The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-10-21
Brown Men Slowly
Closing Upon
StOessel.
Victory Bought at
Heavy Cost in
Lives.


present in Chefu, having arrived from
Dalny, the number OF Japanese killed
before the forts has reached $4,000. He
says the Mikado's men recklessly at
tackled the strongest positions, making
bold rushes in masses the soldiers be-
ing stripped Of their accouterments and
clothing. The result was that the Rus
sian machine guns moved them down
He also asserts that there is some talk
among the officers and men that leads
70 the belief that the japanese mean
20 try to carry the inner forts and
citadel this month
The most important recent events at
Port Arthur include the capture by the
japanese Of further minor positions
near Rihlung Mountain. and the severe
damage Of a japanese torpedo-bo de-
etroyer by striking a floating mine.
JAPANESE LINES ADVANCE.
According to Chinese advices which
reached here to-day, and which are
confirmed in essential points by Jap
anese letters from Port Dalny, the Jap
anese made assaults on the remaining
outer works Of Rihlung Mountain at
dawn on October S and were repulsed.
The following day the Russians made
an attack on the japanese trenches,
and they. in turn, were repulsed. The
japanese Immediately followed with
another assault. resulting in the cap
ture Of an iron railroad bridge and the
heights south of the bridge, which is
only 500 yards from the main fortress.
The importance Of these captures lies
In the fact that they curtail the Rus
sian fire in harassing japanese who
may attempt 10 advance on the
trenches located on the slope Of Rih-
lung Montain. This attack seems to
have been a surprise for the Russians,
the japanese claiming that they lost
only fifty men. Since the capture Of
the points mentioned, the japanese as
sert, they successfully resisted numer-
Gus sOrties TO recaDture them.
AT 10 O'Clock in the morning of Octo-
her = seven Russian torpedo boat de-
sIrOyers emerged from the harbor Of
Port Arthur, and later they were fol-
lowed by two more destrOyers. This
squadron proceeded to Shaopintau and
bombsrded the japanese left flank.
-Four japanese torpedo-bOat destrOyers
hurried TO the scene and the Russians
retired 10 the harbOr followed by the
japanese. The pursuit ceased upon
entering the mined area One japanese
destroyer, while returning, hit a me-
chanical mine, and was severely dam
aged, but she managed to reach Port
Dalny, and is now being repaired.
RUSSIAN WARSHIPS HIT.
Meanwhile the japanese siege guns
continued 10 drop big shells into the
harbOr, the japanese claiming that
they damaged the Russian gunboat
Giliak. which is alleged TO have been
hit three times and to have changed
her anchorage from the east basin to
the shelter Of Tiger Hill II is also
believed that the funnel Of another
Russian warship was pierced, as a
dense cloud OF smoke followed the
landing Of a shell on board her.
Chinese who arrived here to-day
declares that during the japanese as
sault on Rihlung Mountain the Rus
sian battleships fired almost incessant-
y 10 the north.
The japanese at Taku Mountain
have dropped a ceaseless storm of
shells on the Chinese town, and many
rife bullets also fell in the place. The
Chinese adds that the fighting was
very severe and that the japanese
loss was considerable. He says he left
Port Arthur on October IS because he
was frightened by the shells.
II is asserted that the Russian force
al Port Arthur now numbers $4,000.
excluding the militia, which is not en-
gagged in the fighting, bat patrols the
streets. doing provost duty and guard
ing The arscnals.
Winter clothing is very scarce at
Port Arthur. shoes particularly. The
Russian soldiers are wearing Chinese
shoes. Some Of them are unable to
obtain even these and wrap rags about
their feet The garrison is greatly
worn out by the many months of anx-
ious labor and fighting. The town is
full Of wounded Flour is plentiful,
and the slaughter Of horses, mules and
6onkeys continues. Chinese who have
reached Chefu from Port Dalny say
that japanese achievements continue
20 arrive daily. The japanese confirm
this.
CARING FOR THE WOUNDED.
A junk which reached this port to-
day from Port Dalny was allowed to
leave only on condition that she take
no coolies. whom the Japanese are
using in large numbers in construct
ing warehouses and removing the dead
and wounded. The wounded are TAX
en- 70 the railroad and thence are
transported to Dalny, from which port
they are shipped to Japan. The Jap
anese have practically completed i'm
mense warehouses between Port Dalny
and Port Arthur and have therein sup
plies sufficient TO last them until
spring. Similar preparations have been
made at Newchwang and the japanese
expect the release of sixty transports
next month.
A junk which left Liaoti Promontory
yesterday was driven by gale and ar
rived here tonight, bringing one hun
ored coolies who left Port Arthur be-
cause they feared injury from the jap
anese shells. These coolies say that
on October 13 there was fierce fighting
for several hours on the slopes Of Rib
lung Mountain between comparatively
small forces. during which the Japan
csc lost 300 killed or wounded. The
coolies were unable to give details of
the fighting, but apparently ii was the
result of one of the numerous sorties
made by the Russians against the jap
snese. who were attempting to ad-
vance from their trenches.
Baltic Fleets Destination.