Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-27
TO FORTIFY KIN CHOU
VALUE TO JAPs IN PORT ARTHUR
ATTACK.
Five Hours Desperate Fighting, With
Artillery to the Fore-Help-
ed by tho Fleet.

TOKYO, May q, 10 a.m.-After five hours
Of desperate fighting the Japanese captured
Kin Chou yesterday evening.
Nan Quan Ling, a stronghold Of the
enemy, was taken later. after a hot fight.
An artillery duel still continues. Russian
gunboat bombarded the Japanese left flank
from Talienwan bay, while the japanese
warships worked with the army from Kin
Chou bay.
LONDON, May 27.-A dispatch from
Tokyo to the Central News, dated today,
says:
"The fighting, which eliminated in the
Japanese occupation of Kin Chou, was
practically confined to an artillery duel.
which, beginning at dawn of May 26, con-
tinued without internlsssion for hve hours.
"Three Japanese warships in Kin Chou
bay co-operated, firing with heavy guns on
the Russian positions. A Russian gunboat,
in Talienwan bay, also Joined in the hght,
bombarding the left flank of the japanese
army
Driven From Southern Heights.
kin Chou castle was occupied by the
Japanese at twenty minutes past O'Clock
this morning.
Later the Russians were driven from
their positions on the southern heights.
The japanese are now in pursuit OF the re-
treating Russians.
Baron Hayashi, the Japanese minister,
discussing the recent fighting north OF Port
Arthur, said today:
kin Chou will be occupied as first
base. The neighboring hills will be strong.
ly fortified in order that they can be held
Indefinitely. For food supplies and ammu-
milton Port Dalny will be second base.
"The possession of Kin Chou will be Of In
valuable aid in the campaign against Port
Arthur The hills command position OF the
country for several miles in the direction
Of Port Arthur. l presume from the ac-
ton at Kin Chou that the Russians intend
to make another stand at Port Dainy
Their justification for defending Kin Chou
must have been the belief that their num-
bers were able to cope with ours. SO l ex-
pect that practically all the availaple rus.
sian troops have been moved out from Por'
Arthur in the attempt to head Off the IN
vestment.
Only Old Town Taken.
ST. PETERSBURG, May. "a, 1:50 pm
Owing to the fact that communication with
the defending army at Port Arthur is cut
off the war office here admits that 1t Is
not In a position to question the Tokyo and
other reports that the Japanese have car.
r,ad the outer works at Kin-Chou. But
from what is known of the disposition OF
Gen. StoessePs forces. the authorities ap.
parently are convinced that only the olo
town of Kin-Chou was taken.
The heights to which the Russians are
| said to have retired are really the key &c
the entrance Of the Kwan-Tung peninsula
They are situated eastward OF the town
They are 21OO feet high and are called
IJao-Hu- Shan The position was strongly
| fortified and was of exceptional natural
| strength, due to the fact that 1t could no,
| be reached by the guns or warsnips.
this position has been taken the war OF
| Ace believes there must have been very
heavy loss on the side of the attackers. !.
It is not believed that the Japanese VII
venture to cross the Neck, as an advance
with this position UIao-Hu- SHAM, In theil
| rear, would subject them to attack both
| from Liao-Hu-Shan and from Gen. Stoes
seI's main force, which Tokyo dispatches
say Is across the lower END OF the Neck.
,The statement by refugees from Port
Dalny that Japanese have occupied San-sni'
Li-Pu, almost due west of Dalny. is dis
| credited, although Rear Admiral Wittsoeft
| has reported that the Japanese bombarded
| the coast near that point.
Many Rumors Afloat.
st. Petersburg is filed with all sorts OF
rumors regarding fighting. which the gen.
eral staff has for three days been convinced
| is in progress on the lower part of the
| Ijao-Tung peninsula but nothing official
| has been received. For instance, story is
| going the rounds that General Fock. who
| is in command OF the Russian advance po-
| sition at Kin-Chou, got between two of the
| enemy's columns. inflicting heavy loss on
/ them but that the news is being held from
| announcement until today, the anniversary
of Emperor Nicholas coronation.
Old Story Revamped.
A special dispatch from Liao-Yang also
repeats, with slight variation. the report
cabled to the Associated Press May % re-
garding the loss OF 1900 Japanese before
Kin-Chou saying that the enemy's col
umns got in a cross fire from Gen. Fock's
artillery. This seems to have no real foun-
| dation In fact.
The idea that Japanese movement upon