The San Francisco call., 1904-08-15

CHEFU. Aug ia Chinese junk
just arrived reports that the Russians
and the japanese at Port Arthur on
August S agreed TO q short armistice TO
August u.
ST. PETERSBURG. Aug. 1.-THE
Boerse Gazette has received the follow
. ing from its Liaoyang correspondent:
Twelve japanese regiments have left
81 the direction Of Port Arthur.
1t is stated on trustworthy author
ity that the Mikado has ordered that
Port Arthur be taken al any cost even
II it necessitate the suspension OF oper-
atoms in Manchuria, and it is quite
possible the main japanese force viii
proceed 10 Port Arthur within a few
days"
a dispatch from Mukden says that
the japanese Port Arthur army has
been largely reinforced and has taken
W positions in two large bodies, one
on the heights between Lungwungtao
.and Pigeon Bay and the other on the
hills near Louisa Bay. Guns have been
placed on the heights east Of the Wolf
Hills.
ST. PETERSBURG, Aug. Is. SAG
"a. m.-Aside from the official reports of
the Ryeshitelni affair and the food Of
belated telegrams from LiaOyang and
Anshanshan. no actual news from the
front has been received. There is A
persistent rumOr that Port Arthur has
fallen. which cannot be confirmed.
There is no additional news regard
ing the Whereabout Of the vessels Of
the Port Arthur squadron, save that
contained in foreign kilograms.
There is a general belief. which is
borne out by the latest dispatches, that
the situation at Port Arthur is a des-
perate one. Apparently the japanese
are concentrating all their energies
toward the reduction Of the fortress
IN order TO release heavy reinforce
ments for the operations against Gen
eral KuropatSin. and il is believed that
until this has been accomplished the
advance on Liaoyang viii be suspended.
LIAOYANG. Friday, Aug. 12.-The
following further particulars Of the
japanese attack on Port Arthur on
July IS are given by a Russian corre-
spondent:
The japanese on July % sent a sum-
mons 10 the fortress TO surrender and
Served notice Of their intention to
$50 o'clock they concentrated the fire
of 120 guns on Green Hill. Many OF
their shells were filed with melinite,
which gave off nOXiOus gases. Their
land guns were supplemented by the
fire of the fleet and the Japanese in
1antrT moved forward 10 attack the
right wing Of the Green Hill position.
sThere was a perfect cloud Of shells
and the bombardment was the heaviest
81 far during the siege. During the day
the japanese artillery sent in from 25,-
GOO to 50 600 rounds
The attack failed utterly despite the
b0mbardment. The japanese were
never able TO reach our positions, to
which our men clung tenaciously.
Finally the attackers were forced back
with terrific loss.
The decision to abandon the Wolf
Hills in view Of this attack and that on
other portions Of the line was made on
July 80. and the troops fell back TO Port
Arthur.
The NoW Krai, in the interest of
both sides. raised the question Of an
srmistice TO bury the dead, who were
left on the field in enormous numbers"
LIAOYANG. Saturday. Aug. 13.-All
is quiet on the Eastern front. Ap-
parenty the japanese are not attempt
Jng any further advance on Liaoyang,
but are turning all their attention TO
Port Arthur, concerning which there is
considerable uneasiness.
Reports are coming in Of several
land attacks on Port Ar hur during
the last few days 1t is said that on
August 10 the japanese had before
Port Arthur 100000 men and $50 guns,
fifty Of which are hOwitzers.
It is reported that the japanese are
occupying YinkOw with a small force,
but that a column Of 5000 is moving
UP the valley Of the Lao River.