The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-08-05
LATEST STORY
OF PORT ARTHUR
laps Lost 1900 Men in an As
Sault Last Week.
RUSSIAN lLOSSES SMALL
NEARLY zoo, 900 MEN MADE TIE
ATTACK.

chefoo, Aug. 8. a. ms. "A. Sere-
brinik, who was a passenger on the
British steamer Hipsang. which was
SINK by a Russian torpedo boat in
Pigeon bay. NJuly Is, and who was
among the refugees who arrived here
yesterday on the German steamer Sui
berry. consented to be interviewed to
day. According to his version the
fighting before Port Arthur, from July
Is TO July %. inclusive, was directed
against the last of the outer defenses,
namely VOLTS, Green and Christ hills
situated north and east of the city
The Japanese captured VOLTS ana
Green hills but failed TO take Christ
hill, which was the only outpost held
by the Russians when 1Ir. Serebrlnik
left Port Arthur. A Port Arthur news
paper estimated the Russian loss at
200 killed and 500 wounded, the Japan
ese loss at = 600 killed and wounded.
Heavy Attacking Force
1t was also estimated that the
Japanese fired 125,000 rounds Of
shrapnel The ground was covered
with broken shells. The japanese at
backing force was estimated at 10000
men, on the night Of July Is a truce
was declared for the purpose Of bury
ing the dead which streWed the hills
The Russian feet emerged from the
harbOr July % and engaged Admiral
Togo. who withdrew TO safety beyond
his mines. A Japanese gunboat struck
q mine and was damaged but not SUI
fcienUy To sink her. She was tOwed
away. The Russian Warships then
retired. one squadron going 10 the
inner BASIN the other behind the
Tigers Tail None of them was in
Jured-
The main force of the Russian army
defending Port Arthur is now inside
the numerous permanent forts, which
constitute the fortress. They have
1000 guns sweeping the plain over
Reckless of Life.
which the japanese must cross An
assault is expected August 10.
There was a general confidence pre-
Vailing that the fortress is invulner-
aDle although the courage of the
Japanese is described as reckless to All
extreme. The japanese are now mount
ing heavy guns on the positions cap
Iured July .. Tt is alleged that the
Russian battleship Retyizan threw
IWeiVe-inch shell which hit a Japan
csc gun which was being mounted
on VOLTS hill, killing many.
General FCck, who commanded the
Russians at WOlfs Hill is reported
in "a Port Arthur newspaper to have
related an incident illustrating the
spiut Of the Russian troops. A severe
y wounded soldier was being assisted
10 the rear. He was struggling and
eXpostuiaung. General Fock said.
What's the matter brother
They left my gun and sword for
the japanese. How can 1 fight when
I get we'll %
Stoessel a Martinez.
Lieutenant General StoesseI. who is
iH chief command at Port Arthur is
q strict disclplinariau. He is feared
1.-THE officers and loved by the sol
dlers. de arises at daybreak every
day and makes the rounds Of the po-
sitions.
Alr. SerebIinik says he saw General
StOessel when ieaVing Port Arthur and
that he had not been wounded as re-
ported. but that his dog had lost
leg Illustrating General StOessel's
discipline the story is told that on dis
covering some officers at a cham
psgne dinner he personally ordered
tie guests under arrest and conf1scat-
ed the Viands.
Alr- Serebriuik. who is Russian
held contracts TO supply artillery, but
ne was suspected OF being spy and
was confined separately. His infOrma-
lleli- regarding conditions at Port Ar
thur was derived chiefly from a news
paper which was allowed him. The
accl unsS Of the Chinese refugees .dif-
fer from that OF Mr.. Serebrinik. They
say that the Japanese were only two
miles from the fortress when they
left Mai. including newspapers, was
stin arriving at Port Arthur.
Other Refugees.
Besides Mr.. Serebrinik. the Hip
sang had a crew of Epglishmen as
follows
Captain Bradley; Engineers Collier,
Watson and Bishop. and Mates Smith
and Cartwright. They are now at
CEefOo. They were marched into
Port Arthur, some in paismas and
some i'm even less They did not re-
ceiVc any clothing until the junk or
which they left Port Arthur was
stopped by the japanese. who gave
them every attention. The reason as
signed by the Russians for sinking
the HipsaHg. as given by the Hip
sans's officers. was that tEcy thought
she was japanese vessel. They
claimed that the japanese had been
uyinS the British flag.