The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1904-10-13
PROGRESS OF THE WAR

What we know TO a certainty about
the situation at Port Arthur IL now, as
has been the case ever since the siege
began. Just nothing az all. What we
are able TO guess with a fair degree
OF probability Is very little. When a
general assault In being made by the
Japanese we soon know the Bare fact
by the thick crop OF rumors that come
TO Chefoo. Also the latest rumors
usually suffice 20 show that earlier ru-
mors were false. But what positions
the japanese are now holding, and
more especially whethey they have
driven the Russians permanently out
OF any n OF the chain OF great inner
forts u Port Arthur, cannot be told.
Nevertheless u Is worth while TO
cast q glance over the progress OF the
Siege and make the best guesses about
Il that we can. The first landing OF
Japanese on the Liaotung Peninsula
was made May 5. Immediately after
the battle OF tho Yalu. May ~ was
fought the battle OF Klnchan, with
the storming OF Nanshan, and there
upon the effective investment OF Port
Arthur by land began. Dalny was az
once occupied by General Nogi and
made his base.
About the last OF June or the FIRST
! OF July, concurrcntly with the occupa-
ton OF the three passes In the Man.
churlan mountains by Generals Kuro-
III, oku and Nodzu. tho hrst lombard
ment OF Port Arthur was made. This
was at long range, and II resulted In
enabling the japanese TO occupy an
advanced line across the peninsula at
a distance OF some ten OF twelve miles
from the main defenses OF the fortress.
The Japanese seem then TO have d.
vided their armies into three sections.
At any rate, three general lines. OF
attack on the fortress can be marked
put. Their left came along the east
coast OF the peninsula against Mount
| Takushan and S~iao-hou-shan. Their
center advanced on the village Sucl-
sze.ying. about Ave miles north Of the
harbor. close 10 Wolf Hill. Their right
sought 10 work around to Pigeon Bay,
on the west coast OF the peninsula, d.
rectly west Of the City OF Port Arthur.
Between Aug. ] and Aug. Is we can
locate with a none too certain guess
The Japenese occupation OF Takushan
Mountain. OF Wolf Hin and Of n VII
lage and minor fort on Pigeon Bay.
With this the besieglns army was In
direct opposition to the line Of ex-
reedlngly strong forts which make up
the inner dcfenses. Rumor after ru.
NOR Mt that time told OF the capture
OF Etse-shan and Antszshan, two OF
the strongest Of these forts, and the
sortie OF the Russian feet Aug. 10
gave grounds for the belief that these
rumOrs were true and that the fall OF
the fortress was impending.
These rumOrs proved al wrong. and
II the Japanese actually succeeded In
forcing the Russians out OF Etse-shan
they were unable 70 hold IL them.
selves. A month OF comparative quiet
"A time OF commandments, but not OF
assauIts-follOwed. Then, ms II would
seem, about two weeks RgO-mOst Of
the stories say Sept. ia new series
Of assaults began. We were told that
She japanese had captured nine minor
forts, part OF them lying close In "a
EtSe-shan and Antszshau and part
south OF Wolf Hill. These latter con
trolled the w~ntcrworEs of Port Arthur
and gave the Japanese a new point
from which 10 make attacks either
upon Antszhan to the west or upon the
' strong Keekwan forts to the east. We
are still In ignorance whether these
positions, II actually taken, were held
and also as TO whether they are now
being used as aids for further rs
saults, or whether assaults have now
ceased for the present We have little
reason 10 think that any one OF the
i main chain OF forts Is now In japanese
occupation. The fact that both side,
are losing confidence Is a striking evi
dcnce OF the desperate lighting around