Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-08-27
PREPARING FOR
FINAL ASSAULT
Japanese Pouring Destructive Fire
Into Port Arthur.
RUSSIAN LINES WEAKENED

Heavily Increased Before They Are
captured-Final Stand to BE Made
at Liaotishan.
Toxic, Aug. 25.-The final assault On
Port Arthur is imminent. Hundreds Of
japanese guns continue to pour de-
structive fire into the city and harbor,
along the lines of forts and entrench-
ments. preparatory for the infantry as
sault. 1t is evident that the Russian
lines have been weakened and partly
penetrated In the vicinity of AutZshan
and ltZshan forts. The entire line ..
Russian defenses Immediately about
the harbor are within range of the jap
anese guns. A number OF Russian
forts and batteries continue to be Wig
orous. The Japanese death roll will
be heavily increased before they arr
captured. The direction of the Japa-
nese attack creates the impression here
that the city and defenses on either
side of the harbor entrance will ial!
first. The final stand will be made al
Liaotishan.
Japanese official channels of infor
nation remain closed, and the navy
departments announcement of thJ
striking of a mine ny the battieship
sian forts by the cruisers Nisshin and
Kasuga yesterday are the only dis
closures made for several days. 1t is
believed here that both sides have suf-
fered heavy losses and that the final
record will make the siege the blood
lest since Sedan. The Japanese are SUI
premely confident of the ultimate re-
suit. The leaders of the government
await the outcome in calm assurance.
The people are everywhere decorating
streets and houses and erecting arches
and fiagstaffs in preparation for 4 ma
tional celebration of the expected vic
tory.
Further details of the disabling of
the Russian battleship Sevastopol have
beeen received here. 1t seems that on
Tuesday afternoon while engaged in
shelling the Japanes land forces from
position outside of Port Arthur the
battleship struck mine and was dis
abled by the explosion. She was towed
into Port Arthur. The japanese battle
ship Asahi was detailed to watch the
Sevastopol. Her commander reports
that the Russian ship emerged from
Port Arthur Tuesday and co-operated
with certain Russian batteries in b,E,.
harding the Japanese forces on shore
This firing had been kept up for sev-
eral hours, when the Sevastopol sud
denly struck a submerged mine. The
explosion caused her to list heavily to
starboard. and at the same time she
lurched forward. almost burying her
bow under water. She was towed back
into Port Arthur by a tug.
Admiral Kataoka reports that the
Japanese cruisers Nisshin and Kasuga
fired upon the Russian officers on Tues
day. They discovered that the Russi..ns
were shclling the Japanese land forces
from position near LungtsintsZ The
Nisshin and the Kasuga steamed in
close to land and after a short bonn
bardmcnt silenced the Russian guns
Fortress All But Taken.
Chefoo. Aug. 24.-According to ad-
vices brought here from Port Arthur
by junk. the Japanese are hotiy
pressing the Russian center along the
railway. and tie Russian right in the
vicinity of Golden Hill. These advices
are brought by Chinese who deported
from Tai-Pang-Tsc. which is one mile
from the city. near Golden Hill. be-
tween the city and the forts of the
Russian right wing. The Chinese de-
clare that the Japanese occupied Tai
Pang-Tse and penetrated along the
railway to General Stoessel's residence
N August II.
A junk which left Liaoti promon-
tory on the night of August 81 has
Just arrived here. She reports that the
Japanese have succeeded in occupying
An;seshan iorts. as well as another
fort. probably Etseshan. about a mile
southwest OF Antseshan. They have
driven the Russians from the pa ale
grounds (Which lie about two miles
north of the harbor); they have de-
stroyed two forts at Cha 1chanko.
which is within the eastern for;ifica-
tions, and they have advanced to a
point near ChaOchanko. This news
confirms information received here
previously and which the local Jap
anese were not inclined to believe.
The junk heard firing until midnight
of August %. Scarcely building in
Port Arthur remains undamaged. The
town hall, which was used as a maya
zine. has been destroyed.
Four large warships, unable to fight.
are at Port Arthur. Only one ship. a
vessel with two masts and two .un-
s. mas guns on board.
The fire of the forts not captured by
the Japanese. together with the effect
of land mines, is given as the reason
why the Japanese have not yet con
auered the Russian stronghold.
AS this report would indicate that