Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-14
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
GEN. STOESSEL REPORTS SPIRIT
OF THE GARRISON GOOD.
Making Heroic Resistance to the De-
termined Assaults of the
Brave japanese.

ST PETERSBURG, October 14-In the
midst of the anxiety and suspense involved
In the great fight south of Mukden comes
also the first word in many days from the
gallant defenders of Port Arthur. While
General Stoessels report of the condition
of affairs at Port Arthur is no later than
October Z, 1t shows that the garrison at
that time was in unimpaired spirits, max
ing a heroic defense against a series of the
most bitter assaults in all the history of
sieges. The closeness of the fighting and
the deadly character of the attacks and
counter-attacks are shown by the fact that
both sides are using hand grenades and
that the Japanese, after a bloody capture
OF the important signal station HILL were
unable to hold the position in the face of
the fire from the fortress.
l Skill of the Defense.
The repeated failure of the Japanese to
hold footing once gained in the circle of
inner forts is received here with consider
able satisfaction, as indicating the skill
with which the defenses at Port Arthur
were arranged, the main line of forts SUD-
porting each other so as to render any one
poslton almost certainly untenable even If
temporarily captured by an enemy But the
reckless 1eroclty of the assaults by an over
1t certain that Port Arthur can only be
held by an immense expenditure of am
munlt1on, and it is becoming a serious
question with the authorities how long even
the great supply known to exist in the
fortress can last in the face of the con-
tinuance of Japanese attacks.
Inc most serious feature of General
Stoesseis report from strategical point
or view, is the fact that the Japanese have
put mortar battery in position to bear on
the inner fortress.
Gen. StoessePs Report.
General Stoessel, commander of the Rus
sian troops at Port Arthur, telegraphs that
the Russians recently recaptured Signal
Hill. He adds that the Japanese, are bonn
harding the interior of the fortress with
new batteries. and that the bombardmenr
is becoming more and more violent.
General Stoessers report to the en-
peror, which is dated October 5, is as fol-
lows:
Der OF their guns against the north front
commenced an approach against that sec.
tion OF the fortress the night of October l.
but were stopped by voleys. The japanese.
then directed their attack on the extreme.
right flank assailng Signal HILL which is
situated near the sea, and commenced an
attack from Siaku Hill. Having repulsed
GU our sharpshooters. the japanese occupied
shelled by Russian artillery after which
our companies drove off the japanese and
reoccupied the position.
The japanese are using explosives, in
closed in boxes provided with Pickford fuses
which they throw like hand grenades Our
garrison is successfully employing similar
weapons.
Our indefatigable hero, Kondratenko. is
continually lnventing fresh means of Strik-
ing the enemy. The troops continue to show
heroism, the wounded returning to the
ranks full of ardor'
Under date of October General StoesseI
reports as follows:
The japanese have organized fresh bat
teries to lombard the inner fortress. One
OF these batteries is composed of eleven
inch mortars The bombardment is becom-
ing more violent every day. The enemy
has received reinforcements of several bat
talions. The weather is cold. The Spirit
of the troops is excellent and ALL from the
chief to the lowest soldier, is eager to. fight
the enemy"