The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1904-11-07
RUSSIANS
SURRENDER
Numerous DeSertiOnS from
Port Artfur's Garrison
ADVANCE lRRlSTlBLE
Mikados Army is Rapidly Sur
rounding Mukden and is
Likely to Take Town.
ADVANCE IRRlSTlBLE

LONDON, Nov. Especial dispatch.
| es from Tientsn this morning report
that the defenders of Port Arthur
| have retired to the Liaou hill fort,
where they are intrenched and will
hold out desperately with ten guns of
large caliber Many Russians are de
sorting and surrendering. The Japa-
nese, 1t Is added, are advancing with
irresistible energy.
A Tokyo report of the capture of
Wantai hill, dominating fort within
two miles of the railway terminus,
shows that the japanese are making
rapid strides.
The troops of the mikado have fire.
quently stolen into the native town of
Port Arthur after dark, but invariably
were driven out at daylight with heavy
losses. The japanese have four large
forts facing the Russian works on
Rihlung mountain and Shanshu noun
tain. where they are mounting naval
guns on stone foundations.
Mukden dispatches to Berlin state
that the Russian commanders are pre-
pairing their men TO hear of the fall Of
Port Arthur.
Adyiccs from Mukden say that the
Japanese are still working hard in
trenchng their front, which begins TO
look like continuous fort. Ii is be-
lieved they are preparing seriously to
advance, making their front strong.
possibly in order that II may be held
by comparatively small force while
the heavier force engages In thanking
movements. The Japanese have learned
by bitter experience not to expect much
from frontal attack. They are obliged,
however, to maintain a strong front to
prevent General KurOpatkin from
breaking through their line and carry
ing the war to their rear.
There is considerable evidence to in
dictate that the Japanese Will make
every effort TO force the Russians out
of Mukden not only for the moral eff
feet on Europe, but upon the Chinese
as well. Mukden is extremely impor-
tant TO them as winter quarters.
The japanese continue to receive re-
endorsements. and ii is believed by
Russian military men that their ad-
vancing depends only upon accumulat-
ing sufficient men.
General Kuropatkin has reported the
repulse of a Japanese attack OH his
right flank on Nov. 3.
A Chefu report says that as the re-
suit of months of preparation Nladi-
vostok Is now strongly protected, ac-
cording TO Captain Halversen of the
rived there five days out from that
port with 700 Chinese refugees who
were unable to live at Nladivostok any
longer owing to the high prices of food
and other necessaries due to the war.
Captain Halversen says that the Vladi-
vostok system of Notifications begins
many miles outside the city proper
and grows stronger as the city is ap-
preached.
II the japanese make an attempt to
capture Vladivostok ii is the belief of
Captain Halversen that they will find
1t to be second Port Arthur.
A dispatch from General Kurokis
headquarters says that the positions of
the two armies are unchanged. The
Russians continue infrequent and in
effective bombardment, principally at
night or in the early morning, with
heavy guns, devoting their energies
chiefly TO the japanese left, where the
lines are nearer than elsewhere.
The cold weather OF the past week
has eliminated In sharp wind and
fiurries of snow. The ground is frozen,
but the soldiers build few fires for
warmth lest they draw the Russian
shots. They have remarkably and In
geniously well constructed shelters Of
cornstalks wherever they are unable to
occupy Chinese houses. Fur overcoats
are being used.
A St. Petersburg report says that
Emperor Nicholas will go this week
to Poland. TO bid farewell to. the two
rife brigades stationed not far from
Skierniewice, going thence to Minsk
and viteosk to bid farewell TO the
Fourth and Sixteenth corps. The trip
to Poland. however, may be deferred
on account of alarming reports from
Warsaw of rioting at Czenstochova,
where the Second brigade Is stationed.