Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-12-20
Both Alleged to Have
Carried C0ntraband
of War.
ONE AT PORT ARTHUR
Said to Have Had Naval Officers
Ab0ard---Some Land
Fighting.

Toxic. Dec 2O.-The japanese cruis-
er Tsushima seized the British steam
er Nigretia bound for Vladivostok. yes
terday The Nigretia had large
quantity OF contraband OF war on
board.
II is reported the Negretia had on
board officers and men OF the Russian
torpedo boat destroyers who had es-
capped from Shanghai and were at
tempting TO regain the Russian lines
Another stopped mt Port Arthur.
The British steamer King Arthur
was also captured while attempting to
leave Port Arthur yesterday She had
On board Russian naval officers who
were attempting To join the Russian
second Pacific squadron. Both YES
sels were taken to- Sasebo for trial
Attack B~gan sunday.
Toxic. Dec. 2O.-Gen. Nogi began
another general attack ON Port Arthur
Sunday afternoon. his right wing ad
yancing from Two Hundred and Three
Metre hill and his left wing assaulting
the north fort OH East Keekwan noun
tain.
The right wing drove the Russians
from Yangsufang. 1000 yards south
east of Two Hundred and Three Me
tire hill, which the Japanese securely
occupied. They also captured another
fort In that part Of the fortifications |
in connection with Liaotshan.
BIow Up keekwas Fort.
The left wing at 2:15 O'Clock in the |
afternoon blew up the auxiliary de-
fenses OF the north fort on East Keek-
wan. Following the explosion Of the
mine area. the infantry charged in
force, but was repuised. The fighting
lasted until Z O'Clock in the evening.
when Lieut. Gen. Samejima led the re-
serves into the fort itself. Occupation
was completed at midnight
The capture of the Keekwan fort
was a complete surprise to the Rus
sian garrison. there having been no
preparatory bombardment. Japanese
sappers drove shafts 40 feet under the
parapet of the fort from the escarp-
ment and moat. In these two tons OF
dynamite were exploded simultaneous
~. completely wrecking the interior of
the fort while siege and shrapnel guns
sheIled Russian troops i'm the vicinity.
This occurred at O'Clock in the after
neon.
Jap. hurled Under D~bris-
A detachment OF Japanese infantry
then made a headlong but premature
rush. and GO of them became buried
under a mass of debris delaying the
attack. Despite this mischance. anoth-
er volunteer force dashed forward
and captured the parapet.
In th. meantime the Russians had
been strongly reinforced. and fierce
hand To hand struggle with bayonets
and grenades was continued till near
midnight. when the few Russian sur
yfyors retreated to- the city and the
fort was captured. Its construction
dispIayS tn. utmost scientific knowl-
edge.
All Praise sam~Jims-
Toxic. Dec. 2O.-All Japan Is today
ringing with praise Of Gen. SameJima
as the hero OF the assault on keek-
wan mountain fort. II - conceded his
heroIsm inspired his men and turned
Threatened disaster into splendid
victory. Samejima is an old Sanurai
veteran of the war of the restoration
and the Satsuma rebellion He Is gray
haired and bent but Is wiry and active
Car. ship. P... Cape Town
Cane. Town. Dec. 2O.-Some war
ships of the Russian second Pacihc
squadron passed Cape Town yes'er-
day afternoon eastward bound