Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-16
ARE IN GOOD SPIRITS
PORT ARTHUR REPORTS RUSSIAN
TROOPS DETERMINED.
It is Said That Long, Obstinate De-
tense Will Be Made-Japanese
:. Take Fort.

s: ST lRETERSBURG, September ia tel
segram from Harbin says the following re-
port has been received from Port Arthur:
Our garrison. is in good spirits and there
is no prospect of provisions failing. Port
Arthur is prepared to make a long, obsti-
nate defense.
fhe Japanese are strongly fOrtifying
their position near the Kinchow Isthmus
and are entrenching before Port Arthur"
The japanese are now expected to re-
double their efforts before Port Arthur,
whence the news received is not encourage
ing. In spite Of the success which hitherto
has attended the defense, the Russian lines
are being drawn closer the garrison is un-
dergoing severe privations, and it's resist
ing power is weakening under the strain A
final Sortie of the Russian squadron at Port
Arthur may be expected at any time When
the command of the squadron was turned
over to Rear Admiral Wiren he received
strict instructions that If the fortress falls
rot one of the Russian ships must fall into
the hands of the Japanese.
japanese Take a Fort.
CHEFOO, September 16.-The japanese
troops between September and September
10 captured fort situated on a high hill
two miles east of Golden Hill by assault
The fighting was not severe. The japanese
were able to remain in the fort because the
quallty of the powder used at Golden Hill
was so poor that many shells fell short and
theirs failed to explode.
The fort which the japanese captured
Is not regarded as essential to the defense
of Port Arthur, although it is obvious there
Will be some disadvantage from it's occu-
patton, as the Japanese are constantly re-
ceiving heavy guns from Japan, to
wnlch the Russians are unable to reply
effectively.
The Chinese are unable to describe this
Tort, but the comparatively weak resist
ance OF the Russians suggests it was an
outpost.
This assault was the only one to take
place since August 81.
The foregoing information was received
from an intelligent Chinese, who left Port
Arthur September 12 He had been a dock
yard laborer there for many years. He
adds that the Japanese are tunneling un-
der the Russian forts with the intention
OF blowing them up. He says that the
work of tunneling. is slow and arduous,
and will probably be unsuccessful
Public Buildings Mined.
The Russians have placed mines under
all the public buildings, wharves, arsenals
and everything that could possibly be of
use to the Japanese with the intention of
causing their destruction should the jap
anese enter the city.
The house formerly occupied by viceroy
partially wrecked.
Ammunition is growing scarcer, but there
is plenty of bread. The price of flour Is
now nine roubles.
Another shell struck a destroyer which
was lying. in dock undergoing repairs
knocked it into kindling wood and killing
seven sailors. This shell came from the
Japanese feet, which comes in much closer
than formerly daily, throwing few shells.
One shell. demolished several engines in the
dOckyard and killed an officer and two
men.
Land Defenses Strengthened.
The five eleven-inch guns on Golden HILL
which were formerly pointed seaward, have
been rearranged, three of them now point
ing landward. The Chinese alleges that all
of the guns except the ten and twelve-inch
have been removed to land batteries from
on board the battle ships, where they were
of very little use.
OF all the ships in the harbor only six
are fully able to participate in another fight
at present.
month ago the Golden Hill batteries
threatened Shushiyen. Now the Chinese
says the shells fall far short Of that point.
Alleged Conditions at Port Arthur.
SHANGHAI, September 16-The North
China Daily News today publishes pri-
vate letter from Chinese interpreter, en-
ployed from 1897 until the end of August
last in the commissariat department at
Port Arthur. The writer says that In Feb
ruary last the department supplied daily
80 600 ratiOns to the Russian land forces
alone, the naval forces supplying them
selves. But when we departed" he adds,