Omaha daily bee., 1904-08-27
GRADUALLY CLOSE IN ON PORT ARTHUR
Artillery Pouring a Murderous Fire Upon
the Boleaguered Garrison.
KURON ATTACKS KOURoPATNlWs ARMY
Intends to Crush Him at Same Time
Port Arthur Falls,
ADVANCING FROM THREE DIRECTIONS
Nothing Definite from Engagement
Yet Received, hut Indications
it Is Large
Scale.

Scale.
Copyright by New York Herald Co, lOol)
ST. PETERSBURG. Aug. 26-(New York
Herald CablCgram-S Special Telegram to The
BeeD-Valantly and with the utmost self
devotion, the ever-diminishiug and wcaken-
ing force under General stoessel is hght-
ing every foot Of ground around Port Ar-
thur, while the Japanese with equal cour-
age and heroism and immensely greater
losses, are closing in, gaining ground and
bringing up an unexpectedly large number
Of even more powerful guns as they near
the main fortress, which from all the ac-
counts received here, they intend to at
tempt to crush under such concentrated
fire as never was known before
Great significance is attached to the
movements of General Kurokis forces,
whose advance from three directions in
| dlcates surely that the much-talked of
decisive battle is being forced upon Gem
eral Kouropatkin.
As 1 have previously telegraphed, Mar
! shal Oyamas plan of campaign is to syn
chronize the downfall of Port Arthur and
a decisive battle with General Kouropatkin.
People are very much excited, as is nat
ural under the circumstances. The widest
rumors are current. In one quarter one
hears that General Kouropatkin is a pris-
oner, in another that General ,Kouropatkin
is lost being surrounded, together with
his entire army.
Jnps Begin General Assault.
KANTZERTUN (Seven Miles Southwest
| Of lao Yang, Aug 26.-Contrary to the ex-
pectations OF the Russians, the japanese
are beginning to advance along the whole
| line of the Russian eastern front. On the
morning Of August "A there was rifle
/ skirmish and the next day the japanese ar
tillery opened fire.
On both days the firing ceased at dusk
and the small energy displayed by the Jap
anese might have been taken to Indicate
that it was merely demonstration or
reccoonnaisance in force. on the morning
of August 2G, however, the rifle and artil-
lery fire was renewed with an energy that
left no doubt that a severe battle was in
tended
The Japanese pushed their attack against
the Russian right flank and center, concen-
| trating their fire upon the First battery of
! the Trid brigade Three officers and sew
! eral men were wounded early in the day,
but the battery held its position and re-
! piled to the Japanese fire with such marked
effect that General Ivanonf, who commands
the late General Count Kcllers corps, sent
message to its commander.
The japanese several times attempted to
cross the Tanko Liank) river, but only
few succeeded and these were forced to
hide in the fields Of Chinese corn,
At 2 o'clock In the afternoon the artil-
! Iery fire became as hot as it was at Va
fangow, but 1t huetuated considerably and
occasionally the Russian fire almost
silenced that of the japanese Rain fell
in torrents at o'clock. but it did not stop
the fighting and late in the evening several
Russian companies moved forward to the
attack
| It Is not yet possible to state definitely
the result of the battle, but it is asserted
that the Russians were successful There
| is prospect OF more lighting tomorrow.
Battle at Lao Yang.
| LAO YANG, Aug H.-A big battle COM
menced today twenty miles east Of Liao
Yang The Russian front from the Taitse
river south was engaged.
LAO YANG. Aug. 25.-The fighting
which began yesterday continues today at
4
of Lao Yang The Japanese are attacking.
ST, PETERSBURG, Aug pa dispatch
| from I.iao Yang under date Of August %.
says the Japanese eastern forces began
| forward movement August "a, eight COM
panies going, on the main Lao Yang road,
| in the direction OF Landansian.
The Russian outposts held their position,
the fight continuing yesterday. The result
| is not stated, but It is understood the
Second and Twelfth Japanese guards d.
visions are participating.
Fighting Began Wednesday.
! 2:5O D. mater four weeks interval the
! Japanese have resumed their advance
against General Kouropatkin's positions.
/ The opposing armies are in contact east
and south of Liao Yang and fighting has
been IN progress since Wednesday. The adj
vices at hand are too meager to enable
| the officials 20 form a correct opinion as TO
whether It will result in a general engage
ment, but the extent and character OF the
Japanese movement leads to that conclu-
sion Since the rains ceased "A week ago
there have been continued limitations that
| General Kouropatkin was about 10 assume
the offensive but instead Of that II was the
japanese who attacked the Russian COM
manders eastern and southern positions. A
japanese column $1,000 strong was reported
on Tuesday 10 be marching up the right
bank Of the Lianho river which would seem
TO indicate that three japanese armies are
cooperating in enveloping three sides OF
! Lao yang
From the more recent accounts received
! II appears that General Kuroh selected
TantNnpudzy as the point for his attempt
to drive the wedge into kouropatkins outer
defenses at Anping and Liandiansian. which
| r.sF.trtEtra1ar
west and southwest Of Tantziapudzy. tho
latter being on the Lianhe river, eight miles
above tie confluence OF the Tiatse river
whence a mountain ridge runs westward
The fact that the Japanese are preparing
/ pontoons at the Tiatsc river was noted In
these dispatches several days ago.
Bridge n First Obstacle.
The capture OF this bridge will b the
hrst obstacle OF the japanese ana doubtless