Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-12-22
Reported Another At
tempt Will be Made to
Storm Forts.
new YEAR DATE OF FALL
Powerful Japanese FIotiIIa Seen
Headed South to Meet
Rojestyensky.

Toxic, Dec. ga dispatch today
from the Japanese army before Port
Arthur says: "The right column of
the army at this morning. taking ad-
vantage of the enemy's excitement.
drove the enemy of the eminence north
of Housany Entao on Pigeon bay, oc-
cupied the position at Z o'clock. and
dislodged the enemy from the height on
the peninsula west of Housany Entao.
which we occupied. capturing one small
gun After the Japanese occupation of
the position the enemy made a coun-
ter attack. but was Immediately re-
pulsed. At present our occupation of
the positions is practically secure
Take Points ON Pigeon Hay.
Toxic. Dec. %. p. m.-The Japa.
nese troops have captured some i'm
portant positions on Pigeon bay
Say. Hill 4. Recnptured.
London. Dec. ga dispatch from
St Petersburg says Kuropatkin has
telegraphed the general staff that he
has received a report from Chinese
sources TO the effect that the Russians
have recaptured Two Hundred and
Three Metre hill at Port Arthur to.
gether with the guns mounted by
Japanese.
Capture o. Important
Headquarters Japanese Army Be
fore Port Arthur. Dec 22.-The cap
ture of the north fort of East Keek-
wan mountain Dec. IS by the Japa-
nese is OF much important. because IL
opens way up the gorge to the
highest hills and will render easier
the capture of the mountain. II gives
much additional foothold for a general
assault on the western half OF the
eastern fortified ridges. The Japanese
now hold FIVE of the seven protecting
forts
>tiII Firing mt Fleet
Headquarters of the Third Japanese
Army Before Port Arthur. Dec. 22.--
During the morning of the 18th the
Sevastopol was torpedoed by the Japa-
nese fleet and Immediately listed 10
degrees to the right. remaining fast
on the shallow shore at the foot of
Liaoti mountain. The vessel is consid-
cred absolutely useless for further
offensive operations. The Japanese
bombardment of the Russian gunboats
and torpedo craft in the harbor con-
tinues.
Gets In With Supplies
London, Dec. 22-The Telegraph's
Chefoo correspondent says the steam
er. Lady Mitchell. which sailed from
Tsingtao with supplies. ammunition
and dynamite. reached Port Arthur
during a snow storm four nights ago
He says also that il is reported the
Japanese were compelled to evacuate
their position on Else mountain. owing
to a fianking fire from the other forts
and the explosion of Russian mines,
by which they lost heavily.
Terrible Attack Impending.
The Japanese correspondent adds
they are employing thousands of cool
les i'm making strong forts at Dalny
and around Port Arthur. They ex
press a determination to- capture Port
Arthur before the Chinese New Year.
An attack is now preparing that will
be on a hitherto unequaled scale. and
IL will mean either success or terrible
disaster to the besiegers-
The correspondent concludes by say
ing that il is stated that Gen. NoSi
has asked for $4,000 achievements
from Japan.
suicide I'm Face of Defeat.
FMukden- Dec. 22.-One of the most
inexpIicable things to the Russian sol
der is the habit of the Japanese to
commit suicide when confronted with
defeat. There are SD many eye wit
ness reports of this nature that
IL is impossible to discredit them all
The Japanese officers. especially