The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1904-11-25
RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR

likely, all field hospitals will be
equipped with these litters, reducing
the number Of bearers, which, under
the old system. has necessarily sub
stracted from the fighting line, by al
most half.
Can Hold Out for Months.
London, Nov. 20.-The Daily Mails
St. Petersburg correspondent says
that Lieut.. Gen. Stoessel's report ex.
presses a firm conviction that he will
be able to hold out at Port Arthur un'
til the Baltic squadron arrives in
March on the condition that he is sup
piled with munitions and stores. The
government, the correspondent adds.
has instructed it's agents abroad to
supply Lieut.. Geen. Stoessels require
ments at any cost.
Prepare for Big Battle.
The japanese army south of Muk-
den Is reported to be concentrating On
the left and center, presumably with
the intention of attacking, and a re-
newal of fighting is expected today.
Statements given out at st. Peters
burg regarding the situation at Port
Arthur are more hopeful, and repre-
sent hat the garrison may be expect
ed to hold III until the arrival of Vice
Admiral Ro~jestvensky's squadron.
The report that Gen. Stoessel had
been wounded is confirmed, but 1t is
aid that his injury is not sufficient
prevent him from directing. the de-
Sc Of the fortress.
The Russian torpedo boat destroyer
Rastoropny has been blown up by her
commander in the harbor OF Chefu,
after having eluded the blockade OF
Port Arthur and succeeded in filing
dispatches from Gen. Stoessel to st.
Petersburg. 1t is presumed that she
was destroyed in order to prevent the
Japanese from cutting her out as they
did the Ryeshitelni.
The Russians, with the exception OF
one man, left the destroyer during the
afternoon. This last man lit the fuses
and blew up the vessel. There were
three dull explosions, WHICH were
scarcely discernible a hundred yards
from the place where they occurred.
Almost simultaneously the Rastoropny
sunk and settled on the bottom. A
battle spar marks her grave.
Death Rather Than Surrender.
Headquarters Of the Third Japanese
Army Before Port Arthur, Nov. II. -
1t is reported that a wound received by
~ Ck~~--o L-- No1-%A lie
confinement in a hospital. that he re-
fused to relinquish the command of
the garrison and that he has issued or
ders to the troops to die at their posts
rather than surrender.
1t is said hat the spirit of the Rus
sian troops has been dampened by
continuous work, the lack of supplies
and
The Hopelessness
of their ability to make any successful
defense of the fortress. 1t is said
further that many of the Russian SOL
diers are ready to surrender, but that
they are kept at their posts by officers
who threaten them with %revolvers,
and that several soldiers who were
suspected of a desire to desert have
been shot as a warning to others. The
Japanese now believe that the garri'
son has almost reached the limit OF
human endurance.
Expect Big Battle.
Gen. Kuropatkin's Headquarters,
Nov. ia Japanese advance is daily
orrootOl orn0 ynoCcnc IF fh01F
troops are moving eastward and the
Russians are expecting them to strike
at their left flank.
The Japanese are pressing the fight
ing for possession of Port, Arthur, as
saults being made almost continuous
ly upon the eastern line of defenses.
There was some sharp fighting the
night of Nov. 10 for the possession of
the fortified village Of Endowuniulu,
near Shakhe, the Russians being
driven out. then retaking the place.
and finally retiring.
Jap Troops Are on the Move.
Dispatches from both Mukden and
st. Petersburg express the belief
that the second great battle along the
Shakhe river will begin this week.
The Japanese armies under the
command of Field Marshal Oyama are
showing unusual activity. Large
bodies of troops are moving as though
preparing for a general attack upon
the Russians. and it is believed that
the battle is likely to begin at any
time.
Beyond the statement of the Rus
sian correspondent of the Associated
Press at Mukden, there is nothing to
confirm the report that Gen. Kuroki
has died Of wounds received in battle.
The Japanese have extended their
blockade of Port Arthur harbor over
a distance Of thirty miles.
Fight to otter End.
Washington, Nov. 16.-"Russia will
pursue the wal in the Far East to the
bitter end. that is until Russia has
conquered"
These are the opening words Of an
emphatic statement made at the Rus.
-ian embassy yesterday by Count Cas-.