The Savannah morning news., 1904-11-04
AND AWFUL CARNAGE
MARK THE STORY OF THE
SIEGE OF PORT ARTHUR
Detailed Account of the Desperate Attacks of The
Japanese and the Heroic Defense
of the Russians.

Headquarters Japanese Army in
Front of Port Arthur, Nov. 2, by way
of Che Foo. Nov. 3. (censoredl--When
the Japanese drove the Russians from
their strong position on the last range
of hills in front of the fortress by a
surprise attack, July 30, the Russians
retired to the forts, but they also held
strong previously prepared advance
lines to prevent the Japanese from
closing in upon the fortified ridges.
Taku and Shakhu mountains were first
taken by the Japanese, but an at
tempt Aug. Ii to capture another Rus
sian position failed.
1t was announced at Japanese head
quarters on Oct. Is that siege guns
would be in position and ready to be-
gin a bombardment on the goth. The
Associated Press correspondent was
welcomed by Gen, Nogi, who said ne
was just in time to see the conclusion
of a successful campaign and the
capture Of Port Arthur.
The wet weather fermented the rice
and produced much beri-beri among
the Japanese troops. The number Of
cases from June to September was
nearly $1,000.
During the colder weather of October
there were practically no cases Of beri-
beri.
During the morning of the 18th the
siege guns opened a desultory fire to
find the ranges, and an entire division
of infantry advanced and assaulted
the Russian redoubts at the foot of
RihIung mountain. The troops captur-
ed the trenches in front of the re-
doubts.
Began in Earnest.
The operations began in earnest at
daybreak on the 2Oth with a lombard
ment of the whole line of the Russian
forts. Under cover of the lombard
ment the japanese infantry made a
determined general advance against the
Russians first trenches. The way in
to the city was protected by four ad-
vance half moon forts, connected by
bomb proof trenches and having a
twenty-foot moat in front. A desper-
ate attempt was made by the Japan
ese during the afternoon to capture
the strongest half moon fort. The
infantry charged, cut the entangle-
ments, crossed the moat with scaling
ladders, stormed the fort and drove the
Russians back. But the real strength
Of their position lay in the bomb proof
trenches. They were filled with troops
and concealed machine guns, which
poured a deadly hail of bullets into the
Japanese and forced them to retire.
At about the same time the Rus
SLAMS recaptured the trenches in front
Of the redoubt in advance Of the Rib
lung fort. On the right flank the Rus
sian line was forced back. One jap
anese regiment worked up the east
slope and another regiment made its
way up the west slope Of ia yards
hill, under the concentrated fire Of the
Russian artillery and captured the fort
at the point OF the bsyonet at noon.
Elsewhere the Japanese we're repulsed
without Orders, Saved the Day.
The assault threatened to result In
an utter failure TO secure a foothold
on the fortified ridge, and Gen. Nogi
summoned the generals OF the left and
center divisions 10 consult with him
concerning the operations During his
absence on Aug 2i. without special
orders several companies Of regiment
Of the center division emerged from
their trenches, al the foot Of the East
Banjusan fort, and IN tens and twen-
ties charged up the slope 10 the broken
wall OF the trench around the crest
of the fortified hin. under cover Of "a
splendid ahrnpnel practice from their
field batteries in the valley. The Rue-
s.Gls behind the wall and iu the fort
poured out a hail of rino bullets, and