Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-08-29
THE FATE OF FORT NUMBER s.
1t Has Changed Hands Four Times
But at Present Is Ia.
occupied.
ASSAULT OF 10Th NOT A SUCCESS
japanese Only Succeeded in Weaken.
Ing Russian Lines Without Making
Any Important Advances

Chefoo, Aug %, p, m,--severe fight
ing was resumed at Port Arthur on
Aug b. Between Aug % and 20 there
was some fighting, but It was less sew
ere than that on the 27th Some of thu
Chinese were arrested and compelled 10
carry the dead from the battlefield Of
Palichuang, which the Japanese at
tempted to capture on Aug. 26. Thirty
carts were used to carry the dead,
numbering 400, from the trenches and
outskirts Of the city, A policeman told
the Chinese that the efficient soldiers in
the garrison at Port Arthur numbered
over 10000 A Chinese who lived near
Rihlungshan declares that he saw the
Russians occupying this fort, from
which previous reports stated they had
been driven. Probably both reports
were correct az the time they were cur
rent, as semi Official adyices state that
many positions about the fortress
change hands repeatedly.
The lighting which began on the 9Th.
soon became general While the Chi
nese was at sea Aug 2S heavy firing
WAS resumed Two junks containing
contrabaud Of war We're sunk by Jap
anese torpedo boat 10 miles Of Liao-Ti
prumontory.
FORT NO 8.
1t Is said that fort No. has changed
hands four times and is now unoocu-
pied. The Japanese filed the moat IN
front Of this fort with sand bags.
The Japanese are using thousands Of
| Chinese coolies to dig trenches, build
| earth works and drag cannon about.
The report that heavy lighting was re-
] sumed on Aug. a. agrees with pre-
| yious rumor from credible source that
| the japanese had planned to resume
the general attack on that date,
ASSAULT OF AUG. 20.
The information received here during
the past week would seem to confirm
the belief that the great Japanese as
saut upon Port Arthur. which was be-
gun Aug 20, was by no means as sue
cessful as anticipated, Although the
Japanese succeeded I'm pushing their
lines forward, they were unable in any
instance 10 occupy the important posi-
lions from which they drove the Rus
slams They succeeded only In weaken
ing the Russian lines without making
important advances IN their own,
JAPs RECEIVE REINFoRCEMENTS
The report that the Japanese forces
befored Port Arthur have receive
heavy reinforcements via Dainy, has
been confirmed This bears out the
statement from Chinese sources that
| heavy figrting commenced Aug. q.
The arrangement Of the fortihcations
al Port Arthur Is described by Rus
sian as very similar to chess board
upon which every fort. with respect TO
the zone covered by its artillery, has
the movingpower Of the queen In the
game Of chess. Up TO the present time
the japanese have made no attempt TO
occupy any one important fort without
| being subjected to a resistless fire from
various directions from the other forts.
HEAVY FIRING HEARD.
Chefoo. Aug. 20, n m. The steamer
| Chnhua. which has arrived here from
Newchwang. reports that there was
| heavy firing at Port Arthur last night
from o'clock until two.
DEFENDERS ARE DETERMINED.
St. Petersburg, Aug. %, p. m.--lt is
reported from a reliable source that
Lieut.. Gen. Stoessel, commander OF the
Russian military forces at Port Arthur
| has telegraphed to the emperor thank
ing him for the recent message W en-
couragement sent TO the garrison OF
Port Arthur saying that the defenders
OF the fortress are ready and willing "a
lay down their lives, that the garrison
| has already suffered severely and init
mating that 1t Is hardly possible 70 hold
out for more than a month on six
weeks
-Four more regiments VIII be raised
I'm the Caucasus An official announce
ment TO this effect Is expected tonlor-
row.
The first contingent Of the first army
corps has arrived at Hardin This corps
was destined for Nlddiyostok, but up
on the urgent request OF Gen. kuro-
patkln u win be diverted TO Mukden.
From an excellent source It Is stated
that the Hl-starred Russian bdttleship
Orel, which already has suffered two
accidents, VIII not be able to join the
Baltic squadron According 60 reports.
when her engine trials began ii was
discovered that The engines had been
practically wrecked By workmen intro
ducing iron filings into the valves and
cylinders Il probgbly will require many
months TO repair the damage This is
the second failure of the Orel 10 80 ont
on a trial trip, with the other ships last
week