The Minneapolis journal., 1904-10-31
JAPANESE ASSAIL
RUSSIAN POSITIONS
Make Another General Attempt
on Posts Defending Port
Arthur.
GENERAL KURoPATKIN
IS KEPT GUESSING
Movement Of Oyama''s Men from
West to East Mystif1es
- ,-.-s7-S- u;.,, 60 E,tt .


Cht-fu, Oct. 81, Q p.m.-The general
assault upon Port Arthur which began
in preliminary way on Oct, "a, de-
Yveeloped INTO q fercely raging battle
yesterday, when, eording to q hitherto
1nfallible authority, the Japanese flung
heavy p g. forces against the Russians ia
their 7 :; third attempt to secure 9 com-
fighting is unknown, but it is being
continued today. H.. ss:--7s =.
On Oct. 26 Japanese shells set fire to
the only smokeless powder magazine in
Port Arthur. Portions Of the town
caught fire, the confagration continuing
the whole day. .,,...,;5@s s'- =
The Japanese consider the progress
of the siege to be highly satisfactory. :
The Japanese have been preparing for
this assault fora month. It is believed
that the Japanese did not, expect to
capture the town on this occasion, but
to accomplishment other important forward
step. This plan was adopted follow
ing the first assault, when thousands Of
lives were sacrificed in an attempt to
swarm over the fortifcations by mere
This assault, like the previous one,
was a CLIMATIC: incident Of weeks
ing and small engagements. In
sault will cease when the Jap
anese have secured such positions
as will enable them to creep steadily
closer under the noses Of the Russian
guns. It is believed that two more gen
eral assaults will be necessary before
the distance between the belligerent
lines is sufficiently shortened to make
an attempt to enter the main forts and
make the end Of the siege practicable.
YN~~.. ch AZ L.. "a ~ 49,
On Oct. "a, having made every posi-
bic preparation, the Japanese opened
fire with their artillery along the whole
line, incidentally continuing their daily
practice Of dropping shells into the har-
as Of distant thunder telling the inhab-
itants Of Port Dalny that the long
pected assault on the fortress was immi-
nent. The bombardment continued
furiously until the afternoon Of Oct.
26, when the Russian guns on E-tse, An
tse and Rih-ling mountains became
briefly silent.
At 4 pm. that day, regiment of
Japanese swept out from behind re-
Gently captured hill adjacent to Rih-lung
mountain, and advanced on the Russian
trenches, lying between Rih-lung noun
tain and the railroad, occupying them
after hours Of fighting: The Russians
stuck to their posts till the Japanese
were v, within y t ! a few y yards, both % sides M
The Japanese infantry are now using
mechanical devices which enable them
to throw grenades with great accuracy
In the meanwhile another body of
Japanese assaulted the trenches on the
slope Of Rih-lung mountain. The Jap
anese trenches extended to certain por-
%iona of tho a1ono and Sfonna1 soma dia,
tance above the extreme Japanese out
post where the ascent Of Rih-lung noun
tain became almost perpendicular.
Charged Up Mountain Slope.
Russian trenches scanned the slope. To
advance against them over an unbroken
slope which was mined, even without
Russian resistance, would have been a
difficult task, but the slope had been
torn up, great holes having been blown
in it at various places by the lombard
ment, and the Japanese availed them
fered combined foothold and protection
against bullets. In the meanwhile the
fire of all the available artillery was di-
rected against the Russian trenches.
The Russians eventually retired, where
upon the Japanese in thirty minutes
constructed trenches sufficient to shield
themselves. The Russians exploded
mines, but, the Japanese say, without re-
suits
One company Of Japanese engaged in
this fight aroused general complimen-
tary comment for its remarkable cool
ness, executing the various maneuvers
for the purpose Of securing shelter with
automatic exactness as if on parade
Russian Sortie Repulsed.
Upon the retirement OF their troops
the Russians s0oned fire from Liao-ti