Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1904-10-07
is IN CLOSE QUARTERS
All information From Port Arthur In
dioates Japanese Are Pressing
Toward The End.

dicateS Japanese Are pressing
Toward the End.
Chefoo. Sept. 2s.-As a result OF the
battle before Port Arthur which began
on September 10. the Japanese suc-
ceeded In capturing several importantly
posts, N today the Russian tenure
of the big forts guarding the north
northeast and northwest sides OF the
town is seriously threatened. Chinese
information places the Japanese losses
under 5000 for the three days lighting,
and this comparatively small casualty
list is due TO the excessive are used
by the Japanese in making their prep
arations for the advance. Russian
sources, however. claim TO have in
formation that She Japanese losses
We're unusually severe, amounting to-
fully three times the number mem
toned.
Possibly the most important capture
during the three days lighting was
that OF Fort Kuropatkin. which, while
of minor value with regard to pre-
venting the entrance into the town of
the Japanese, has been constructed for
the purpose OF protecting the sources
OF the garrison's water supply. The,
control of this water supply is now In
the hands or the Japanese.
Battle Began September 20.
AS was announced IN these dispatches
VII " kk4G ANARt 0ETI
fore daybreak on September 10. AT this
hour there were thunderous reports Of
artillery along the line extending from
the west of Itz mountain TO Rhilungl
and Kikwan mountains. This was but
a preface To the assault which was des-I
tined 10 result in the capture Of three
new and important Russian positions,
together with six small forts lying be-,
tween Shushiyen and Rhilung noun
tain. During the day and night OF the
18th and at noon OF the Goth the BOMB
bardsnent continued without cessation,
and the many shells falling from quar-
ters which previously had been silent
made 1t obvious hat the Japanese had
lat least succeeded In mounting many
heavy guns Ia new positions, or In
strengthening their old positions. The
infantry fighting during this period was
comparatively trivial.
AT noon on September 90, the Japan
csc right and center, the former being
TO the north and the latter TO the east
of the railroad, commenced the adj
vance. The troops made use OF the
trenches and infrequent natural coversl
that lay In their way. The small forts
to the south of Shushiyen resisted this
advance, but briefly, their garrisons not
being strong numerically.
Fort Kuropatkin Fell.
Since the beginning of the lombard,
ment the artillery fire ron Fort Ku-
ropatkln had beer growing steadily
weaker, and 1t having become apparent
that II had been practically silenced
the Japanese assaulted the forts. Fort
Kuropatkin Is situated to the south OF
P~alichuang and to the northeast OF
the parade ground, on q o Hill. III
derives its name from the time when
General Kuropatkin inspected It,
pointed out the weakness OF the posi-
ton. and ordered that 1t be strength-
ened as far as possible because of the
necessity OF protecting the water sup
ply. While situated in the chain OF
main forts, Fort Kuropatkin never has
been as strong as the others. and after
severe fighting IL fell into the hands OF
the Japanese. This capture lessons
further the security Of the fort IN
Rhilung mountain, which is now
threatened from a new quarter as well
as from Palfchuang.
At S o'clock In the afternoon Of the
Goth the Japanese carried a supple
mentary fort. which from the lower
ground threatens the fort on Itz noun
tain. This ended the heavy lighting for
that day. although the Japanese later
We're compelled to resist several sor-
ties.
Bombardment, Then Assault.
During the night the heavy lombard
fiit&n& VI AN 4AAC1AtAt R14ALtQNi2 NNLk~
tinued, the Japanese fire being directed
with particular vigor against another
supplementary fort 1900 yards to the
west OF the forts on Itz mountain, and
regarded as highly important because
OF its bearing on The Itz and Anshu
mountain forts.
The next day after having pounded
this position numerically and until its
fire had slackened visibly. the Japanese
delivered their assault. They met with
IA stubborn resistance. They were ex-
posed to the fire OF machine guns and
rifles, and they made frantic efforts to
reach the crest OF the slope. They
leaped over trenches and entertainments
and tore down the entanglements In
their path until at length they entered
the fort. The Russian troops there re-
fused to desert their position. even
In the face OF the superior numbers
which confronted them, n Desperate
manu- 10 naIid ugnting occurred inside
the fort. Eventually almost the emit
tire Russian garrison was either killed
or wounded.
The foregoing information has been
obtained from q Chinese OF unimpeach-
able trustworthiness.
Fortress Seemingly Doomed.
Military experts here are OF the opin-
ion that If the Japanese capture ether
Rhilung or Kixwan forts or the Itz and
AnSnu lOTtas tHc uUOtu UI TDFL ATInuTf
is sealed. and for this reason the im-l
portance or the results obtained by the
Japanese In their latest assaults upon
the Russian position is obvious.
AS the Chinese from whom the corre-
spondent OF the Associated Press OBJ
tained his information left Port Arthur
the night of September n, he Is unable
to say whether the battle was renewed
on the I'D or not, although junks which
have come here bring rppOrtg Of a lirhf
bombardment pm that day.
A steamer which has arrived hers
from Port Dalmy confirms previous re-
ports that there was heavy lighting al
Port Arthur on September "A.