Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-09-20
Japanese Again Engaged
in Assault at Port
Arthur.
FLEET is ASSISTING
Northwest 0efenses Objective
Sortie of Garrison is
RepuIsed.

Shanghai, Sept. 2O.-The general at
tack on Port Arthur which began yes
tcrday and in which the Japanese
feet is cooperating was resumed this
morning. The Japanese captured two
important forts on either side of Sueis
zaying. north of Port Arthur.
Attacks the Wnterworks.
St. Petersburg, Sept. 20.-Gen.
Stocssel reports by telegraph that on
the night of the 18th the garrison re-
PEELED two attacks of the Japanese on
the redoubt protecting the water
works.
Aim nt Northwest Forts.
Chcfoo. Sept. 2O.-Authoritative in
formation has been received here of a
general attack upon Port Arthur by
Japanese forces which began yester-
day before daybreak and continued un-
til dark All indications point to an
effort to- capture certain of the north
west main forts.
Finds Japanese Forces.
ST.. Petersburg, Sept. 2O.-The fol
lowing dispatch was received from
Kuropatkin:
a reconnaissance made the 18th es-
tablished the fact that the Japanese
position at Bantipatzc is strongly held
by a brigade with guns. There was
no enemy east of BantaipatZe but ,Iapa-
nCsc reinforcCments arrived Sept. Is
in the vicinity of that village. Large
Japanese forces from Liaoyang have
already crossed to the right bank Uf
the Taitsc river
Sortie at Port Arthur.
London. Sept. 20-A dispatch from
Toxic to news agency says:
a strong Russian force made a sor-
tie from Port Arthur on the afternoon
of Sept. Is and attacked the Itczshan
(ctseshanl fort which was recently
captured by the Japanese. The fight
ing lasted some hours and the Rus
slams eventually were repulsed with
heavy loss
shoots ut Merchant Vessel.
Bilbao. Spain. Sept. 20.--A Russian
cruiser off Capt St. Maria is reported
to have fired two shots at and taken
possession of a merchant vessel. sup
posed TO be a British steamer
Points Ia Desperation.
that the Russian garrison at Port Ar
thur made a sOrtic on Sunday in an eff
fort TO recapture Etseshan fort and
that the effort failed indicates to mill
tary observers here that the situation
At the fortress is desperate indeed.
The news of the sOTtie, however. is
not official.
Etseshan fort has been the scene of
some of the most desperate fighting
around Port Arthur. For long time
after the Russians were driven out of
il they were able 10 prevent the Japa-
nese from occupying it. The mikados
forces seem TO have finally got a foot
hold in the fort.
The possession Of Etscshan fort is
vital To Gen. Stoessel. From Else hill
Japanese guns command the full
sweep on the inner harbor and of
Port Arthur. II Is only two miles
northwest of the city.
The news of a Russian rcpulse at so
vital a point is taken as an ominous
sign here.
Jnps Move on Nukden.
Col. Gaedko. the correspondent OF
the Berlin Tageblatt in the far east.
rolegraphs from Mukden, under date
Uf Sept. 10. as follows:
The Japanese are advancing slow
y. with a broad front. the left resting
ON the Lao river and the right on the
mountains. probably the Fushan coal
mines. - miles eastward. The Rus
sian troops have recovered their sp
its. Chinese officials are suspected OF
secretly aiding the Japanese"