Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-12-01
JAPANESE PEOPLE CHEERED II.
ro,titude of Defenders aud PrOlOnga.
lion of Siege Caused Them to
Have Doubts
RUSSIANS CAN'T BELIEVE REPORT
Ironically Confirmed, the War Office
Admits 1t VIII be a Desperate Blow
To the Men 10 Fortress,

Toxic Dec. I. nCon-Gen, NogIs tele-
gram announcing the stormlng and cap
tore Of 1908 Meter hill" was received
rth cheers by the Japanese people. II
reyIyos the hope OF an early capture
Of Port Arthur proper. The people have
mover dcspairod Of the success of the
bosIegers but the fortitude Of the de-
fonders and the prolongation Of the
Siege which exceeds by months the
most liberal preliminary estimate of
She time required TO accomplish the re-
ductlon Of this stronghold has been a
source Of deep regret, combined with
the loss Of life and disappointments
over the fact that the siege has occu-
pied a large force Of men, decreasing
Field Marshal Oyama's strength at a
time when he needed every available
man,
Today was the date set under the
consumption act, when recruits could
join the army Cheered by the news
from Gen. Nogl, thousands Of recruits
Throughout the empire marched to bar
racks and donned uniforms for the frst
time. Following an honored custom
the relatives OF the recruits carrying
asgs and banners, escorted the new
soldiers to their barracks, In Toxic
today there have been scores Of little
processions escorting detachments Of
popuar conscrlpts. The number of
mn who have Joined the colors today
under the CONSUMPTION act has not
been made public.
RUSSIA CAN'T BELIEVE IT.
81. Petersburg, Dec. 1.-THE war Of
fec here Is not yet prepared to accept
he report that the japanese before
Port Arthur have taken 203 Meter nil,
but Il II is officially confirmed the war
Office admits that It Will be q desperate
blow for the gallant defenders of the
fortress, The position commands the
hafhor. and II Inc JAPANESE can mount
siege guns on its summit they can
force out the Russian squadron, or
destroy II at It's anchorage, Those ia
millar With the supporting plans Of the
forts think It Is by no means certain
that even though Russians are forced
to retire from 2OS Meter hill the Jap
anese can place In position heavy guns
against the fire which the other forts
can bring 10 bear on Il, Stlll the war
office officials reluctantly agree that
aITh Irn0ah IN fhn chain ranA4tHu tho
position extremely critical, and though
Tho garrison might be able to hold out
In The Golden Mil, Tigers Tai and Lia-
OH forts for SOME time II may mark
me beginning Of the end. The war Of
nee Is convinced that with the approach
OF the Russian Second Pacific squadron
me Japanese considered that the elm
nation OF the Port Arthur squadron as
a lighting factor was absolutely vital,
mus accounting for the reckless sacri-
nee OF life In order TO secure posi-
uon directly commanding the harbor.
FROM MANCHURIAN HEADQUAR.
TIERS,
Toxic, Dec, i,-Mancburian hoadquar-
lels reports as follows:
A, ~ Hlulllbhl yoSlcfuuy n DOuy OF
NE enemy's infantry attacked Machu-
ahanZu mountain, Our non-commis-
a .loned officers picket there repulsed
a Japanese force in the neighbour
g aool OF Haienchung reports that about
! o'clock IN the afternoon Of Nov. Is a
oly or The enemy consisting OF IN
lshlTy and cavalry advanced on Slant
1,altu heights, We repulsed them az
ABOUT Z IN the evening The same day
ny 10 the afternoon the enemys
.aIalry and artillery attacked suchial-
ouIsa. Our hre drove them back
lne same day our forces caused
solne losses to the enemy's infantry and
,g I. appearing north Of Chentzul-