The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-09-26
Water Supply in Japs' Hands


result OF the battle before Port Arthur
winch began on Sept. 10 the Japanese
succeeded in capturing several impor-
iant position. and 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 Japa-
nese losses under 5000 for the three
days lighting, and this comparatively
small casualty list is due to the ex-
cesslye care used by the japanese in
making their preparations for the adj
vance.
Russian sources. however, claim to
nave information that the Japanese
losses were unusually severe, amount
ing TO fully three times the number
mentioned above.
Fort kuropatkin Falls
Possibly the most important capture
during the three days fighting was
that of Fort Kuropatkin, which while
OF minor value with regard to prevent
ing the entrance into the town of the
Japanese, had been constructed for the
purpose of protecting the source of the
safrison's water supply
The control of this water SUNNY is
now in the hands of the Japanese.
AS was announced in these dis
patches on Sept. 90 the battle began
BEFORE daybreak on Sept. 10. At this
hour the citizens and the garrison of
Port Arthur, after the enjoyment of
weeks Of comparative security. awoke
TO the thunderOus reports of artillery
along the line extending from the west
oI Itz mountains to Rihlung and Xix
wan mountains. This was but a >nre-
face to the assault which was destined
TO result in the capture of three new
ana important Russian positions. to-
getn0r with six small but annoyin o,
forts lying between Shushiyen and
Rlhlung mountains.
laps Mount More Guns
During the day and night of the 10Th
and until noon of the goth the bonn
pardment continued without cessation.
ana the many shells. falling from quar-
ters which previously had been silent.
made it obvious that the Japanese had
at least succeeded either in mounting
many heavy guns in new position or in
strengthening their old positions. The
infantry ngnting during this period was
comparatively trivial.
At noon on Sept. 20 the Jananese
right and center, the former being to
the west and the latter to the east
OF the railroad, commenced the adj
vance. The troops made use of the
trenches and infreauent natural cover
that lay in their. way. The small forts
to the south of Shushiyen resisted
this advance briefly, their garrisons
not being strong numerically.
Since the beginning of the bonn
hardment artillery fire from Fort Ku-
repatkin had been growing steadily
weaker and, it having become apparent
tnat 1t had been practically silenced,
the Japanese assaulted the fort.
70 Captured Fort on Low Ground
Fort Kuropatkin is situated to the
south Of Palichuang and to the north
east of the parade ground, on low
hill. 1t derives its name from the time
when Gen. Klropatkin inspected it.
pointed out the weakness of the posi-
ton. and ordered that it 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 Kurepatkin never has
been as strong as the others, and after
severe fighting it fell into the hands
of the japanese.
This capture lessons further the Sc
eurtty of the fort on RihIung noun
tain, which is now threatened, from a
new quarter as well as from Pelich-
uang.
= AT S o'clock on the afternoon of the
10th the Japanese captured a supple
Hfentary fort which from the lower
ground threatens the fort ON Itz noun
tain. This ended the heavy fighting
for that day, although the Japanese
later were compelled to resist several
sorties.
L.