The National tribune., 1904-09-29

Kuropatkin. Both these officers were dis
guised. and had they been captured by
the Japanese they certainly would have
been executed. Mrs. Kravtchenko says:
"There are no contagiou diseases at Port
arthur. but many deaths are resulting
from the bite of a large. redheaded hy,
which feeds on the decomposing corpses
scattered over the battlefelds. A doctor
who was bitten on the thumb by one OF
these flies instantly severed that member.
He then had his arm amputated, but not
before the poison had reached his heart.
The result Of the bite was fatal.
The wounded men recover quickly
from the wounds inflicted by Maxim pro-
1ectiles and by the bullet of the Osaka
rifle, but the wounds resulting from ex-
piosive bullets are awful and recovery
Is impossible.
''The old town of Port Arthur is almost
entirely wrecked. The streets are filled
with holes made by exploding shells. The
loss Of life in Port Arthur from the bonn
bariments has been remarkably small.
Once | counted 81 japanese shells fired
at a Russian battery, not one of which
reached its mark.
''The Russian garrison is cheerful. 1t
would be impossible to imagine drawer
or finer set of men. They return from
their days duty in the trenches with songs
on their lips. Although many places in
the ranks are vacant. all the men have
unlimited confidence in their power to
hold the fortress against the enemy"
ASSAULT RESUMED.
As result of the battle before Port
Arthur. which began on Sept. 10, the jap
anese succeeded in capturing several i'm
portant positions, and now the Russian
tenure Of the big forts guarding the north,
northeast, and northwest sides of the town
Is seriously threatened Chinese infOrma-
ton places the japanese losses under 5000
for the three days fighting, and this COM
paratively small casualty list is due to
the excessive care used by the japanese in
making their preparations for the advance
Russian sources, however, claim TO have
: information that the japanese losses were
unusually severe amounting TO fully three
times the number mentioned above
Possibly the most important capture dur
ing the three days fighting was that of
Fort Kuropatkin, which. while of minor
value with regard 10 preventing the en-
trance into the town of the japanese, has
been constructed for the purpose of pro-
tecting the source of the garrison's water
supply. The control of this water sup
ply is now in the hands of the Japanese.
Fort kuropatkin is situated to the south
of Falichuang and TO the northeast of the
parade ground. on low hill. II derives
its name from the time when Gen. Kuro-
patkin inspected il, pointed out the weak
ness of the position. and ordered that it
be strengthened as far as possible, because
of the necessity Of protecting the water
supply. While situated in the chain of
main forts, Fort Knropatkin never has
been strong as the others. and after
severe fighting it fell into the hands OF
the japanese. This capture lessons fur
ther the security of the fort on Rihlung
Mountain. which is now threatened from
new quarter as well az from Palichuang
Military experts are OF the opinion that
If the japanese capture either Rihlung OF
Kikwan forts or the Itz and Anshn forts
the doom of Port Arthur is sealed
FRIDAYS BATTLE.
A telegram from ST. Petersburg, Sept
"a, says:
THE japanese are now engaged in Q
general assault, which is more furious thar
its predecessors, attacking the town or
three sides simultaneously and employing
their whole force, being determined 10 fin
ish the business. Russian mines blew uI
whole battalions. Gen. FOck especially dis
tinguished himself. directing the fire from
the wall, which the japanese reached af
ter indescribable massacre.
1.-THE whole of Admiral Togo's and Vice
Admiral Kamimuras squadrons are aid
ing the struggle, which, il is feared here
will be final. The besieged forces are fight
ing as in furnace. A perfect storm o
shell is falling on the town port an.
fortress from the whole hill and roads tea d
Gen. Stoessel is going from fort TO fort
encouraging the defenders in their desper
ate efforts.
I'm st. Petersburg the facts concerning
the tragic event, which. perhaps, will ter
inmate by glorious fall of Port Arthur
are wholly unknown. At court hope ha
not yet been entirely abandoned"