New-York tribune., 1904-09-04
B0MBARDMENT GOES ON.
Japanese at Port arthur alleged to
ASk Help IN Bmying Dead.

Che-Foo, Sept. 3-A copy of the Port Arthur
"Novikrai' of August 81 has reached here The
paper speaks of the Russian batteship Ret
yIzan having sheIled Japanese troops who ap-
peared near the village of Wu-Dian-Fan. This
indicates that some of the Russian warships at
Port Arthur not so seriously damaged as
the reports from Chinese sources have repre-
sented
The ''NovilzraI" confirms the official Japanese
report that the Japanese cruisers kasuga ana
Nisshin bombarded two small forts near Golden
Hill some time ago, but it does not say that
these forts were silenced, as the japanese re-
ported. The two forts are in the vicinity of WI
Dian-Fan, which is commanded by Fort No. ,.
The Japanese mounted eight guns in front Of
Wu-Dian-Fan on August %. and have estab-
lished one large and one small fort northeast of
the village. 1t a detachment Of Japanese
cavalry and infantry that appeared in the open
in the vicinity Of Wu-Dian-Fan which the Ret
vizan aided in causing TO retire. a gun on one
of the new japanese forts was struck by Rus
sian shell and ruined.
The account published IN the "Novkrar' does
not go into details but the inference is obvious
that the japanese have been assaultng the
smaller forts dominated by Golden Hill. The
paper makes reference to trench along the
hills, and remarks that only tho heads OF the
japanese troops can be seen above it.
On the night Of August %, according 10 the
paper piece Of white paper the end of
pole was hoisted above the Japanese trenches.
The Russians ceased fire and sent detail for
ward TO communicate with the enemy. This
japanese. in imperfect Russian. requested
sistance in removing their dead. The "Novi-
kraf' considers this request strange. the Jap
anese do not allow the Russians TO remove their
dead.
~ On fha T100r inc n a
Russian searchlight revealed the Japanese
troops opposite Fort No. l beginning operations.
and thereupon the entire Russian line opened
on the enemy with rife fire, occasionally using
cannon. In reply the Japanese fired irregularly
at Fort No. g. Daylight developed the startling
fact that the Japanese had advanced trench
to the north Of Fort No. 2. This trench was
manned heavily with artillery, which interfered
seriously with the Russian fire. The japanese
then opened fire with six guns on the hill
known as the Eagles Nest, in the mean while
continuing to use sand bags for the further
Strengthening Of their newly intrenched posi-
tions The Russians concentrated their fire
the sand bags. the Japanese replying from
other position three-quarters OF a mile to the
northeast.
The 'NovilraP" declares in conclusion that
at 10 a N. on August 26 the Japanese were
unable longer to endure the bombardment. and
abandoned the newly made trench to the north
Of Fort No. 2 and Wu-Dian-Fan. fleeing to the
low ground the railroad.
According to a Chinese. who speaks both Rus
sian and English. and has just arrived from
Port Arthur, the night Of August % the Jap
anese surprised the Russians at Pali-Chwang
and inflicted severe losses. The Russians re-
tired and the Japanese occupied their position.
The next morning at o'clock the Japanese.
moving from their new vantage ground in heavy
force desperately assaulted Pali-Chwang and
adjoining fort repeatedly until 2 o'clock in
the afternoon when they were compelled to re-
tire, losing over 1000 men.
Finding those forts impregnable. the next
morning at o'clock the Japanese forces hurled
themselves against another fort Pali-
Chwang. BY hand to hand fighting they sue
ceeded in driving out the Russians and occupy
ing their positions at Z o'clock in the morning.
Artillery brought UP and desperate efforts
were made to make the position secure but
after enduring for seven hours artillery fire from
the other forts the Japanese were compelled to
retire. They succeeded, however, in rendering
the position useless to the Russians. and it is
now unoccupied.
It is believed that the weakening of the Rus
sian line Will attract further efforts to break
through in this quarter The bombardrnent OF
the town continues The Chinese adds that the
Russian warships occasionally reply to the jap
anese bonbardment