The sun., 1904-12-20
JAPS CAPTURE MORE FORTS.
FURIOUS ATTACK ON SUNDAY
IMPROVES THEIR POSITION.
Auxiliary Defences Blown Up and the
Place Occupied After Five Hours Of
FIghting-seven Russian Guns Taken
TOGO Reports on Destruction OF Fleet.
Special Gable Despatch to TIE Sun.

Special Gable Despatch to THE Sun.
TOXIC, Dec le.-The Japanese began
another general attack on Port Arthur
yesterday afternoon. The right wing OF
Gen. Nogi's army advanced from 2os-Metre
Hill and drove the Russians from Yang
shufang, which the Japanese securely
occupied. They also captured another
fort in that part OF the Notifications oon-
Meeting with Liaotishan.
At 2 O'Clock in the afternoon the left
wing blew up the auxiliary defences north
OF Tunghiwan. There was fierce assault
which lasted until o'clock in the evening,
during which hand grenades were used
Lieut.. Gen. Samejima led the reserves IN
person. The occupation was completed at
midnight.
Five e-centimetre and two machine guns
we're captured. The Russians left hfty
dead behind them. Az they retreated
they exploded four mines. This morning
the Japanese constructed defenoes, and
their occupation is secure.
On Saturday the naval batteries bonn
barded the city and harbor. sinking tor
pedo boat, exploding magazines and dis
placing several guns in the forts. The
hospital ships in the harbor are described
as being large transports. The Russian
destroyers take refuge close alongside
of them, seeking the protection OF tho
Red Cross flag.
Todo's VICTORIES.
Admiral Togo reports a third series OF
torpedo attacks before dawn on Friday
Torpedoes were exploded against the
battleship Sevastopol and the coast de-
fence ironclad Otvajny. Some oil the
destroyers were also hit by torpedoes
The Russian fire was terrific, but inef-
fective. One fotilla Of torpedo boats
bombarded the destroyers at range OF
less than one hundred yards. The duel
was a hot one. The destroyers and
the Japanese boats subsequently issued
from the mouth of the harbor and dis
appeared in the offing. The fate OF the
Russians is not reported.
Admiral Togo especially mentions the
torpedo boat that was commanded py
Lieut.. Commander Ezoi. This boat was re-
pairing when she was ordered to take
part in the attack. She was late In start
ing, but in a binding snowstorm that was
prevailing she approached to within speak
ing distance of the Sevastopol, which she
attacked A Russian shell disembowelled
Lieut.. Commander Ezoi, but the boat was
brought back safely.
Admiral Togo appears to be uncertain
concerning the condition OF the SevastopoL
The baitleship 10 anchored In shallow
water, and does not show the extent oi
the damage she has sustained.
One DESTROYER, with its -riasts gone, ls
<on the beach. In Wednesdays attack
five men we're killed and one was wounded
One torpedo boat was lost
RUSSIANS WE'RE SURPRISED
LONDON, Dec. ia.-The very important
operations at Port Arthur eliminated
Yesterday in signal successes for the Japan
csc. There were three desperate, almost
simultaneous, fights at separate points oi
the defences. namely, Kikwanshan, Sung
shushan and an unnamed position between
the new town and 2O3-Metre Hill.
The seyerest engagement was at hik-
wanshan. Sappers for months past had
been employed in driving shafts beneath
the east Kikwanshan fort. Two OF these
shafts had been completed for distance
of forty feet under the parapet, and it Is
said that they contained two tons OF dyna-
mite.
All was in readiness for the assault at ?
o'clock Yesterday afternoon, and the order
WAS given to explode the mines. There
was a terrific outburst like the eruption OF
a volcano, which destroyed the interior
Of the fort. A volunteer attacking party
instantly rushed forward, but they sacr-
feed themselves uselessly, their rush being
premature. Sixty OF them were burned
in the wreckage.
This caused delay in the attack, but
soon another party dashed forward. They
we're met by the Russians and a furious
combat at close quarters followed. Bayo-
nets and hand grenades were used in the
struggle for the parapet, and the COM
batants swayed to and fro through the re-
naming hours of daylight and long after
dark. 1t was not until midnight that the
Japanese were victorious.
The Russians retreated southwark. ex-
ploding four mines as they withdrew.
During the fight both sides were REINFORCED.
The carnage was great. II il stated that
tho defenders we're almost wiped out II
seems that the Russians were completely
SURPRISED the Japanese not having bonn
ha rded before exploding their mines and
assaulting.
Immediately the garrison was driven
out the Japanese started to build protect
ing works, which have been completed,
and seem TO insure the holding OF the
position. This Is the first great permanent
fort that the Japanese have taken. 1t
was excelently constructed according to
the most scientific methods.
The roar Of the fighting at Sungshushan
could be heard by the victors at kikwan-
shan. but the attack does not seem to have
succeeded. The capture OF the unnamed
height il regarded as important.
LEGATIONS REPORTS.
WASHINGTON, Dec. la.-The Japanese
Legation to-day received two dispatches
from the Foreign Office at Toxic, giving
further details Of the progress Of the at
tempt Of Admiral Togo to destroy the Rus
sian feet at Port Arthur. The first despatch
said:
Admiral Togo reports that while attack
ing Russian ships in the outer roadstead
on the night Of the I4th one Of our torpedo
boats was disabled and abandoned but
the survivors were saved. Another tor
pedo boat was temporarily disabled but
conveyed back. The rest of Our craft
sustained no serious damage. Our total
| casualties were ten killed and fourteen