The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-08-26
THE "CHAIR FORT >
Japs Captured 1t After a Ire
mendOus Struggle.
AN IMPORTANT VICTORY.
One of Port Arthur's Chief De-
fenses Is Lost by Russia.
ORDERS REPAIRS TO STOP.
The Governor of Shanghai Calls Halt
on the Efforts to Put Two Russian
Cruisers in Fighting Condition
Other News of the War.


London, Aug. 24.-The Evening
News publishes a dispatch from Che
Foo under Tuesdays date announcing
that the japanese captured "Chair
fort" of the Port Arthur defenses,
Monday, after a tremendous attack.
The Evening News dispatch is SIM
ply a repetition of the announcement
of the capture of Itshan, known as
"Chair fort"
This fort, according to the maps of
Port Arthur available. is almost in the
center of the chain of forts, OF which
II forms one, defending Port Arthur,
from which IL is only about a mile and
a half distant. II occupies a CON-
manding position and is possibly only
second in importance to the Golden
Hill forts.
The foreign Office has ordered the
British Office at Durham, Natal, TO
make a report of the circumstances
connected with the reported examina-
tion of the papers of the British
steamer Comedian by Russian cru
iser off the South African coast. IL
the report should confirm that the
Smolensk was the vessel which made
the examination. then a vigorous pro-
test will be made.
In any event, IL a Russian cruiser
actually held up the Comedian the in
cident will be made the subject of
representations, on the ground that
the steamer was so far away from the
scene of hostilities that there was not
the slightest reason for her stoppage.
The most important feature of the
incident, however, is the identity of
the cruiser. If the Smolensk actually
examined the Comedians papers she,
according to the British officials, vio-
lated the assurances given by the
Russian government that neither she
nor the st. Petersburg would be used
again as men-of-war.
Che Foo, Aug. 24.-According to ad-
vices brought here from Port Arthur
by junk the Japanese are hotly
pressing the Russian center along the
railway and the Russian right in the
vicinity of Golden Hill. These ad-
vices are brought by Chinese who de-
parted from Taipangtze, which is one
mile from the city, near Golden Hill,
between the city and the forts of the
/ Russian right wing. The Chinese de-
, clare that the japanese occupied Tai
pangtze and penetrated along the rail-
way to Gen. Stoessel's residence on
| August 81.
AS this report would indicate tha,
Port Arthur had all but fallen, the
Japanese attached TO the local con.
sulate received the information with
| great reserve.
| Scarcely a building in Port Arthur
remains undamaged. The town hall
which was used as a magazine, has
been destroyed.
Four large warships unable to fight
are at Port Arthur. Only one ship, q
vessel with two masts and two fun
nels. has guns on board.
Washington, Aug. 24.-ConsGi Gen
| eral Goodnow at Shanghai cabled ths
state department yesterday that tbs
| Chinese taotai of Shanghai, through
the British consul, has ordered tina
the repairs to the Russian cruise
Askold and the torpedo boat destroys
Grozovoi be stopped. The order wa
made through the British consul be
cause of the fact that the repair
were being made by the British docl
company at Shanghai.
Lao Yang, Aug. 24.-According u
the latest information from Port Ar
thur a furious Japanese attacl
throughout August 1s and August 2
was repulsed with terrific loss.
There has been no serious fighting
in this region, but there has been
small slSirmish at Anshanasan, wher
Japanese troops attacked a Russian
outpost and were driven OFF witk
loss of six killed.
Berlin, Aug. 24.-ln dispatch fror
Lao Yang, under date of August 2;
the correspondent of the Lokal An
zeiger says:
1.-The indications are that the init
ative is about to pass to the Russian:
The japanese plan of campaign. ,n
cluding the attack upon Iiao Yant
has apparently been deranged by tn
Unexpectedly stubborn resistance a
Port Arthur.
: Gen. Kuroki's army has been with
drawn to the south of the Taitse rive
: and only outposts are near the rive
Japanese troops are reported to
In the Lao river valley.
ct is rumored that the mikado ha
recalled Gen. Nogi and has ordere
e Field Marshal Marquis Yamagati
' chief of the general staff at Toxic,
assume command of the besiegers {
Port Arthur"
Toxic, Aug. 24.-Admiral Kataok
D reports that as the Russian battleshi
Sevastopol was emerging from Po
g Arthur yesterday she struck a min
after which she was seen to be liste
to starboard. She was towed bac