The Hawaiian gazette., 1904-10-02

stree elapsed during which time many
severe engagements have been fought,
" 10 reasonable in suppose that the MIN
her ~ the Russian sick and wounded u
considerable and il is therefore sur
missed that the present strength of the
garrison does not exceed suoo A.
fot the marines. Il may be inferred that
they have been Joined by the men from
those war vessels which have been either
sunk or rendered hors dc combat.
Among the Port Arthur forts there
are several which have. since the Rus
sian occupation. been erected according
10 General kuropatkin's plans. IL Is
these forts that are offering stubborn
resistance to our investing army
An Iingkow despatch OF the 25rd
inst to the Tokyo Asahi. states that
there are indications that the Russians
at Port Arthur have for some time past
been IN communication with the Ia-ho
by means OF wireless telegraphy, and
that a French missionary IS said to be
concerned in the matter
The following Chcfoo telegram under
date OF Sept 81, has been received by
the Tokyo Asah
1t is reported that the Russians re-
Gently hired some Chinese junks on
Nang-ma-tao Can island about 10 nauti
cal miles east OF Chefoo). and are about
to sail to kiao-chow. whence they de
sign to smupgie provisions and ammuni-
ton into Port Arthur. There is evidence
showing that the Unison, of which
certain German firm is the agent and
which was wrecked at Ta-kin-tao on the
18th August, had on board provisions
and ammunition consigned to Port Ar
thur Her cargo which was landed on
the above island is being gradually sent
to Port Arthur by junks Three OF the
latter seem to nave so far succeeded i'll
reaching their destination safely, The
Yentai, another steamer connected with
the Germans, is evidently engaged i'll
Russian messengers and mails
to and from Port Arthur.
A certain officer returning from the
front on the 18th inst, says that the
remnants of the Russian squadron at
Port Arthur consist of five battleships
and nine destroyers and that they are
awaiting an opportunity to
run our blockade. The officer does not
believe the report that the Russian
were rendered unserviceable
by the battle of August 10 and that their
guns as well as their crews have been
landed at Port Arthur in order to assist
the land forces. He, however, admits
that these vessels were seriously dam
aged during the above engagement, but
not so seriously as to defy temporary re-
pairs, at which work the Russians are
exceptionally adept Considering the
fact, the officer concludes, that the
r oh ,,,h, ,,1, NJ
ported to have been converted into a
floating fort" constituted one of the
most powerful units of the Russian
squadron in the battle on the 10th ult,
even temporary repairs, conducted by
skilled hands, can by no means be
despsed.
Press dispatches from Sasebo state
that the Russians at Port Arthur, taught
by the bitter lessons afforded by the
work of dragging for mines in which
they have so far lost several steam
have now devised clever
method. Each mine-clearing vessel is
preceded by two boats, which first locate
the mines, the clearing then being effect
ed by the vessel.
Our blockade at Port Arthur has re-
Gently become much stricter than hither-
to. "Reminiscences in force are of
daily occurrence and are very valuable,
though dangerous in accomplishment
During a reconnaissance on the 18th
inst. our vessels were severely fired on
by the shore batteries, resulting in heavy
on our part. Lieutenant Ka-
wanami was struck by the fragment of
a shell and swept overheard.