
/ japanese attack on that position was
3 only q demonstration, the real assault
I Of the japanese being made on Russian
/ POSITIONS on Wolf Hill, which. he
/ points out. is only six miles northward
and near the railroad station General
! StoessePs report follows:
At in the morning OF July . the
/ enemy having advanced a strong force,
their artillery opened fire along their
I whole front. followed by a series Of at
taclzs. one OF which. directed against
I YupiIaza Mountain. was especially Wig
Crous-
AT about S o'clock in the evening the
/ enemy were everywhere repulsed with
J enormous losses I remained in the ad-
vauced position We have held for two
I davs against an army very much
/ stronger than ours
AT o'clock in the morning OF
Tulv 40 about FIVE divisions Of Jap
a7Ase took the offensive against our
positfou on Wolf Hill In view
I Of the enormous superiority OF the
+ enemy's forces and the weakness OF
I the posftion our troops were ordered
70 retire 70 the next positions without
fighting. The movement was effected
in complete order, under the protec-
ton OF artillery. which, by accurate
fire at short range. completely stopped
the japanese advance
"O1r losses have not yet been ascer-
tained. but they were not great The
losses Of the japanese were very con-
siderable In the engagements OF July
Is and q the japanese had about TO-
600 men and a considerable number
Of siege guns.
The morale Of the Russian troops
IS exceIlaut and their health good
! sLAV POPULACE PLEASED.
All the newspapers to-day express
great relief over the reports from
Port Arthur. The army organ says
thl although General StoesseTs re-
port gives no details, # is evident that
the japanese have suffered a severe
reverse The paper also pays a tribute
to the navy's share in the defense OF
the besieged fortress. Reviewing Gen
eraI Kuropatkin's movements, il con-
tinues-
Retreat is in accordance with a
plan laid down for the first period OF
the campaign, which is to weaken the
forces Of the enemy by continuing
strongly the defensive portions, thus
impeding the japanese progress and
compelling the enemy 10 waste large
numbers Of men and much war ma
teriaI on the advances. The result
has been that, in three and one-halt
months, the japanese have covered
only a few score OF versts."
ST. PETERSBURG. Aug. a.-Al