Evening journal., 1904-11-04
DESPERATE FIGHTING
AROUND PORT ARTHUR
JvPS CHARGE FORTS BULLETS AND SUCCEED IN
CAPTURING SOME OF THE OUTLYING ONES, But ARE Fl
NALLY REPULSED-LOST $4,000 MEN IN FIVE DAYS

Headquarters OF the .ThirdfJapanese /
ARMY. in Front Of Port Arthur, Nov. 2, |
by way OF Chefoo, Nov. 4--Tse Japa-
uese are now in position TO COM
mence the beginning of the end of the
operations to capture the eastern for
tined ridges.
Their siege worklhas been completed
By the placing Of 11-inch howitzers.
During the night OF October 29 all the
reserves advanced through network
Of trenches in front of the eastern
fortified ridgesprom south Of Keekwan
20 west OF Keekwan and 20 the west
Of Rihlung Mountain, called by the
Japanese Sho-Cho-San-
The bombardment began at dawn
October 30. and infantry attacks we're
planned at noon against Rihlung
Mountain. an entrenched hill between
the east of Banjuaan and the east OF
Keekwan, and on three Keekwan
forts
There is tremendous excitement
among the troops. VINO are convinced
Of success and mean to capture the
fortified ridges and compel the sur
render Of Port Arthur.
During the morning OF September 10
the siege guns opened a desultory fire
to find the ranges. and an entire divi-
sion of infantry advanced and as
saulted the Russian redoubts at the
foot OF RihIung Mountain. The troops
captured the trenches in front OF the
redoubts. The operations began in
earnest at daybreak on the Goth, with
a bombardment of the whole line of
Russian forts. Battery after battery OF
Japanese artillery was unmasked the
Russians apparently being unable to
locate them. for they replied spas
medically Under cover of the bonn
bardment the Japanese infantry made
a determined general advance against
the Russian trenches. They were filled
with troops and concealed machine
guns. which poured a deadly hail Of
bullets into the Japanese and forced
them to retire. AT about the same time
the Russians recaptured the trenches
In front of the redoubt In advance Of
the Rihlung fort. On the right flank
the Russian line was forced back.
One Japanese regiment worked up the
east slope and another regiment made
Its way up the west slope OF 174-yards
hill. under the concentrated fire of the
Russian artillery. and capmred the
fort at the point of the bayonet The
Japanese captured FIVE field guns and
four machine guns. Their casualties
we're 400. Three hundred and fifty
Russian dead were left in the position.
During the evening a division on the
Japanese left flank cut the entangle-
ments on the slope east Of KeelIwan
fort hill, and before dawn on the 2lst
a centre division of the Japanese had
gained the foot of East Panlung fort.
ralled by the Japanese East Banju-
san fort. and tried to cut the entan-
ments. but the troops were re-
pulsed.
Charges Met BY Rain Of Bullets.
At daylight all the Japanese batter
les OF the centre division concentrated
their FIRE on the Banjusan and Keek-
wan forts. but despite the artillery
support the Japanese were driven out
81 the East Keekwan fort by an at
tack OF a massed body OF Russians
from the Chinese wall. The assault
threatened to result in an utter failure
10 secure a foothold on the fortified
ridge. and General Nogi summoned the
generals of the left and centre divi-
sions TO consult with him concerning
the operations. During his absence.
without special orders, several com
panies OF a regiment OF the centre
division emerged from their trenches,
rad in tens and twenties charged up
the fortified hill, under cover of
splendid shrapnel practice from their
Geld batteries in the valley. The Rus
slams behind the wall and in the fort
poured out a hail of rife bullets. and