The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-10-25
RAIN
Of Iron Hail
Fell
Damaging Russian
Ships Badly.
JAPS CAPTURE
Important Positions
by Storming Heights
Port Arthur Is Full of Wound
ed Men.---Horses Being
Eaten for Food.
JAPS CAPTURE

Mukden, Oct 21.-The hostile
armies yesterday were concealed from
view of each other by a dense fog. In
which 1t was impossible to make out
objects at a distance of 100 PAGES.
Under such conditions only unimpor-
tant operations are possible, such ~
surprises and ambushes.
Che Foo, Oct 21.-The most impor-
tant recent events at Port Arthur in
clude the capture by the Japanese Of
further minor positions near Rihlung
mountain and the severe damage of q
Japanese torpedo boat destroyer by
striking a floating mine.
According to Chinese advfces which
reached here Thursday and which are
confirmed by Japanese letters from
Port Dalny. the Japanese made as
saults on the remaining outer works
of Rihlung mountain at dawn October
s and were repulsed. The following
day the Russians made an attack on
the Japanese trenches and they In
turn were repulsed. The japanese
Immediately followed with another as
sault, resulting in the capture Of an
iron railroad bridge and the heights
south of the bridge, which Is 500 yards
from the main fortress.
The Importance of these captures
lies in the fact that they curtail the
Russian fire in harrassing Japanese
who may attempt to advance on the
trenches located on the slope Of Rih-
lung mountain. The att1 ok seems to
have been a surprise for the Russians.
the Japanese claiming that they lost
only so men. Since the capture Of the
points mentioned the Japanese assert
that they have successfully resisted
numerous sorties in attempts to re-
capture them.
At 10 o'clock in the morning Of Oc-
tober IL seven Russian torpedo boat
destroyers emerged from the harbor
of Port Arthur and later they were
followed by two more destroyers.
This squadron proceeded to Shao-
pingtau and bombarded the Japanese
left flank. Four japanese torpedo
boat destroyers hurried to the scene
and the Russians retired to the har-
Dor, followed by the Japanese. The
pursuit ceased upon entering the
mined area. One Japanese destroyer
while returning hit a mine and was
severely damaged
Meanwhile the Japanese siege guns
continued to drop big shells in the
| harbor, the Japanese claiming that
they damaged the Russian gunboat
Giliak, which is alleged to have been
hit three times. 1t is also believed
| that the funnel of another Russian
warship was pierced, as a dense cloud
of smoke followed the landing Of q
shell on board of her.
The Japanese at Taku mountain
have dropped a ceaseless storm OF
shells on the Chinese town and many
rifle bullets also fell in the place. The
| Chinaman adds that the fighting was
very severe and that the Japanese loss
was considerable. He says he left
Port Arthur October IS because he
was frightened by the shells.
| II is asserted that the Russian force
| at Port Arthur now numbers 5000
men, excluding the militia, which IL
not engaged in the fighting. but pa
trolls the streets, doing provost duty
and guarding the arsenals.
Winter clothing is very scarce al
Port Arthur, shoes particularly. The
Russian soldiers are wearing Chinese
shoes and some of them are unable tc
obtain even these and wrap ragl
about their feet. The garrison II
greatly worn out by the many months
of exhausting labor and fighting. The
town is full of wounded. Flour 4.
plentiful and the slaughter Of horses
mules and donkeys continues
Chicago, Oct. 21.-A special to ths
Daily News from Che Foo says:
According to a camp follower. WHIT
has been for some time with the Jap
anese army now besieging Port AT
thur and who is at present In Chi
Foo, having arrived from Dalny. thu
number Of japanese killed before th'
forts has reached $4,000. He says thu
mikado's men recklessly attacked th'
strongest positions, making wilt
rushes in masses. The result wal
that the Russian machine guns mowet
them down. He also asserts tina
there is some talk among the ofhcer'
and men that the Japanese mean u
try to carry the inner forts and citade
mis- month