Perth Amboy evening news., 1904-08-04

oAnAurA8 AChN
LONDON, Aug! 4.-Reports from the
seat Of war say that in an assault on
Port Arthur the Japanese armored
cruiser Kasuga, formerly the Argen-
tine cruiser Rivadavia, was sunk. The
loss of life in the sinking Of the Kasu-
ga Is reported to reach 800.
These reports, taken In connection
with others from Tokyo, indicate that
the Kasuga went down in a combined
land and sea attack on Port Arthur.
Refugees at Chefu say that the Japa-
nese lost 10000 men and that the
Russian loss was from 5000 to 5000.
The japanese after a general advance
on all the land defenses were com
PEELED to retire.
The fighting occurred north Of the
city of Port Arthur, at Wolf hill, and
was s~anguinary and resulted in the
repulse of the Japanese. This hill is
situated neal the railroad, and eight
trains were kept busy bringing the
wounded Russian soldiers into the city.
The wounded men from the east forts
reached Port Arthur in all kinds of
vehicles. many however, coming afoot,
dragging shattered limbs.
The Russian fleet from its anchorage
shelled the advancing Japanese after
returning from what seems to have
been q accommodating maneuver.
The Japanese while repulsed have by
no means been beaten, and a renewal
of fighting is expected.
The Japanese are now occupying the
outpost trenches which they captured
from the Russians.
Once more the Russian forces are in
retreat, having been forced from Hal
cheng. a town which practically COM
mands the road to Liaoyang.
A significant silence has settled down
since the news Of the evacuation of
Haicheng, one dispatch adding to the
mystery by saying the emperor had re-
ceived a message containing very Sc
rious information. Nothing could be
learned as to the nature of the mes
sage.
Advices from Tokyo say that General
Nodzu has captured heights over 1900
feet In altitude across the Simucheng'
west of the former place, with EN-
placements that the Russians had TAX.
EN- months to build. They we're held by
two divisions of Russians under Lieu
tenant General Alexeieff, with rapid
fire guns
Tho Russian line extended for ten
miles east and west. with outposts on
the heights four miles to the south of
S~imucheng.
The Japanese center enveloped and
drove back the Russian outposts. The
left occupied the heights, pressing back
the Russian right center. The Japa-
nese lines extended for fifteen miles.
AT dawn the center advanced against
the Russian main position over the in
~tervening hills, while the left stormed
the heights in front of it.
The Russians made a hurried but
fairly orderly retreat down the valley.
They left behind them, however, many
dead and wounded, a number of rifles.
drums, great coats and trenching tools.
A Russian battery took up a position in
the valley and fired a few rounds to
cover the retreat, and infantrymen
were brought up in good order by their
officers to the support of the guns. The
white coats worn by the Russian Off
GERS made them conspicuous targets for
the japanese. The Russian firing was
altogether in volleys. while the Japa-
nese fired at will. The Russian troops
kept in close formation. but the Japa-
nese soldiers deployed in extended or
der. 1t was plain that the Japanese
soldiers were possessed of much great
err initiative and dash than the Rus
slams.
The engagement was a fair test Of
the capacities of the two forces, and
the net result of it was that one Japa-
nese regiment of three battalions, only
two of which were on the firing line,
defeated three Russian regiments in
spite of the fact that another Russian
regiment was held in reserve. The
Russians employed their artillery much
more than the Japanese did theirs.
1t is impossible to estimate the losses
at this hour. Desultory firing still con-
! tinues as the Russians still retreat. and
dead and wounded men are being
brought in by the hospital corps. The
Russian casualties are undoubtedly
much greater than the Japanese. Rus
sian dead were being buried all over
the field, the temporary hospitals are
filed with wounded, and u few I'M
wounded Russians who had hidden in
the fields are surrendering.
The Japanese are pleased with their
victory, but calm and b~usinesslike as
always.
A Newchwang report says that the
Russian gunboat Sivoutch, which has
been in the Lao river since the begin
ming of the war, has been deserted ana
blown up near Sancha, and the crew
with the vessels guns has started for
Lfaoyang. Two Japanese gunboats
reconnoitered the position of the 81