Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-09-19
Have a Conflict and Find
laps Have Been Re-
inforCed.
HORRORS OF WARFARE
Depicted in Story of Russian
Officer Who Has Left
Port Arthur.

St. Petersburg, Sept. ia dispatch
from Kuropatkin today announces that
Gems. Kennenkampff and Samsonof
are conducting important recOnnais-
ances which have resulted in rather
heavy fighting with many casualties.
Acting upon the advice of his military
advisers the emperor has decided to
form the second ManchuriaE army.
Recovered From Wounds.
From KurOpatkin's telegram, which
was dispatched yesterday evening, it
appears that Rennenkampff had recov-
cred from his wound and had resumed
command of his troops. The recon
naisances disclosed a further increase
in the Japanese forces.
say JnpS Retrented.
4 dispatch to a news agency from
s. Petersburg says reconnaisances
were made towards the Japanese front
and right flank resulting in the Japa-
ncse being driven back. The Russian
losses, according to this version, are
said to be slight.
No Mercy shown.
ChcfOo. Sept. 19.-According to
Lieut. Prince RadZiyil of the Russian
army who has reached here from Port
Arthur bearing dispatches from Lieut..
Gen. StocSsel 10 Gen. KurOpatlin, the
temper of the belligerents at Port Ar
ther has reached an absolutely merci-
less stage.
Prince RadZiviI served with the Brit
ish in the Boer war. and he says that
until he became aware of the state of
affairs at Port Arthur he had no idea
that war could be so horrible.
Truce Flag Useless.
1t has been reported that serious
suspicious were entertained by each
side that the other was misusing the
Red Cross flag. These suspicious
have been increased by the commits
sions of various acts by the soldiers
of both armies. until now even flags
of truce or surrender are not respected
by either side.
Prince Radzivil declares that the
men of both armies are absolutely
venomous in their antagOnism. Gen.
Stoessel has addressed his garrison.
saying that the present mood of the
Japanese indicates clearly the neces-
sity of resisting them TO the last drop
of Russian blood, because if the Japa-
nCse soldiers entered the fortress it
undoubtedly would be impossible for
their officers to control them and pre-
vent a massacre.
For this reason Gen. Stoessel is
a irs Ah pi iNri1f
ing Port Arthur. When the 500 WON
en- who are in Port Arthur engaged
in hospital work were advised TO leave
they replied that they would rather
face the possibility of massacre than
desert their posts.
Dead Lie InburIed.
In consequence of the fact that flags
of truce are ignored. numbers of Japa-
nCse dead who have been lying on the
slopes of the hills of the northeast de
fenses for weeks past are still unbur-
led. and the stencil in Port Arthur
from deCompOsing bodies when the
wind is in the right direction. is al
most uncomfortable. The Russian sol
diers. who are in some cases posted
only 80 PAGES from heaps of deCaying
dead. have constantly to wear over
their noses handkerchiefs soaked in
Camphor. as otherwise they would be
unable TO remain at their posts.
In the course of the assaults which
took place in the last four days of
August two companies of Japanese sol
diers. according to Prince Radzivil
found themselves at the mercy of the
Russians and hoisted white flag TC
this. however. the Russians paid no
attention and continued to volley rap
idly into the helpless ranks of the
enemy. In the meantim> Japanese
troops in the rear of the companies
that had raised the white flag saw
what their comrades had done and ex-
pressed their disapproval OF the sur
render by firing into their rear As
a result of this fire from friend and
foe Goo men were annihilated. The
dead fell among the decOmposing bod
les of previous assaults
Pleas for Help Useless
For days afterward the wounded
men in this area raised futterins
handkerchiefs in their hands in pleas
for help. but the Russians were afraid