Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1904-09-29
JAPS TAKE IMPORTANT POSITIONS

With the purpose of forcing the war
with Japan to a speedy termination,
the emperor Of Russia has taken steps
to reorganize and reinforce the light"
ing force in the Far East. A second
army is to be created, under command
of Gen. Grippenberg, veteran OF
many wars, and it is expected that
within comparatively short time
there will be armies aggregating 600,-
600 to 100000 men ready to take the
aggressive against the Japanese. II
Is believed that Grand Duke Nicholas
Michaelovitch will be made command
er-in-chief of the Russian armies in
the Far East, with So Ter or more
varied experience as his chief OF stan.
Will Not Attack Mukden.
At Mukden it is believed that the
Japanese will not make a frontal at
tack upon that city, but will seek to
engage the Russians north or north
east of there, a purpose dictated by
strategic reasons as we'll as by the
desire not to offend the Chinese by
making the sacred tombs of the en-
perors the scene Of bloodshed.
Japs Take Important Forts.
Chefu. Sept. 27.-As result OF the
battle before Port Arthur which began
on Sept. 10 the Japanese succeeded in
capturing several important positions
and the Russian tenure OF the big
forts guarding the north, northeast and
west sides of the town is seriously
threatened. Shinese Information
places the japanese losses under 5000
for the three days fighting, and this
comparatively small casualty list is
due to the excessive care used by the
Japanese in making their prepara-
lions
For the Advance.
Russian sources, however, claim to
have information that the Japanese
losses were unusually severe, amount
ing to fully thre times the number
mentioned above. Possibly the most
important capture during the three
days. fighting was that of Fort kuro-
patkin. which, while of minor value
with regard to preventing the entrance
into the town of the Japanese, had
been constructed for the purpose OF
protecting the source of the garrison
water supply. The control of the water
supply is now in the hands OF the
Japanese.
Russia at Last Wakes Up.
London, Sept. q. - Interest in the
fate of Port Arthur has grown so
keen as to overshadow the slsnlh-
canoe of Russia's decision to organize
a second army which, as the Daily
Telegraph remarks, together with the
.emperors remarkable letter to Gen.
Grippenberg, shows that Russia at
last has awakened to the magnitude OF
her task and the character OF her foe.
It is assumed by the paper that Gen.
Kuroki is carrying out some important
turning movement, but owing to the
secrecy of the Japanese movements, it
is regarded as useless to indulge in
speculation.
To Drive Out Russian Fleet.
The Daily Mails Chefu correspond
ent says that the Japanese are now de-
voting their energies to an attempt to
drive the Russian feet from Port Ar
thur. The Japanese assault is directed
against the forts commanding the har-
Dor, while Admiral Togo with his fleet
reinforced is waiting outside and has
placed powerful cruisers and torpedo
boat destroyers in positions to prevent
the possible use Of Tsingtau or treaty
ports by the Russian vessels. Japan,
the correspondent says, is determined
to destroy the Russians before it is
possible for the Baltic fleet to arrive.
Shy on Coal.
Port Said, Sept. q. - The Russian
volunteer fleet steamers Smolensk,
with $50 tons of coal, and the St. Pc
tersburg, with 100 tons of coal, have
sailed from here, ostensibly for L1bau.
The orders to the British cruiser Furi-
Gus to be in readiness to sail on two
| hours notice have been cancelled.