Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-12-02
PREPARE TO MOVE
ON PORT ARTHUR
JAPANESE GETTING READY TO
MAKE DESPERATE ASSAULT.
MAY BE EXPECTED SOON
Desire to Capture Stronghold Before
Baltic Squadron Arrives = Or
dered to Take the City
at Any Cost.

St. Petersburg, Nov. 26.-There is an
entire lack of news from the front The
report that the japanese are concentrat-
ing their energies Tor desperate assault
On Port Arthur, in view of the approach
Of the Baltic squadron, is quite gen.
orally credited in official quarters. Such
3 move has been expected to transpire
squadron ST trip is an actuality and no
mere demonstration. The authorities
are prepared to hear terrible reports
Of the projected assault. While not
hazarding guess whether the fortress
can be carried If the besiegers are ut
terly regardless of human life, they are
confident that Gen. Stoessel will be able
to make such an attack one OF the cost
Hest operations in history.
Ordered to Take City.
Washington, Nov. 26.-It is learned,
on excellent authority, that the Japan
csc army has been ordered to renew ita
attack on Port Arthur, and to take the
main Notifications at any cost.
outworks of Forts Taken.
Toxic. Nov. 26.-It is reported tina,
the japanese saps directed against
Rthlung mountain, Sungshu noun
tain and East Kekwan mountain have
reached the base of the center bitches.
The defensive works outside the para.
pets of Rihlung mountain and Sungshu
mountain have been captured, leaving
the Russians in possession of the para.
pets only. The Japanese guns are she'll
Ing the parapets and int1icting heavy
damage. The occupation of the forts
Is expected shortly. If the forts are
taken, the capture of Port Arthur prop.
err seems assured within a short time.
Can Sweep West Ridge.
Headquarters of the Japanese Army
Before Port Arthur, Nov. % (via Fusan,
Nov. 26).-The possession of the Rib.
lung and Kekwan forts enables the
japanese to place sufficient force on the
north front of the eastern ridge OF
forts to execute sweeping movement
against the battery positions on the
crest of the western ridge of forts and
2o3 meter hill, which as yet they have
not captured.
Japs Occupy Poutuen.
Field Headquarters Gen. oku's
Army, Nov. % (via Fusan Nov 26).-
The Russians are showing some activ.
ity In front of Gen. Oku's army. AT
dawn to-day detachments attacked or
two places the left and center divisions.
The center repulsed the attack imme.
diately and the left did also, after a
hard fight. AS result of the repulse,
the Japanese occupied Poutuen. The
Russians left many dead on the field.
The Baltic Squadron.
Suez, Nov. 26.-The Baltic squadron
arrived safely at the Bitter Lakes, in the
canal. Under instructions the destroy.
srs left the remainder of the squadron
and came on to Suez, where they an.
chored, preceding the transports, which
will come through under electric light,
arriving here at 2 o'clock a. m. While
the destroyers were passing through the
canal men were stationed at their guns
and torpedo tubes
Rivers Frozen Over,
b. Petersburg, Nov. ga dispatch
from Mukden states that the Hun and
Taitse rivers have been frozen over
The low stage of water in the Lao
river, the dispatch adds, impedes the
transport Of Japanese stores from
Yinkow, and the forwarding of ammu-
milton is delayed by the scarcity Of
wagons. The removal of the wounded
from Liaoyang to Dalny is being exc
cuted with difficulty for the same
reason.