Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1904-11-09
STOESSEL GIVES UP FORTS
Abandons All Positions North and
East of Port Arthur.
SORTIE is A FAILURE.
Desperate Effort to Drive Back japanese
Results in Heavy Loss for
Russians.
IN A DEADLOCK AT MUKDEN.

London, Nov. 7.-Sensational reports
from Chefoo this morning tell of ru-
mors there that the Russians have aban-
doned all the forts north and east OF
Port Arthur.
This rumor cannot, Of course, be cor
frmed, but support is found for 1t III
the Toxic dispatch received here Satur-
day morning intimating that the Japa-
nese had captured Wantai mountain, two
and one-half miles north of Port Ar
thur.
Wantai mountain, it is pointed out,
dominates the forts on Else, Antse and
Peiyu heights. japanese guns on Wax
tai mountain would sweep every part OF
the town and harbor OF Port Arthur,
and make even the forts on Tigers tai
untenable.
Liantishan promontory, to which the
Russian garrison is sSid to have retreat
ed, is five miles southwest of Port Al
thur.
The japanese works are only two miles
and half away from the RUSSIAN bat
teries on LiatoShan, but elsewhere the
besiegers have wormed their way to
within a quarter of a mile of the outer
enceinte.
BBennet Burleigh, cabling from Chefoo
this morning, says the japanese are SO
near to Port Arthur city that their IN
fantry have repeatedly stolen into the ma
tive town under cover of darkness, but
have invariably been driven out by day
light, losing heavily.
Bennett Burleigh says the japanese
trenches are now half way UP the slopes
of Ehrlung and ShanShOS mountains.
They have four large forts facing these
Russian positions and are mounting naval
guns IN them.
Bombardment Continues.
Toxic, Nov. THE bombardment of
Port Arthur continues. Fires in the new
town rage daily, and it is reported that
practically every principal building has
been destroyed.
The Russian fleet still delays its long
expected sortie, and the suspicion gains
ground here that the battleshlps and
cruisers have been so badly wrecked by
Japanese shells that they cannot put to
sea.
1t is stated that the torpedo boat de-
stroyers are seeking safety from the Jap
anese shells by going to the mouth of the
harbor in the morning, where they re-
main until nightfall.
The Russians Saturday made a desper-
ate sortie and attempted to drive the Jap
anese from the trenches on the slope of
Rhilung mountain. The Sortie failed, the
Russians being driven back with losses
The number of Russians surrenderlng
increases daily, but these are believed to
be individual surrenders, and they do
not indicate a change in the temper of
the garrison.
The situation at Mul1den remains prac-
tically unchanged. The temperature in
that part of Manchuria is below zero.
The Asahi says it learns that large num-
berS of japanese have crossed the Shak-
he river, and that a battle is expected
shortly
Japs Still Intrenching.
Mukden, Nov THE japanese are
still working hard intrenching their front,
which begins to look like a continuous
fort. 1t is believed they are preparing
seriously to advance, making their front
strong, possibly in order that it may be
held by a comparatively small force
while the heavier force engages in flank
ing movements.
The japanese have learned by bitter
experience not TO expect much from a
frontal attack. They are obliged, how
ever, to maintain a strong front to pre-
vent Gen. Kuropatkin from breaking
through their line and carrying the war
tC their rear.
There is considerable evidence to indi-
cate that the japanese will make every
effort to force the russians out Of Muk-
den, not only for the moral effect on Eu-
rope but upon the Chinese as well. Muk-
den is extremely important to them as
winter quarters.
The Japanese continue to receive rein
forcements, and it is believed by Rus
sian military men that their advancing
depends only upon accommodating suf-
ficient men.
Looks Like Deadlock.
ST. Petersburg, Nov. T. Sweeping
changes in the commands Of the army in
the far east were announced today. These
changes may imply that there is no in
-1,.tc
assume the offensive during this years
campaign unless an exceedingly favor
able opportunity offers
Indeed, it begins to look like a dead
lock below Mulzden for the winter I'M
less Port Arthur falls or the japanese
abandon the idea of renewing the assault
upon the fortress there and settle down
to regular siege, either Of which would
release enough troops to give the pre-
ponderance necessary to try to force the
Russians out of Mukden.
In fact, the latest dispatches from the
front indicate that some such move IS
preparing, though the best opinion at the
war office holds to the view that there is
not likely to be another big battle this
year, one of the indications pointed out
being the departure of many military at
tacheS for the winter.
The list of new commanders in the far
east is announced in the army organ to-
day 1t includes the appointments Of
Gems. Linevitch and Kaulbars to the
First and Third armies respectively
Gems. Kutnevich and Selivanoff will com
mand the Twenty second and Thirty-sev-
enth divisions of the First corps, whose
chief. Gen. Meyendorff. is resigning Oh
account of i'll health. Gen. Slouchevsy,
commander of the Tenth corps, has also
resigned, and it is expected that he will
be succeeded by Gen. Izerpitsky.
Orloff Free from Disgrace.
Gen. Orloff, whom Gen. Kuropatkin
blamed for the Russian reverse at Lao
yang, declares in the course Of an inter
view published in The Novoe Vremya to-
day, that he obeyed Gen. Stakelberg's
orders in making the much criticized at
tack, in which his division was deci-
mated and he himself wounded. Gen.
Kuropatkin apparently is convinced that
Orlo1f was not to blame, and the order
detaching him has been revoked. and he
has been appointed on Cen Kuropatkin's
staff
Gear May Not Go to Poland.
According to present ARRANGEMENTS En-
peror Nicholas will so this week to Po-