The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-06
Object In to Prevent Russians
From Retiring Westward.
VOLTS HILL BATTLE.
Graphic Description of Fight in
Port Arthur Paper.
Limo of Battle Extended a Dis.
tance of Is Miles.


boats and torpedo boats proceeded ur
the Lao river yesterday. The shallow
draft of these vessels enables them to
ascend the river for a hundred miles.
They are to intercept the Russian re-
treat to the westward. The Russians
again have been outf1anked and COM
PEELED to retire.
The American consul general here,
Mr.. Miller, has given an official din
ner to the consular body and the men,
bers of the Japanese administration at
which General F'ukushima was the
guest of honor.
! A large commissariat column leaves
here every day.
| People are not allowed to leave the
foreign settlement and the censorship
| imposed by the Japanese is most rigid.
Port Arthur Can't Hold Out.
Chefoo, Aug. 6, p. m.-"Port Ar
thur certainly will fall inside of one or
two months, depending upon how fast
the Japanese move" This opinion was
expressed today by an educated Rus
sian who has just arrived here from
Port Arthur by junk He had 5 COM
panions, and the party left the Rus
sian stronghold six days ago. They
suffered much hardship on the trip
over from lack of food and water.
| The Russian who voiced the foregoing e
opinion occupied an important semi
official position at Port Arthur and his
L
says that while the Japanese con-
Stantly receive reinforcementS, every
Russian casualty decreases the defen-
sive efficiency of the garrison, as the
Russians can not be reinforced. Gen
eral StoeSSel, commander-in-chief at
Port Arthur, is compelled to husband
his ammunition. He can manufacture
shells, but it is impossible to make
proper explosives. The necessity of
protecting the men for the final stand
explains the retreat of the Russians
from the strong outpost positions,
where their losses were far less serious
According to this Russian, General
Stoessel is in daily communication
with General Kuropatkin. The three
days fighting of last week was done
chiefly with artillery.
Battle of VOLTS Hill.
Chefoo,. Aug. 6.-7 p. ma news
paper published at Port Arthur and
which was brought in here today.
gives fragmentary details of the recent
heavy lighting there.
The japanese artillery opened a
desultory fire on the afternoon of
July 25. That night the Russians
slept on their arms in the trenches.
They occupied a line 16 miles long
The next morning, July 26, the fog
cleared away at s o'clock and the
Japanese then began to fire along the
til dark. The Japanese markSman-
ship was more accurate, showing that
they had derived benefit from the
practice of the preceding day. Their
heaviest fire was directed against the
batteries which included the 12-inch
naval guns commanded by Prince
TScheidse and Captain SkrydlOm. A
perfect shower of shells hit the earth
works or went screeching into the val
ley behind, doing considerable DAM
age to the artillerymen.
The hottest fighting began at day
break of July 81. The battle COM
menced under the rays of scorching
sun. The Russian right wing was
commanded by Major General Kon-
dratenko, who was compelled to bear
the brunt of the terrific cannonading.
To this fierce fire the Russians replied
with deliberation. The naval battery
was again made the target for the
heaviest fire, and it was evident that
the Japanese were trying to silence
the most dangerous Russian position
A perfect shower of shrapnel was
thrown into the valley behind the
Russian batteries, and Major General
Kondratenko remarked that the Jap
anese evidently believed that the Rus
sian reserves were in this valley.
From the naval guns observers oc-
casionally saw shells bursting near the
other batteries.
AS the day wore on the activity of
the JaDanese fire Increased. In the
meanwhile the Russian infantry, pas
siVe witnesses of the artillery duel, lay
in their trenches awaiting an attack
They were well protected and but few
shells fell among them. At o'clock
volIey firing gave warning of the Jap
anese assault, which followed swiftly.
AS the Japanese infantry advanced the
Japanese artillery fire slackened some
what, but the Russian batteries replied
with increased vigor, while the Russian
rifiemen vollied rapidly and with great
animation. For an hour the japanese
advanced intrepidly in the face of a fire
which is described as a thousand volleys
in simultaneous eruption. The japanese
a advance against the Russian right wing
ceased and the Russians cheered, but
at this moment news arrived from Gen
eral Stoessel, the COMMUNICATIVE chief
at Port Arthur. announcing that the |
terrific pounding to which the Russian |
right wing had been subjected was !
nothing more than a mask to cover the |
concentration of Japanese troops pre- |
paratory to an attack upon the Rus |
sian left wing, of which VOLTS mountain
was the key.
General Stoessel commanded the |
presence of Major General Kondraten- |
ko VINO, with his staff, mounted his |
horse and at once started to join the |
commander-in-chief After having rid |
den a short distance Major General |
Kondratenko was compelled to choose |
from the fire of the enemy, the other /
short and leading through a shell-swept |
valley
'.God favors the brave remarked the !
general, and he and mis- staff galloped |
safely over the dangerous road
At noon on July q the japanese. who |
had been attacking suddenly ceased fir |
ing and presently observers. with the |
aid of field glasses could see the enemy |
quietly eating rice. After this the /
right wing was occasionally reminded |
of the presence of the japanese by the /
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