The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-08-26

Washington, August 23.-Consul Gen.
eraf Goodnow at Shanghai has cabIed
the state department that the Chinese
taotai Of Shanghai through the British
consul has ordered that the repairs to
: the Russian cruiser Askold and the
torpedo a destroyer Grozovoi D.
stopped. The order was made through
the British consul because of the fact
hat the repairs were being made by
the British dock company at Shanghai.
Che Foo, August 23.-Noon. Accord
ing to advices brought from Port Ar
thur by a junk the japanese were hot
ly pressing the Russian center along
the railway and the Russian right in
the vicinity of Golden Hill. These ad-
vices are brought by Chinese who de-
parted from Taipangtze, which is n
mile from the city near Golden Hill,
between the city and the forts OF the
Russian right wing. The Chinese de.
clare that the japanese occupied
Taipangtze and penetrated along the
railroad TO General Stoessers residences
on August 21st.
AS this report would indicate that
Port Arthur had all but fallen, Ihe Jap
Hnese expert attached to the local con-
suiate received the Information with
great reserve. Th Information is ac-
cepted, however, as a confirmation Of
previous reports that the Russians
have been driven from Itzshan and
that the Japanese are very close to the
southern forts and the eastern defenses.
The local Japanese under the leader
ship OF their consul are Subscribing
money and prepar rS to celebrate the
expected fail of the fortress.
The Chinese who arrived today fur
Their report that a Russian warship
was hit by a shell recently and sunk
in the harbor.
"A report was cabled several days ago
that a gunboat of the Otvapano type
had been sunk This is probably the
vessel referred to.
JAPANESEfS STEADY AVANCE.
London, August 23.-3:35 D. m. The
Evening News this afternoon publish
ed a dispatch from Che Foo under to-
days date announcing that the Japa-
nese captured CHAIR Fort" of the Port
Arthur defenses, yesterday after a ire
mendous attack.
The Evening News dispatch from
Che Foo is simply a repetition of the
announcement OF the capture of Itshan
or E~tseshan, know as Chair Fort
EtSeShan fort, according to the maps
of Port Arthur available, is almost in
the center of the chain of forts of which
ii forms one, defending Port Arthur,
from which it is only about a miles and
q hale Iicronf T. oOaIrnio- q ooron1on6
ing position and is possibly only second
in Importance to the Gold Hill, forts.
Tt was announced from Che Foo Mon>
day hat the Japanese had swept the
Russians from Pigeon Bay and had
captured then orthernmost fort of the
IKyestern line OF inner defenses, though
Entszshan fort, about a mile northeast
: of Btseshan fort. might also be classed
Is the northermost fort of the western
1Ne of inner defenses at Port Arthur.
THE SITUATION AT SHANGHAI.
Shanghai, August 23.-Noon . The A.
nal time limit allowed by the taotai
of Shanghai for the Russian cruiser
ASkold and the torpedo boat destroyer
Grozovoi to disarm has passed without
compliance with his order.
"a meeting of the foreign tonSulS was
held this afternoon, but the Russian
consul general, NJ. Kleinmenoh, was alb
sent ana no Oe0llte course or acIlOn
was decided upon. The taotai has re-
= quested Sir Pelham Warren, the Brit
dsh consul general, to order hat the
repairs to the Askold be stopped. the
British consul general has taken no
action as yet.
There is a japanese fleet outside the
harbo awaiting developments. A visit
TO the Askold shows that her hull Is
not in condition to go to sea. The re-
pairs nave been rushed on the boilers
and hull.
In view Of the circumstances existing
here certain prominent American firms
made a request upon American Consul
General Goodnow for the protection of
cargos and warehouses near the Ask
old. This request was forwarded by
ing in Of the American fleet
there who has the matter under con-
s~ideration.
No uneasiness is felt by the foreign
residents of Shanghai, but the Chinese
are excited.
FURIOUS FIGHTING.
LAO Yang, August 3.-According to
th6k latest Information from Port Ar
thur a furious Japanese attack through
ont August 18th and August 10th was
TGdlsed with terrific loss. This news
was received here with the greatest
JOY.
There has been no serious fighting
in this region but there has been a
small skirmish at Anshanshan where