Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-11-03
EITHER RUSSIA OR JAPAN WILL
REJOICE AT OUTCOME OF AS
sAULT.
A DOUBLE HOLIDAY

AShS'o' N0Si 10 E%PSSeS0 W 0TtiS
About the Fall of the Famous For
tress on Anniversary Of Mikado's
Birth and Emperor's Ascension to
Throne.
ST. Petersburg, Nov. 2.-The official
reports from Toxic describing the des-
perate assaults on Port Arthur begin
ming October 26, have created visi-
BILE depression at the war Office here.
Nog Confident of Success.
The military authorities are con-
yinced that after long preparations,
General Nogi is not only making a SUI
preme effort to carry the fortress but
that he feels so confident of success
that the result Of the preliminary ope-
rations has been made public.
Tomorrow to See Crisis.
They believe the assault was timed
for the announcement of the fall of
the fortress to be made upon the birth
day of the Mikado. tomorrow, which by
a strange coincidence is the annivers-
ary of the accession of Emperor Mich
olas and a great Russian holiday. To
morrow is expected to be marked by
fate for a day of immense rejoicing
either for Japan or Russia, according
as the present assault succeeds or
fails.
Stoessel's Defense Only Hope.
The war office is trying to buoy up
RusSia'S hopes with reference to the
long and successful defense Lieutenant
General Stoessel has thus far con.
Quoted
Japanese RepuIse Unconfirmed.
The Invalid Russ, the army organ,
today announces that the storming
operations ended with tEse napulse Of
the Japanese on Monday, but the paper
fails to give its authority for this i'm
warranting it has been received by the
war Office
Continuous Fighting.
Toxic, Nov. 2.-The official re-
ports of the Port Arthur operations
since August l form a recital of al
most continuous fighting of a desper-
ate nature. The Russians first strug-
gled desperately to block every Japan
ese advance and then met the concen-
trated artillery fire Of the Japanese
with its kind.
Both Sides Active.
Latterly, since the japanese began
running parallels and traverses and
extending their lines, the Russians
have been constantly making sorties,
They rushed into the Japanese
trenches and engaged in ferocious
struggles with the engineers and pion-
GERS.
Japs Close In on Fortress.
With desperate courage the Japan
ese continued to close in upon the
fortress, progressing stage by stage.
The Japanese infantry never failed to
respond when asked TO make an as
sault on almost impossible positions
and when the troops gained a foothold
they generally held it with unfinching
determination
Settlement is Assured.
St. Petersburg, Nov. 2. - The AS
sociated Press can authoritatively an
nounce that the basis for the British
Russian agreement to submit the
North Sea incident to commission
insures an amicable settlement with
out a sequel. The understanding is
complete.
Made no Rash Demands.
Now that the smoke has cleared
away it is possible to state that Great
Britain disclaimed any intention of
trying to detain the Russian squadron,
which could only be interpreted as a
hostile act. 1t was never intimated to
Russia that Rojestvensky's recall
would be demanded and Great Britain
never asked Russia to pledge herself
TO the punishment of any one. So far
as future complications are concerned
the incident is regarded as closed
Dewey May Be Commissioners.
It is now regarded as almost certain
that the commission will sit in Paris
and will be composed of five naval Of
fcers, one Russian, one British, each
power to chose another member and
the four to select the fifth. There is
strong intimation that Great Britain
will invite Admiral Dewey to be one
Of the commissioners.
Japanese May Resume Offensive,
st. Petersburg. Nov. 2. - General
Sakharoff telegraphs that last night
all was quiet, the Japanese, however,
showing marked signs of recommenc-
ing the offensive against the Russian
left wing They have also reoccupied
the village of Sandiapu, near the Hun
river.
sharpshooters at Work.
Kuroki's Headquarters, Nov. 2. -
Whenever a Russian or a japanese
exposes his head he draws the fire of
an opponent. The constant exchange
Of shots between the outposts CON
tinues daily. The Russian casualties
are large.
Russians Are Repuised.
oku's Headquarters, Nov. 2.-There