The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1904-11-11
MAKING
RAPID STRIDES
CAPTURE DOMINATING FORT
NEAR RAILWAY TERMINUS At
PORT ARTHUR.
DEFENDERS ARE FORCED BACK
RETIRE TO llATl HILL WHERE
THEY ARE HOLDING OUT
DESPERATELY.

London, Nov. Especial dispatches
from Chefu and Tien-tsin report that
the defenders of Port Arthur have re-
tired to the Liati hill, where they are
holding out desperately, i~ntrenched
and with ten guns Of large caliber.
Many Russians, the correspondents
assert, are respondent and surrender
ing. The Japanese, it is added, are
advancing with irresistible energy.
More reliable reports do not confirm
these statements, but the Toxic report
of the capture of Wantai hill,
A Dominating Fort
within two miles of the railway ter
minus, shows that the Japanese are
making rapid strides.
Bennett Burleigh, the Daily Tele-
graphs correspondent, reports from
Chefu that there was no fighting on
the night of Nov. 5. The troops of
the mikado, he says, have frequently
stolen into the native town of Port
Arthur after dark, but invariably were
driven out at daylight, with heavy
losses.
The Japanese have four large forts
facing the Russian works on Rihlung
mountain and Shangshu mountain,
where they are mounting naval guns
ON stone foundations.
Mukden dispatches to Berlin state
that the Russian commanders are
preparing their men to hear of the fall
of Port Arthur,
Japs Prepared to Advance.
Mukden, Nov. 8. - Quiet continues
here. The Japanese are still working
hard ~intrenching their front, which be-
gins to look like a c%Otinuous fort. 1t
is believed they are preparing serious
ly to advance, making their front
strong, possibly in order that it may
be held by a comparatively small force
thanking movements. The Japanese
have learned by bitter experience not
to expect much from a frontal attack.
They are obliged, however, to
Maintain a Strong Front
to prevent Gen. Kuropatkin from
DIcdhllS IAlOuSu JHCll illC anu
ing the war to their rear.
Japs Lose Enormously.
st. Petersburg, Nov. 6.-Great relief
is felt here in view of reports indica-
ting that the Japanese assaults on
Port Arthur have been unsuccessful.
A direct report from the Russian con
! sui at Chefu says he has received in
formation from Chinese sources that
the Japanese finally relinquished the
attempt OF Nov. 8, the mikado's birth
day, after losing enormously. The
consul says the carnage vas awful.
The bombardment continued six days
without intermission. The Japanese
preached and took Fort No. 3, but, &C.
cording to the Chinese, were
Forced to Abandon It,
owing to the concentrated fire from
the supporting Notifications. No con
firmation has been received here Of
the report that Gen. Stoessel was
wounded.
Among high officers at the war Of
fee, where the true conditions inside
the fortress of Port Arthur are known,
Gen. Stoessel's ability to hold out
against the efforts the Japanese con
centrated upon it during the last ten
days is regarded as marvellous, but NJ
confidence in the ultimate result is en-
tertained. Officials have been quite
prepared to hear that the fortress had
fallen.
Port Arthur Is Surely Doomed.
The fall of Port Arthur seems inn
minert. The detailed reports of the
operations against the position indi-
cate that the prolonged attack is ear
ing it's end, and that the Japanese are
now entering upon the last stage Of
the memorable siege.
For the first time the Associated
| Press correspondent with Gen. Nogi's
army has been permitted to sen dis
patches direct from Port Arthur, and
these show that practically all the out
lying defenses are in the hands of the
Japanese, who are sanguine OF imme-
date victory.
The armies of Oyama and Kuropat-
kin still confront each other along the
Shakhe river, inactive except for Skin
mishes and artillery exchanges.
Nearing the End.
Chefu, Nov. 5. = Port Arthur is
doomed. The correspondent of the as
sociated Press here has received in