The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-11-08

HEADQUARTERS of the Third Japanese
Army. in front of Port Arthur. No
vember 2, by way of Che Foo, Novem-
Der 3.-(Censored) When the Japan
csc drove the Russians from their
strong position on the last range OF
hills in front of the fortress by a sur
prise attack July SO, the Russians
retired to the forts, but they also
strongly held previously prepared ad-
vance lines to prevent the japanese
from closing in on the fortified ridges.
Taku and Shakhu mountains were
first taken by the Japanese, but an
attempted attack August II to cap
? ture another Russian. position failed.
It was announced at the Japanese
~be5d1Iarters on the 18th that the
siege guns would be in position and
ready to begin 4 bOmbardment on the
goth. The Associated Press CORE
spondent was welcomed by General
Nogi, who said he was Just in time
To see the conclusion of a successful
campaign and the capture Of Port
Arthur.
The wet weather had fermented
the rice and produced much ber1 berl
among the Japanese troops. The
number of cases from June to Sep
tember was nearly sixteen thousand.
During the colder weather Cf OCTOBER
there we're practically no cases OF
beri ~beri.
During the morning OF the 18TH
the siege guns opened a desultorS
fire to find the range and an entlre
division of infantry n as
saulted the Russians at the 1901 Oh
Rihlung mountain. The troops cap
tured the trenches in front of the re-
doubts. The operations began In earn
est at daybreak on the goth with Z
commandment, the Japanese nfantry
made a determined general advance
AGAINST the Russian first frenches-
4 desperate attempt was made by
the during the afternoon TO
CAPTURE the strongest half moon 1ort-
The Infantry captured, cut the en-
tanglements, crossed the moat VIII
scaling ladders. stormed the fort and
drove the Russians back. But the
reaI strength of their position lay IN
the bomb proof trenches. They were
filed with troops and concealed ma
chine guns, which poured a deadly
hail Of bullets into the japanese ana
forced them to retire.
At about the same time the Rus
slams recaptured the trenches IN front
OF the redoubt in advance OF the KIM
lung fort. On the right flank the
Russian line was forced back. one
Japanese regiment worked UP the
east slope and another regiment a.
its way UP the west slope of 10 yards
hill. under the concentrated IRE OF
the Russian artillery and captured the
fort at the point of bayonet at noon.
Elsewhere the japanese were repui-
sed.
The assault threatened to result in
an utter failure to secure a footnolo
on the fortified ridge and General
Eogi summoned the generals OF the
LETT and center divisions to consult
with him concerning the operations
During the absence on August Il
without special orders, several COM
panies of q regiment Of the center
division emerged from their trenches
at the foot of the East Ban1uSan tort
and IN tens and twenties charged ur
the slope to the broken wal OF TINS
trench around the crest OF the fortl'
fed hill. under cover Of n splendic
S~hrapnel practice from their field Dat
teries in the valley. The Russian:
behind the wall and in the fort poured
out a hail of rifle bullets n the ma
chine and quick firing guns belehee
forth on the intrepid Japanese
Twice the latter were forced back II
the slope was covered with bodies
hut a third attempt was made ane
Bscore of japanese reached the brok
en- wall. The terrible fire OF tn
Russians, however, started their re