The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1904-12-02
CONFLICT in FAR EAST

| pected to transpire as soon as the
| Japanese learned that the squadron's
trip was an actually and no mere
| demonstration. The authorities are
prepared to hear terrible reports Of
| the projected assault. While not haZ-
| arding a guess whether the fortress
can be carried if the besiegers are ut
| terly regardless of human life. they
! are confident that Gen. StoesSel will
, be able to make such an attack n OF
the cOstliest operations In history.
Starvation at Port Arthur.
London, Nov. 26. - The cores.
pondent at Moscow Of the Daily Tele-
graph claims authority for the state
ment that Gen. Stoessel's dispatch.
sent by the torpedo boat Rastoropny,
informed Emperor Nicholas that the
| Port Arthur garrison was being
| starved out, with other frank detai)c
of it's actual condition, showing that
the fall of the fortress is inevitable.
Forts Held by Japs.
Headquarters Of the Third Japanese
Army Before Port Arthur. Nov. Is. -
The only permanent forts in the pos
, session of the Japanese are the two
Panlung forts captured in August.
They hold the advance works OF the
Rihlung redoubt, called Fort Kuropat-
kin. an %intrenched hill miscalled "P"
fort, Kobu hill. Sachitakiyama and
One Hundred and Seventl-four-meter
hill. They also occupy the c%aponiere,
galleries and meats of the two Rib
lung forts and North Kekwan fort
important Operations On.
st. Petersburg. Nov. 26. -Unoficial
advices only bring affairs at the front
up to Nov. 90, and the absence of Of
fetal news Of later date either from
the Japanese or Russian side war
! rants the belief that more important
operations than heretofore may be
progressing. Reports from cores
pondents from the front show re-
newe6 skirmishing, including a fresh
| attack on Nov. % on Lone Tree hill,
in which the Japanese were repulsed
with heavy losses, and also a hot
| fight with Chinese bandits near Kali
/! ian, in which 200 Chinese were killed.
Japanese Will Winter in Fort.
Chicago, Nov. 24.-The Daily News
| publishes a cablegram from its cor
| respondent with the Japanese troops
outside Of Port Arthur. reading as fol
lows:
Gen. Kodama, chief of the Japanese
| general staff, after a thorough inspec-
ton of the operations at Port Arthur
and a conference with Gen. Nogi, gave
the following exclusive interview to
the Daily News staff correspondent:
"You have seen Port Arthur and
may think it easy to take" said the
general, but it is quite a difficult
task"
"Of course" I said. ut has thirty
powerful forts on which the Russians
have spent ten years engineering: the
natural d~efenses are strong: there is
! a stubbord army Of fighters within,
cleverly commanded-'
Fort at His Mercy.
Kodama stretched out his closed
hand, i~nterrupting me. Il hold Port
Arthur here" he said.
where will you winter about Port
Arthur" I asked. you are not build
ing barracks and have only shelter
tents. The Manchurian winds bite
bitterly"
Il shall winter inside" replied the
general. II will take the fortress
soon. l hesitate to use my big guns
for fear of hurting non-combatants."
II cannot say what damage the big
guns will do" resumed the general.
This is the first time in history that
coast defense guns have engaged each
other. l brought ours from Japan.
The Russians cannot use theirs
against Admiral Togo's feet and have
turned them landward."
Question Of Strategy.
"In the end, however, said, "is not
the boy in khaki the deciding force?
Your infantry loss thus far has beeL
heavy and your infantry finally must
take the fortress If it Is ever taken"
NO. said Kodama. This is q
question of strategy, tactics and engi-
neering. The outcome now depends
on ammunition and g~eneralship. The
Russian forts are we'll : built OF the
Belgian model. We cannot say that
any single fort Is the key. All are SO
arranged that we must take them Ia
detail. The capture OF n means only
the capture Of that individual fort. not
of a series, as formerly. Study as we
may. we find 1t difficult to locate their
weakness. they have carried forti1ca-
tons ia such an extent
Japs Show Superiority.
Mukden, Nov. 24.-BOth armies oc-
cupy such strong, fortified positions
that neither appears inclined to attack
unless possessing a preponderance OF
numbers enabling a fianking move
ment. The Japanese probably have
more available troops. Their superior
mobility was lately shown by the &C
tivity of their center. Both armies
seem to receive equal r~einforcements