Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1904-12-15
DETAILS OF TERRIFIC
FIGHTS ON PORT ARTaUr

Headquarters of the japanese third
army before Port Arthur, Dec. TO-
The general assault on Port Arthur
began at nobn November. &c. In the
first series of the assault the attempt
was made to capture the forts at
Rihlung and Kekwaa mountains by
penetrating the principal line of fortl.
fications surrounding them, and to en-
yelope the city from the east. At
the same time strong force pushed
up the gorge Of Shish valley between
two fortified ridges and attacked the
supporting fort in the rear Of the
west Rihlung mountain, officially
called Sungshu mountain, with the in
tention of elveloping the city from
the west.
Most Furious Fighting.
The attempt failed after the most
furious fighting that has been wit
messed since Port Arthur was invest
ed. The fighting lasted from noon OF
November 90 until after dawn the
following day without cessation.
The assault began in the early
morning with tremendous lombard
ment of the forts on the western half
Of the eastern fortified ridge. For
hours the whole western half of the
fortified ridge was deluged with
heavy shells. At noon the principal
line OF Notifications was perfect hell
Of bursting shrapnel, and the specta.
Gle was more wonderful than any
thing previously seen.
Line After Line Moved Down.
The front lines of infantry attacked
simultaneously along the entire line.
Rifles, rapid fire guns and machine
guns blazed from the Russian posi-.
tons and mea went down by hun
dreds. The forts were belchlng
smoke and bursting shells, and the
rampant walls were black with as,
saulters. who on reaching the crests
met an awful fire from within the
forts which swept down line after line
Of Japanese.
AS fast as the assaulters were re.
pulsed more Japanese warmed up.
only to be moved down in turn.
On the eastern extremity OF the
line the Japanese attempted to cap.
ture the Russian trenches situated
midway of the slope of east Kekwan
mountain. An entire Japanese regi-
ment charged. men failing by hum.
dreds before the awful fire of the Rus.
slams But still more men came on
over the bodies of those who had fall.
on, and by sheer weight of numbers
they reached the trenches. which
they captured at point of bayonet.
Russian shrapnel fire made the cap
tUred portion of the trenches a per.
feet hell. while Jaapnese shrapnel fire
assisted the captors TO push east and
west along the trench line.
Capture and Recapture.
The assaulters succeeded in hold.
ing some so yards of trench in front
of the parallels. but their efforts to
reach the trench line east and west
was n failure, owing to impossible
burning pits which filled the whole
space OF the trench on the northern
side. as well as to the fact that their
progress was barred by the fire oil
the Russian machine guns.
At in the evening. furious Rus
sian counter attack drove the Japan
ese back to the parallels with grea
loss.
AT 9 the Japanese again captured
the same portion of the trench ant
made desperate burt unsuccessful ef
forts TO cross the pits.
The awful struggle continued unit
. in the morning, when the Russian
again recaptured the trench, whicl
was piled with dead bodies. Fo
over 80 yards between the treuche
there was veritable shambles. TIL
last attacks and counter attacks wer
made over the bodies of the slain.
Climb Against Awful Fire.
The first attempt to rush the fort {
the northern portion Of Kekwan mou
tain was made at in the afternoo
when assaulters swarmed up the RAJ
part wall from the moat and were m
with awful fire from with and fro
the Chinese wall in the rear of q
fort.
AS the result of the first assault q
rampant walls were black with bodie
In the second assault the Japane
gained foothold in the interior. r.
fighting then was hand to hand wi
bayonets and grenades.
Fight to the Last Breath.
An attempt TO rush the interior
the fort failed. but portions OF Z
fort were temporarily occupied. t
~ L.