The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-09-26
AT PORT ARTHUR.
Japanewe Have Carried Several Import-
 and Positions.

Japanese Have Carried Several Import-
 and Positions.
 Chefoo, Sept. 25.-(10:80 a. m. )--As a result of the battle before Port Arthur. which began on September l9, the Jap anese succeeded in capturing several important positions and today the Rus sian tenure of the btg forts guarding sides of the town is seriously threat ened.
 Chinese information places the Jap anese losses under a.ooa, for the three days fiEhtinR and this comparatively small casualty list is due to the exces- sive care used by the Japanese in mak- ing their preparations for the advance. Russian sources. however. claim to have inofrmation that the Japanese losses were unusually severe, amount ing to fully three times the number mentioned above. Possibly the most important capture during the three days fighting was that of Fort Kuro- patkin, which has been constructed for the purpose of protecting the source of garrison's water supply. The control of this water supply Is now in the hands of the Japanese.
 As was announced in these dispatches on September 20. the battle began be- fore daybreak on September 19. At this hour the citizens and the garrison of Port Arthur after the enjoyment of the weeks of comparative security, awoke to the thunderous reports of ar tillery along the line extending from the western Itz mountains to Rihlung and Kikwan mountains. This was the preface to the assault which was des . tined to result in the capture of three new and important Russian positions, together with six small but annoying forts lying between Shushiyen and Rihlung Mountain.
 During tho day and night of the 18th and until noon of the goth, the bonn bardment continued without cessation and the many shells falling from quarters which previously had been si- lent. made 1t obvious that the Japanese had at last succeeded In mounting many heavy guns in new positions or in strengthening their old positions. The infantry fighting during this period was comparatively trivial
 At noon on September goth. the Ja- panese right and center. the former be- ing to the west and the latter to the east of the railroad. commenced to ad- vance. The troops made use of the trenches and natural cover that lay in their way The small forts to the south of Shushiyen resisted this advance but 
 numerically. Since the beginning of the bombardment the artillery from Fort kuropatkin had been growing steadily weaker, and 1t having become appauent that 1t had been practically silenced. the Japanese assaulted the fort. Fort Kuropatkin Is situated to the south of Palichuang and to the northeast of the parade ground on s low hill. It derives Its name from the
 
 ed it. pointed out the weakness of the position and ordered that 1t be strengthened as far as possible. because of the necessity of protecting the water supply.
 While situated in the chain of main forts. Fort Kuropatkin never has been as strong as the others and after se- were fighting 1t fell into the hands of the Japanese. This capture lessens further the security of the fort on Rihlung mountain, which Is now threatened from a new quarter as well as from Pallchuang.
 At five o'clock of the afternoon of the goth, the Japanese captured a sup elementary fort which from the lower ground threatens the fort of ItE noun tatns. This ended the heavy fighting for that day although the Japanese later were compelled to resist several attacks.
 During the night heavy lombard ment of the Russian position continued the Japanse fire being directed with particular vigor against another sup elementary fort 5000 yards to the west of the fort Itz mountain and regarded as highly important because of It's bearing on the Itz and Anshu mountain forts.
 The next day after having pounded this position unmercifully and until It's fire had slackened visibly the Japa- nese delivered their assault. They met with a stubborn resistance. They were exposed to the fire of machine guns and rifles and they made frantic ef- forts to reach the crest of the slope They leaped over trenches and em- bankments and tore down the entan- elements on their path until at length they entered the fort. The Russian troops there refused to desert their pQsition even in the face. of the Appe-