Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-01
Report of Capture of Meter
Hill Greeted With Cheers.
HAVENEVER DESPAIRED
REVIVED HOPE OF EARLY 0CCU
PATTON OF PORT ARTHUR.
Thousands of Recruits Marched te
Headquarters at Tokyo for Enlist
ment-Russian Opinion.

Official announcement comes from Tokyo
today that the Japanese have occupied the
summit of 203-meter hill. This important
position has been the object of severe and
continuous fighting. and cable reports from
time to time have indicated that many men
have been sacrificed in the effort to capture
II. Two hundred and three-meter hill is
dominating height in the range which lies
to the westward of the town of Port
Arthur, and according to reports 1t COM
mands artillery range of the harbor and
portion of the main town. Its approximate
distance from the citadel or main defense is
three TO four miles.
Reports from both Tokyo and st. Peters
burg indicate that isolated engagements OF
a more or less severe nature are occurring
along the front of the Manchurian armies,
but 1t is not apparent that the main forces
are engaged.
TOKYO December 1, noon.-Gen. NOgis
telegram announcing the storming and cap
ture of "2O3-meter hill' was received with
cheers by the Japanese people. 1t revives
the hope of an early capture OF Port Ar
thur proper. The people have never de-
SPARED of the success of the besiegers, but
the fortitude of the defenders and the pro-
longation of the siege, which exceeds by
months the most liberal preliminary esti-
mate of the time required to accomplish
the reduction of this stronghold, have been
a source of deep regret, combined with the
loss of life and disappointments over the
fact that The siege has occupied such
large force of men, decreasing Field Mar
shall Oyama's strength at time when he
needed every available man.
Today was the date set under the con-
when rppr11itg cOllli iOin the
army Cheered by the news from General
Nogi, thousands of recruits throughout the
empire marched to barracks and donned
uniforms for the first time. Following an
honored custom, relatives of recruits, carry
ing flags and banners, escorted the new SOL
diers to their barracks. In Tokyo today
there have been scores of little professions
escorting detachments of popular con-
scripts. The number of men who have
joined the colors today under the conscrip-
ton act has not been made public.
Russians Slow to Accept Report.
ST. PETERSBURG, December /. - The
war office here is not yet prepared to ac-
cept the report that the japanese before Port
Arthur have taken 203-meter hill, but If 1t
is officially confirmed the war Office admits
that II will be a desperate blow for the GAL
liant defenders of the fortress. The position
commands the harbor, and If the Japanese
can mount siege guns on its summit they
can force out the Russian squadron or de-
stroy IL at it's anchorage.
Those familiar with the supporting plans
of the forts think 1t is by no means certain
that even though the Russians are forced to
retire from 203-meter hill the Japanese can
place in position heavy guns against the
fire which the other forts can bring to bear
on it.
still the war office officials reluctantly
agree that such a breach In the chain rem
ders the position extremely critical, and
though the garrison might be able to hold
out in the Golden hill, Tigers Tail and
Liaotie forts for some time 1t may mark
the beginning of the end.
The war office is convinced that with the
approach of the Russian second Pacific
squadron the Japanese considered that the
elimination of the Port Arthur squadron
as a fighting factor was absolutely vital,
thus accounting for the reckless sacrifice of
life in order to secure position directly
commanding the harbor.
Injured at Port Arthur.
TOKYO, December 1.-RepOrts from the
Japanese army besieging Port Arthur say
that Lieut.. Gen. Thuchiya is among the
wounded and that Gen. Nakamura, the
leader of the specially trained body of
swordsmen which charged into the Russian
forts November &c. was injured in both
legs.
ST. PETERSBURG, December 1.-The re-
ported capture of 203 meter hill at Port
Arthur was reflected on the bourse today,
imperial fours declining quarter of
point.