The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-24
Japanese at Port Arthur Cap.
ture Another Position.
General K0ndratenkO Is Report.
ed Among Russian Slain.
GEN. FOCK is WOUNDED
And Another General Officer Ii
Reported Killed.
Admiral Togo Announces With
draWal OF His Fleet.

, Toxic, Dec 24.-The japanese
forces besieging Port Arthur yesterday
stormed and now hold the heights
east of Houyangshukou.
Prisoners captured by the japanese
| report that the Russian general Kon-
dratenko and another general officer
whose name is not known have been
killed and that General FOck is among
the woun led.
Later the enemy concentrated his fire
from several forts at Tayangokou and
Yahutsui upon our newly occupied posi-
ton following this with a determined
, counter attack during which hand
grenades were thrown but our force
finally repulsed the enemy. Later as
the enemy'S bombardment abated we
constructed some defensive works so
that our occupation became more as
Sured.
LAS a result of our heavy guns bonn
bardment during and before the attack
the fort of Tayangkou was set on fire.
One fifteen centimeter gun in each OF
the forts was destroyed. The covers
were also considerable damaged.
According to the statement of pris-
onegS captured at Keekwan mountain
December 18, and of Russians who sur
rendered in the vicinity of Etz noun
tain December %, during the battle of
203 Meter hill General Kondratenko,
commander of the Seventh East Siber-
commander of the Fourth artillery bri-
gade, were killed, and General Fock
commanding the Fourth East Siberian
division was wounded
The navy department declines to dis
cuss the formation, movements or plans
of the Japanese flying squadron, re-
ported to be in the vicinity of Sfnga-
pore.
The advanced japanese batteries at
Port Arthur have succeeded in reach
ing the Russian battleship SevaStOpol-
One successful hit is reported. 1t is ex-
pected that the battleship will soon be
completely destroyed.
! A dispatch from the Japanese army
before Port Arthur timed midnight
| says:
/ on December 22, the Russian de-
Houyangshukou, Sungshu mountain,
! Rihlung mountain and the H" forts
/ were bonn barded by the Japanese with
heavy guns which inflicted consider
able damage. AS a result of the bonn
| bardment detachment of the Jap
anese right wing at dawn December
%, attacked the enemy on the heights
I east of Houyangshukou and captured
the ridges and heights at 7:40 in the
! morning.
Mile end Half From 2O3.
Washington, Dec. 24.-The japanese
legation today received the following
cablegram from Toxic, dated today:
"Port Arthur army reports that the
right detachment occupied a hill on the
east of Houyangshukou, thereupon en-
erny made fierce counter attack but was
repulsed. Our occupation is now near
ly assured. This hill is situated one
mile and a half south of 203 Meter hill.
The bombardment of our heavy guns
caused a great confiagration on the
north fort of HsitayanghaO.
| Togo WithdraWS His Fleet.
Toxic, Dec. 24.-Admiral Togo an
nounces the withdrawal of the ma
jority of the fleet from Port Arthur.
Admiral Togo, telegraphing under
date of December %, says:
After 2O3 Meter hill was occupied
as the result of a gallant and desperate
attack by the besieging army, the
bombardment of the enemy's squad
ron by siege and other heavy guns
became effective. In consequence the
battleships PoItava and Retvizan were
sunk and subsequently the battleshipS
Pobedia and Persiviet, the protected
cruiser PaIlada and the armored
cruiser Bayan were sunk.
1.-The battleship Sevasuopol escaped
the land bombardment, left the harbor
December 9, and anchored near Chen
tao mountain. She was attacked there
continuously by our torpedo boats and
heavily damaged The main strength
of the enemy is completely crushed
Only a weak gunbOat, the OtvaShniy
and several torpedo boat destroyers
remain af1oat. Under the circum
stances our combined fleet has been
removed as unnecessary from the
been maintained since May l. 1 have
arranged for a closer watch for ships
attempting to run the blockade and to
watch the remnant of the enemy's
squadron.
During the blocade- we suffered
from the enemy's mines both laid and
floating on the high seas and from
dense fogs. The cruisers Miyako,
Saiyer, Yoshino and Haitsu, battleship
Kaimon, gunboat and Heyen coast de-
fenSe vessel. were sunk, many gallant
and loyal officers and men We're killed.
When the enemy emerged from the
harbor our feet successfully engaged
him and finally with the valuable sup
port of the besieging army succeeded
in crushing nearly all the enemy's
squadron. Our second squadron so
heavily damaged the Vladivostok
squadron that it has since been unable
'An the success is gratefully at
tributed to the brilliant virtue of our
emperor
During the blockade all the ships
under my command splendidly ac-
complished the work and duty as
signed to them. Especially to be noted |
are some of those who are engaged |
in the difficult and risky task of
bIockading or who tirelessly accom- |
plished the work Of laying mines in |
the presence of the enemy, others who |
Drawing all dangers were engaged in |
the work of clearing mines away, and /
others still who were posted to watch 3
the enemy and guard against the en- |
emy's ships. Their combined work !
strongly contributed to the accom- |
plishment of the blockade. I deem it /
my duty to especially mention my rec
ognition of the valuable services rem
dered by the officers and men,
An imperial rescript dispatched to |
Vice Admiral Togo says:
I'VE hear with great satisfaction |
that our. torpedo hotillas engaged in |