The San Francisco call., 1904-08-07
FACE MURDERoUs FIRE.
Desperate Charge of Japanese UpoI
the Port Arthur Defenses.

Desperate Charge Oh Japanese upon
the Port Arthur Defenses.
CHEFU, Aug. 6.-A newspaper pub
lshed in Port Arthur and which was
brought in here to-day gives fragment
ary details of the recent heavy fighting
there.
The Japanese artillery opened a de-
sultory fire on the afternoon of July %.
That night the Russians slept on their
arms in the trenches. They occupied a
line sixteen miles long
The next morning, July 26, the fog
cleared away at o'clock and the Japa-
nese then began TO fire along the entire
! line. This fire was kept up until dark.
The japanese craftsmanship was more
accurate, showing that they had de-
rived benefit from the practice OF the
preceding day. Their heaviest fire was
directed against the batteries which in
cluded the twelVe-inch naval guns
The hottest fighting began at day
break OF July q. The battle commenced
under the rays of a scorching sun. The
Russian right wing was compelled to
undergo the brunt of the terrific can
nonading. To this fierce fire the Rus
slams replied with deliberation. The
naval battery was again made the tar
get for the heaviest fire, and it was
evident that the Japanese were trying
to silence the most dangerous Russian
position.
As the day wore on the accuracy of
the Japanese fire increased. In the
meanwhile the Russian infantry, pas
sive witnesses of the artillery duel, lay
in their trenches awaiting an attack.
They were we'll protected and but a
few shells fell among them.
At o'clock volley firing gave warn
ing of the japanese assault, which fol-
lowed swiftly. AS the japanese infan-
try advanced the japanese artillery fire
slackened somewhat, but the Russian
batteries, replied with increased vigor,
while the Russian rifiemen volleyed
rapidly.
For an hour the japanese advanced
intrepidly in the face of fire which is
described as thousand volleys in SIM
ultaneous eruption. The Japanese ad-
vance against the Russian right wing
ceased and the Russians cheered, but
at this moment news arrived from Cen
eral Stoessel, the commander in chief,
that the terrific pounding to which the
Russian right wing had been subjected
was nothing more than mask to cover
the concentration of Japanese troops
preparatory to an attack on the Rus
sian left wing, of which VOLTS Noun
tain was the key. General Stoessel
commanded the presence of Major Cen
eral Kondratenko, who mounted his
horse and at once started to join the
commander in chief After having rid
den a short distance Major General
Kondratenko was compelled to choose
between two roads, one long and safe
from the fire of the enemy, the other
short and leading through shell-swept
valley.
God favors the brave" remarked
the general and he and his staff gall
loped safely over the dangerous road.
At noon OF July 27 the Japanese sud-
denly ceased firing, and presently OBJ
servers with the aid of field glasses
could see the enemy quietly eating rice.
After this the right wing was occasion
ally reminded of the presence of the
Japanese by the descent Of a huge
shell, but the worst was over. In the
meanwhile the main attack. which re-
suited in the capture of VOLTS Noun
tain, had been developed.
During the fighting of these three
DAYS the Russians used telephones for
communication with all parts of the
field.