The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-11-05
FIRED BY JAPANESE SHELLS
CONFEDERATION IN PORT AR
THUR DUE TO BoMBARDMENT.
Buddhist Temple Hill Near Mukden
Captured by Japs, but Is
Retaken.
MlWHEAPNY JOURX4L

Chefoo, Oct. S1.-The third general
attack on Port Arthur began October "a.
according to unimpeachable authority.
On October 26 Japanese shells set fire
to the only smokeless powder magazine
in Fort Arthur. Portions OF the town
caught fire, the contlagration continuing
the whole day. On October 26 the Jap
anese captured the Russian trenches on
the slope of Rihlung mountain, also a
fortified position protecting that fort
ress. The japanese consider the pro-
gress of the siege to be highly satisfac-
tory.
Toxic, Nov. 2.-Imperial headquar-
tiers publishes a series of reports COW
ering the operations against Port Arthur
during the months OF August, Septem-
Der and October. The chief interest CEN
tiers in the tremendous attack which
was begun on October "a and is still con-
tinuing. Hundreds of Japanese guns
began battering against the northerly
and easterly forts on October "a, the in
fantry moving forward with desperate
rushes where the artillery had prepared
the way, while the pioneers and sappers
were running mines against the Russian
forts.
Mukden, Oct. 31-The attack by the
Japanese on the Buddhist temple hill
on October 81 led to sharp fighting.
The Japanese artillery played on the po-
sition from early in the morning, rem
dering the trenches untenable, shells
and shrapnel sweeping everything and
demolishing all the shelters. Two ma
chine guns with the battalion defend
ing the hill were smashed and disabled,
but the defenders carried off the re-
mains of the guns when they were
forced to retire. The Japanese infantry
attack under cover of the bombardment
was made in close order.
Dispatches indicate the resumption
of fighting on both extremities of the
Russian front. The night of October 30
the Japanese attacked the Russian en-
trenchments east of Sinchinpu, but were
repulsed, though the bombardment
continued throughout the night. A
Japanese advance has also begun against
the Russian positions at Tunganon, a
mile and a half north of Bentsiaputze,
where they encountered heavy Rus
sian fire.
st. Petersburg, Nov. 2-The expecta-
ton of serious developments at the the
alter of war has again failed of realiza-
ton. Tuesdays official dispatches re-
cord nothing more serious than the usu-
al skirmishes. The strategists at the
war office are generally inclined to be-
lieve that the expected great battle may
be deferred, and possibly may not occur
thisyear, though the Japanese may make
a desperate effort to flank Gen. Kuro-
patkin and compel him to surrender
Mukden. If Gen. Kuropatkin is con-
WINGED that the Japanese are now num-
erically superior. he may decide to
draw off, as it would obviously be I'M
profitable to risk a general engagement
until the vast armies to be placed under
his command can reach Manchuria
Whatever happens, however, it is not
likely that the japanese can take Ku-
ropatkin unawares. Repeated recon-
naissances beyond the Japanese lines
betray the strength and purposes of
Field Marshal Oyamas movements. If
the Japanese really intend to advance
1t is likely they will do so Immediately,
and not await the arrival of the eight
Russian corps, the first echelon of which
is already at Mukden.