Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1904-09-23
GREAT BATTLE
NOW imminent
Japanese Are Reported Ad-
vancing in Force On
Mukden. :
RUSSIANS WELL PREPARED
Japanese Force Estimated at Eight Or
Nine Dvisions-Have Renewed As.
sault On Port Arthur-Reportsd to
Have Taken important Forts.

Mukden, Sept 21.-A battle is i'm.
minent. The Japanese are advancing
with eight, and possibly nine, divis-
ions.
The crop Of tall millet has been
harvested, affording better field
over which to fire on the nat plains.
The river Hun is the direct front Of
the Russian army.
Che Foo, Sept. 21.-Authoritative
information has been received here of
a general attack upon Port Arthur by
the Japanese forces which began
Monday before daybreak and con.
tinued until dark.
All indications point to an effort
to capture certain of the northeast
main forts.
Shanghai, Sept. 21.-The general
attack on Port Arthur, which began
Monday, and in which the Japanese
feet is cooperating, was resumed
yesterday morning. The Japanese
captured two important forts on eth
er side of Sueiszing, north of Port
Arthur.
Che Foo, Sept. 21.-This is the at
tack for which the Japanese have
been preparing for the past nineteen
days, with slight hope Of success. AS
forecasted in these dispatches the
Japanese attack on Port Arthur is
directed against the northeast front.
The main object is to capture the
Notifications on Kikwan mountain,
Rhytung mountain and the interme-
date forts. The foregoing comes
from a Russian of standing whose
previous information has been cor
rect He adds that the attack at the
end of August, which was reported
as two separate assaults, really con-
stituted a ten-days' battle, the fight
ing being the heaviest during the first
three days and the last four days Of
that period.
Although the Japanese retired Au.
gust 81 along the greater part of
their lines, they remained in four
supplementary forts on the northeast
front, which they captured from the
Russians. These include two forts.
fifty yards from Rhytung mountain,
and two others at somewhat greater
distance. Since August 81 the JAP
anese have bombarded very slightly,
while the Russians have been throw.
ing approximately one thousand
shells daily, chiefly against the four
japanese positions mentioned. Small
sorties, as referred to by the Novi
Krae of Pert Arthur in the effort to
recepture the positions have been of
alr1ost nightly occurrence and have
been uniformly unsuccessful.
The Japanese have been taught
power of the fortress, according to
every Japanese who has recently ar
rived here from Port Dslny. II they
succeed in capturing Rhytung noun
tain, or other forts, they will realize
that this will be only one step, al
though an important one, towards the
capture of Port Arthur. The Rus
SLAMS, who have been observing the
new tactics of the Japanese, did not
expect another attack before the first
week in October. The Japanese are
endeavoring to proceed slowly, but
surely.
During the fighting in August the
attempt to capture Kikwan noun
tain cost the Japanese an entire regi-
ment. This statement has been fully
confirmed and indicates the monu-
mental proportions of the task which
the Japanese set themselves to In at
tempting to capture the fortress,
which is composed Of many forts
equally strong.