Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-12-26

was evident that the experiment Of
taking Port Arthur by storm would not
be repeated, SO the besIeging army
settled down TO sapplng and making
parallels, For fortnight the Rus
SLAMS we're unceaslng In their efforts
to recapture the fortified ridge. They
bombarded and assaulted by day the
bomb proofs and trenches which the
Japanese repaired at night Not an
inch OF the desperately won ground
was retaken, but the japanese lost on
an average 100 men a day for the two
weeks struggle, Then the Russians.
exhausted with their prolonged and al
most superhuman efforts TO dlsodge
their foes ceased firing.
All this time the japanese had been
working night and day at siege paral.
lels, Although they retained possession
OF the outer fortified ridge. they we're
prevented from advancing by the abil-
ity Of the Russians to turn a concen-
trated fire from the inner forts upon
their troops. The key 10 the situation
Hundred and Three Meter hill. Cen
eral Nogi believed that II he could get
possession OF this point his artillery
would dominate the surrounding coun-
try to such an extent that his infantry
could approach Port Arthur from the
west which was now It's weakest side,
The japanese were not blind to the
difficulty which faced them In their dc.
termination to capture the coveted Hill,
Its sides and summit bristled wit,
fortlhoatons, and It's batteries were
the most efficient Of Port Arthurs out
or defenses. The approach TO the hill
was guarded by a series OF the most
psTplexing entanglements ever devised
by human ingenuity. These were In
part made Of barbed wire twi ted and
turned In every conceivable direction
and forming a barrier so lmpenetrable
that both artillery and infantry were
powerless TO proceed farther The Jap
snsso pioneers suffered heavy casual
ties In cutting these wires, They were
80 firmly placed that all regulation
means OF removing them failed. The
pioneers tried to attach ropes TO the
posts that supported the wires 30 that
the men II tho trenches might pull
them from their moorlngs, but the
Russian fire made the work slow and
frghtfully hazardous. All the time
there was no lack OF volunteers Tor this
most perIlous service.
While these operations were In prog
resa re-enlortements were added TO the
existing units to bring the amy UP TO
It's full strength and Il was announced
from headquarters that the siege would
be brought to finish by a general as
sault on Sept, 10, Punetual again.
General Nogi ordered the bombardment
to be commenced at dawn OF the APP
pointed day, The Japanese made many
advances during the day but we're re-
pulsed with shocking carnage. Sew
eral attempts during the night were
equally bloody and unsuccessful, Ear
~ next morning the whole force was
concentrated In a furious assault on
what was regarded az the weakest spot
on the HILL. The sappers had finally
managed to clear away the worst OF
the entanglements. and the moats we're
crossed by means Of scaling ladders.
With hand grenades and dynamite the
Russian trenches and bomb proofs we're
destroyed, and the outside works we're
captured 10 twenty minutes. Both the
slopes OF the hill and the ridge were
transformed into vertable inferno OIL
fire and slaughter, The artillery duel
went on unlnterruptedly AL day When
darkness came, very little had been