Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1904-12-23
RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR NEWS.
GEN. sToEssEL's DISPATCHES TO
THE EMPEROR.
ATTACKS ON PORT ARTHUR FORTS.
He Tells of Series Of Assaults Made
by the Japanese and How They
Were Repulsed by Russians
Russian Ships Suffered.

st. Petersburg, Dec. 19.--Gen. Stoes-
sells dispatches to the emperor which
were received Friday night, were
given out Sunday. The first is dated
November 20. and is as follows:
II am happy to inform your majesty
that on November 20, after an in
creased bombardment, the Japanese
attacked one of the forts on the north
eastern front and leaped with por-
tion of their forces on the parapet.
They were annihilated by rifle fire and
bayonet and thrown back into trenches
From November 81 to November 23
the enemy violently bombarded the
fort and, in spite of great losses, eff
fected passage between two forts on
the northeastern front.
AT $3.50 o'clock in the evening of
November %, after heavy firing, the
Japanese suddenly hurled themselves
against several works on this front
and seized a portion of the trenches,
but they were thrown back by the re-
serves after fierce bayonet struggle.
They returned to the assault at mid
night and again occupied part of the
trenches, but were annihilated by our
bayonets."
In another dispatch dated November
2S, Gen. Stoessel says: "The 26th and
9th were the bloodiest days in the
assaults on Port Arthur. The attacks
began on the night of the 25th, against
our left flank, near Pigeon Bay. The
first was repulsed with great loss to
the Japanese. The same night the
enemy attacked a detachment on Pan
lung mountain, but were repulsed, as
also was their attack on Visokai, (203
Metre HID.
"On the 26th the Japanese began to
lombard and attack fiercely the forts
on the northeastern front and the ad-
vanced trenches. The trenches re-
peatedly changed hands. Nevertheless,
on the night of the Goth, we threw
back the Japanese at the point of the
bayonet. The enemy succeeded in
blowing up the parapet of one of the
forts and began building parallels
there. At another fort on the same
night they laid sacks along the ram
part, but our artillery dispersed them.
Towards 10 o'clock in the evening the
Japanese attacked a battery on our
left flank in considerable strength and
at first obtained possession of por-
ton of the works, but our heroes
brought bayonetS into use and the
Japanese retired, leaving a heap of
their men. Along the whole front the
Japanese reopened violent fire
against the interior of the fortress,
keeping it up until o'clock on the
morning of November 27."
Gen. Stoessel's last dispatch says:
"Since the capture of 2e3 Metre Hill
our ships in the harbor have been suf-
fering from 11-inch Japanese shells.
The troops are in excellent spirits"
Che Foo, Dec. 19-For ferocity the
struggle for the possession of High
Hill probably was the most remark
able in the history of the siege of Port
Arthur.
Mizzenoff said: "The Japanese
adopted curious expedient in the
third assault. They had prepared
huge piles of wood, coal and corn
stalks which they ignited, the wind
being in the face of the Russians. The
resultant fire was immense and the
flames and smoke compelled the Rus
SLAMS to retire.
"The assaults thus far had cost the
Japanese easily 10000 men, while our
own were under 1000. The sides of
the hill were literally covered with
dead and wounded. The trenches
were rivulets of blood and every
visible spot was dyed crimson.
Toxic, Dec. 19.-The Japanese have
lost two torpedo boats during all the
operations against the battleship Sc
vastopol, which was reported on Sun
day, in advices from Port Arthur, to
be completely disabled