Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-11-01
MuKpEN AND PORT ARTHUR.
Both Armies Still Preparing for De.
cisive Struggle.

ClSlVo otTuS9ics
News from the opposing Russian and
Japanese armies at Mukden indicate
that both sides are still bending their
energies to preparations for decisive
struggle which may commence at any
time.
Since the recent great battle lasting
about eleven days, the Russians are
said to have secured re-inforcements to
the number of $4,000 or $4,000 men.
The Japanese have been putting in the
time entrenching their position and
getting up additional endorsements.
They claim to have brought as many
as 10000 men from Port Arthur.
A dispatch of yesterday from Che
foo tells all that Is known up to that
date about the operations around Port
Arthur as follows:
On Oct. "a, having made every pos
sible preparation, the Japanese opened
fire with their artillery along the whole
line, incidentally continuing their
daily practice Of dropping shells into
the harbor. The Russians replied, the
sounds as Of distant thunder telling the
inhabitants Of Port Dalny that the
long expected assault on the fortress
was imminent. The bombardment
continued furiously until the afternoon
Of Oct. 26, when the Russian guns on
Este mountain, Antse mountain and
Rihlung mountain became briefly ST.
lent. At 4 o'clock that afternoon
regiment of Japanese swept out from
behind a recently captured hill ada
cent to Rihlung mountain and adVanc-
ed on the Russian trenches, lying be-
tween Rihlung mountain and the rail-
road, occupying them after hours OF
fighting. The Russians stuck to their
posts till the japanese were within a
a few yards, both sides hurling hand
grenades at each other. The Japanese
infantry are now using mechanical
devices which enable them to throw
grenades with great accuracy and ra-
pidity. In the meanwhile another body
of Japanese assaulted the trenches on
the slope Of .Rihlung mountain. The
japanese trenches extended to certain
portions Of the slope and. stopped some
distance above the extreme japanese
outpost, where the ascent OF Rlhlung
mountain became almost perpendicu-
lar. The Russian trenches scanned the
slope. To advance over an unbroken
slope, which was mined, even without
Russian resistance would have been
difficult task, but the slope had been
torn UP, great holes having been blown
in it at various places by the lombard
ment and the Japanese availed them
selves of these indentations, which Of
fered combined foothold and protec-
tion against bullets. In the meanwhile
the fire of all their available artillery
was directed against the Russian
trenches, the Russians eventually re-
firing, whereupon the Japanese In 81
minutes constructed trenches sufficient
to shield themselves. The Russians ex-
ploded mines but, the Japanese claim
without result One company Of Jap
enese engaged in this fight aroused
general complimentary comment for Its
remarkable GOODNESS, executing the va
rious manoeuvers for the purpose OF
securing shelter with automatic exact
ness, as IL on parade. Upon the retire
ment of their troops the Russians
opened fire from Liati mountain and
that night they made sortie. But the
Japanese had in the meanwhile brought
up machine guns, with which the sortie
was repulsed.
Except for the knowledge that the
bombardment was continued all infor-
nation covering the period between
Oct. q and Oct. 20 is lacking, but pre-
sumably it is much Of the same char
acter as that just described, the Jap
anese operations gradually assuming
the proportions Of the general attack OF
yesterday. The fighting is reported to
have been most severe from Rihlung
mountain down along the whole east
side Of the town.