New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-01
ST0RMING PORT ARTHUR.
Details of General Assault-I'he
Battle Continues.


The japanese have been preparing for this
assault for month. 1t Is believed that they
did not expect to capture the town on this oc-
casion, but to accomplish another important
forward step. This plan adopted following
the first assault when thousands of lives were
sacrificed in an attempt to swarm over the for
tihcations by mere force of numbers, regardless
Of loss.
This assault like the previous one, was a elf
max TO weary weeks of trench digging, gun
mounting and small engagements. In the opin-
ion Of experts the assault will when the
japanese have secured such positions will
enable them TO push steadily closer under the
noses of the Russian guns. It is believed that
two more general assaults will be necessary be-
fore the distance between the belligerent lines
is short enough to make an attempt to enter the
main forts practicable.
COMMANDMENT STILL GOES ON.
A steamer which has just arrived here from
New Chwang reports having heard heavy firing
al Port Arthur last night and to-day until she
was out Of earshot. indicating continuance of
the battle.
On October %. having made every possible
preparation. the japanese opened fire with their
artillery along the whole line. incidentally con-
tinuing their daily practice OF dropping shells
into the harbor The Russians replied. the
that The long expected assault the fortress
was imminent The bombardment continued
furiously until the afternoon of October 26,
when the Russian guns on Itse Hill. Antse Hill
and RihlunE Hin became briefly silent.
regiment Of japanese swept out from behind
a recently captured hill adjacent 10 Rihlung
Hil, At o'clock in the afternoon, and advanced
on the Russian trenches lying between Rihlung
Hin and the railroad. occupying them after
hours of fighting
The Russians stuck TO their posts till the Jap
anese were within few yards. both sides hurl-
ing hand grenades at each other. The japanese
infantry using mechanical devices
which enable them to throw grenades with great
accuracy and rapidity.
RUSSIANS FORCED FROM TRENCHES.
In the mean while another body OF Japanese
assaulted the trenches on the slope of Rihlung
Hill The japanese trenches extended to parts
Of the slope and stopped some distance above the
extreme japanese outpost where the ascent of
Rihlung Hill became almost perpendicular. The
Russian trenches scanned the slope. To advance
against them over an unbroken slope. which was
mined without Russian resistance, would
have been a difficult task but the slope had
been torn up. great holes having been blown
in it at various places by the bombardment, and
the japanese awaited themselves Of these in
dentations which offered combined fOothold and
protection against bullets
The fire of all the available japanese artillery
was meanwhile directed against the Russian
trenches the Russians eventually retiring,
whereupon the japanese in thirty minutes con-
strUcted trenches sufficient to shield themselves.
The Russians exploded mines hut. the japanese
say. without result. One company of japanese
engaged in this fight caused general comp-
mentary comment for its remarkable GOODNESS,
executing the various manPuvres for the pur-
pose Of getting shelter with automatic exact
ness. as if on parade
On the retirement Of their troops the Russians
opened fire from Liau Nao-Teai0 Hill and
that night they made a sortie The Japanese
had in the mean while brought up machine guns
with which the sortie repulsed.
THE GARRISON DIsPIRITED.
The stories Of Russian prisoners vary con-
corning garrison affairs. but they agree in say
ing they have been often disappointed. General
StoesseI has been endeavoring to cheer ;he men
by promising the early arrival OF the Russian
second Pacific squadron ard relief from Cen
eral Kuropatkin. The constant failure of these
hopes to r1aterialize depressed the soldiers
StoesseI is quoted saying that while thou
sand men were left ne would not surrender
Owing to the constant Smelling Of Port Ar
thur. the Russian ships there maintain low
pressure steam, to enable them frequently
CHSnRe
Retvizan. the Poltava and the Peresviet have
often been hit, and one steamer, used In sweep
ing for mines, was sunk. One gun of the Elec-
trio Hin battery and one Marble Hill have
been dsmounted by japanese shells.
ST. Petersburg. Oct 31.-A telegram from
General StoesseI dated October II gives the
latest Russian news from Port Arthur. The
general then announced that the Russians had
repulsed a japanese attack on the forts north
and northeast OF Port Arthur on October 16
with heavy losses 10 the assailants. General
stoessel also asked for the blessing of the EN-
peror and Empress This is interpreted here to
mean that the Russian commander has almost
abandoned hope. In a telegram dated October
II General Stoessel says:
The enemy, with 11-inch guns keeps I'D a
severe fire, bornbardng the fortifcations on the
north ana northeast front, the east of the
railroad and on the interior of the fortress ST.
muitaneously. They are approaching our forts
by means OF trenches their furthest advance he
ing in the vicinity Of a fort situated south Of
the village OF Utsia-Fau, making necessary the
greatest caution by our gun and rife fire and
an nappy 10 report 10 our majesty, continue
: 20 fight heroically despite fatigue and prya-
ions We ask for your blessing and that of
the Empress.
IN his telegram of October II General stoesseI
says:
Yesterday about 3 in TIE afternoon the Jap
anese began a furious bonloardTnent Of the forts
and fortihcauons. a particularly severe fire
was directed against those on the north front
near the railroad the } paHeSe having advanced
along the railroad 10 the village of Palit-
with field artillery cur artillery and sharp
shooters repulsed the attack. The fighting ended
at Z at night, but the usual boInbardnlent con-
tinued all night long. The japanese sustained