Evening journal., 1904-08-24
JAP FORCES ARE
SLOWLY GAINING
Besiegers Attack Stoessers Left
at Port Arthur.
TOGO SHELLS EASTERN DBFENsEs
Next News Of Importance Expected to
Tell Of Fall Of Fortress and Capture
Of Entire Russian Garrison-Repairs
at Shanghai Called of.

Tell OF Fall OF Fortress and Capture
Of Entire Russian Garrison--Repairs
at Shanghai Called OF.
Shanhaikwan, Aug 2i-Reports OF
refugees from Port Arthur flocking to
this port indicate that the japanese
land forces yesterday afternoon were
moving on the heart Of General Stoes-
sells left from Else mountain fort and
that a strong detachment OF General
Nogis infantry was sllirting the Table
hills east Of Antsz mountain fort for an
attack on the Russian center through
breach believed TO have been made
by the artillery fire from the Wolf
hills
General Nogfs troops also were at
lacking Laolulchui fort from the
heights sloplng from Takhe bay and
were gaining on the center Of the Rus
sian right IN g series Of infantry rush
es from PetOus mountain. The Japa'
nese had made gains Of varying impor-
tance along their whole front, and the
fate of the fortress was believed to be
a question Of days II not Of hours.
Terrible Destruction Inflicted.
Eyewitnesses of the destruction in
ficted on the city proper and on the
military buildings inside the inner line
Of fortlhcatlons said Il was impossible
to believe the Russians could hold out
to the end of the week. especially II
the japanese feet continued in coop
GRAFTON with the army as effectively as
It had in the last seventy-two hours.
Admiral Togo's vessels shelled the
Russian defenses beyond Golden hill
and directed a heavy fire at an outpost
on Electric cliff. Two signal stations
were destroyed, and n light land bat
terry posted by General Stoessel in a
position TO command the approach 10
the top of the cliff was dismantled. A
confused movement of the Russians on
the heights overlooking the northern
squadron OF the japanese feet be-
trayed the severe damage suffered by
them in the naval attack. AT the same
time another OF Admiral Togo's squad
rons sent a storm Of shells into the
Russian forthcations between Wei
yuen and Chingtau forts, south OF the
Tigers Tail, silencing several batteries.
The Key to the Fortress.
The movement from Else mountain
was supplemental TO the general Japa-
nese advance from Louisa and Pigeon
bays and TO the capture OF the Rus
sian fort on that eminence. Else noun
tain abuts Taku mountain, and IT Il
the northernmost fort in General Stoes
sells western line of fortihcations. Al
most all the emplacements for grea
guns on that height command the TIA
, BILE hills and the declivity leading 4
p Sungshoo fort, south OF Sanllhai. Tn
mountain is the natural key TO tn
D. Russian position near the new tow
and TO a military highway leading Z
the heart OF the city. Once the be
- siegers swarm from that elevation Ia
ward the path Of the japanese fir
- from the Wolf hills the end will be a
hand, and the surrender or annihila
tion OF the Russians must follow thu
same day, provided General Nogi press
es his advantage. II Is believed her,
an assault on Sungshoo fort either hai
occurred or is in progress and that thu
z next news OF Importance from POr
Arthur will be the piercing Of Genera
stoessels center and the capture OF tn,
entire garrison.