Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-12-29
BEYOND BELIEF.
,,n.nese Accomplish Wonders IN
Storning Defences.

roJ;o Dec 2S.-9 A. M.-1ne army
d.nartment published a list OF 20 OH
cars killed and So wounded, presume
ably at Port Arthur.
Trustworthy advices from Port Ar
thur confirm the report that Cen hoh-
dratchenko has been killed ana thae
Cen. Stoessel has been injured by 1ail-
ing from his horse. Gen. SmllnoH Is
also reported wounded.
The advices fOrther say that the
stern of the battleship SevastOpol has
eunk in shallow water Her bow Is
damaged in two places ana the steer
ing gear is also injured.
The garrison is reported to be conn.,
dent in the belief that relief will ar
rive before March 1. Despite Its heaVy
losses. Nov. 20 and subsequently, the
garrison is said to be cheerful and re-
solved to continue the struggle as long
as a single soldier remains. The pavy
possesses about one months stores.
The price of food in the beleagured
fortress is high. Beef is rOuDle ana
one-half per pound; horse meat SIX
copecks per pound; dos meat % CO.
uecks per pound; turkeys 100 roubles
a piece; eggs 100 roubles per hundred.
But a few junks bearing supplies
reached the garrison the past month.
1t is expected that the capture of the
heights of Pigeon bay will further cur
tail the landing of supplies.
The Emperor, "Wednesday, received
in audience and decorated Capt. Eur
benson of the steamer Willehad which
had brought home the japanese re-
fugeeS from Russia.
Foreign correspondents just returned
from Port Arthur declare that fortress
to be the strongest place ever besieged.
They say the things accomplished by
the japanese almost stagger belief.
even when seen. They 10 not think any
other army in the world would have
made such progress under such condi-
| tons
They compare Port Arthur with six
Sevastopols, all situated on hills, and
arranged in mutually supporting
groups connected by tramways and
telephones, and backed by massive
wall that masks the movements of
troops from one to another.
| Port Arthur undoubtedly will be cap
tured but meanwhile the correspon-
dents strongly deprecate the over-sang-
uine tone of the journals which, ever
since August, have been creating the
expectation of a speedy reduction of
the fortress, thereby depriving the
Third army of a part of the credit due
to it's really wonderful achievements.
| Indignation has been aroused in Jap
an in consequence of rumors that Hol-
land is about to place Sabang at the
disposal of the Baltic fleet. A promi-
nent journal argues that, failing to re-
ceive just treatment from So-called
neutrals. Japan's duty is to adopt
measures of self-protection.
| All the Japanese journals comment
| ing on TOgo's announcement of the de-
struction of the fighting power of Rus
Sia'S Pacific squadron and the cOnse-
quent release of a portion of the block
aiding fleet, strongly eulngZe the long
lunilaggirg efforts by which this result
has been achieved just in time to allow
a brief respite before the navy has to
meet the Baltic fleet.
In particular they applaud Togo's
generous language in emphatically at
tributing final success to the investing
army. to which he applies the epithet
"incOmparably gallant" The papers
say such language toward the sister
service is worthy of a true soldier and
constitutes the best guarantee of ef-
fective cooperation between the army
and navy.
Details of the recent torpedo attacks
upon the battleship Sevastopol show
that the seas constantly broke over the
decks of the torpedo boats. and thai
the clothing Of the men during the con.
tinuous snowstorm froZe Immediately
impending motion.
| Six searchlights turned from three di.
rections upon the Sevastopol- showed
that she was lying close in shore in six
fathoms. She had protection netting or
three sides only.