The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-12-10

Headquarters of the japanese Third
Army Before Port Arthur, Nov. %,
via Tien Tsin. Dec. 9.-The general
assault on Port Arthur, which began
at noon on Nov. 26, is still in pro-
gress.
In the first series of assaults an at
tempt was made to capture the forts
at Rihlung and Kekwan mountains by
penetrating the principal line of forth
fcations surrounding them and to en-
velop the city from the east At the
same time a strong force pushed up
the gorge of Shishi valley between two
fortified ridges and attacked the sup
porting fort in the rear of West Rib
lung mountain, officially called Sung
shu mountain. with the intention of
enveloping the city from the west. The
attempt failed after the most furious
fighting that has been witnessed since
Port Arthur was invested. The fight
ing lasted from noon of Nov. rs until
after dawn of the following day with
out cessation. ffIt
ing with a tremendous bombardmenr
Of the forts. For hours the whole
fortified ridge was deluged with heavy
shells. At noon the principal line of
Publications was a perfect hell of
bursting shrapnel, and the spectacle
was more wonderful than anything
previously seen.
Through the haze caused by the
smoke of the bursting shells the as
saulters could be seen emerging from
the cover of the parallels, as well as
swarming up the fortified ridge at halt
dozen different points.
Rifles rapid fire guns and machine
guns blazed from the Russian posi-
ton where advances were made in the
open. The men went down by hun
dreds. AS fast as the assaulters were
repulsed more Japanese swarmed up
only TO be moved down in turn.
The Japanese paralleled some thir-
W-fve yards of the Russian trench
line. and an entire regiment charged
across the men falling by hundreds
before the awful fire of the Russians.
But still more men came on over the
bodies of those who had fallen. ano
by sheer weight of numbers they reach
"a the trenches, which they captured
al the point of the bayonet.
The assaulters succeeded in holding
some eighty yards of the trench ir
Hont Of the parellels, but their effort
70 rush the trench line east and west
4 was failure, owing to the impossible
burning pits.
The Japanese built traverse walls
ACROSS the trench under the protection
u their machine guns and tried &c
do So
AT 8 o'clock in the evening a furiou:
russian counter attack drove the
SSspanese back to the parellels witt
Great loss.
AT o'clock the japanese again cap
o ouiea the same portion of the trench
as u made desperate. but unsuccessful
e.rr's tc cross the pits.
me, me awful struggle continued until
.oloeR IN the morning, when the Rus
c o again counter-attacked and re.
wtn urea the trench, which was pile
,a YIN dead bodies. For over thirt,
soluS tween the trenches there was
ervdble shambles. The last attack:
h.
-, N'ules of the slain.
on N hrst attempt to rush the forts
mon uae northern portion of Kekwal
th'"'alh was made at i y. M. whei
ma, Ssaulters swamed up the ram
wln wall from the moat and me
~ IN awful fire AS the result o
vo.nrSt assault the rampant walls
ass niack with bodies. In the SECOND
ealut thu Japanese succeeded II
VhHs foothold IN the interior
ms Inc defenses were bombproof.
nros, 'ssaulters attacked this bomb
bar5 maze, where the lighting WA
Frsn. 10 hand with bayonets anC
la o'clock In the morning tn
ir,'se succeeded In establishing
th,' me within the ramparts. which
,iill hold
nNoiher attempt was made 10 Mere,
fogrs pal line or Notifications sur
Of the rear OF the eastern par
foY, ung mountain. where. nfte
ahe.. 'Urinpis. a small body Of jaw
ihe lceeeded in getting through
fs'vs1 ana in establishing them
hH h the lower slopes of Wanta
t1r, n' Russians rushed the sup
D. 'N machine guns from the up
N, ' NJ The Wantul bin forts. nni
f.H. pifif RI japanese vas pfac
AZ INUNDATED. the most desper
ny. Nf took place ne this point
at. Wort nf ihf nasauliofn Nal
nf lllniHhf lFalrfed by nrH
covered fho Florff ~ Wan
HIIH au nt..t. 49,. ~ .I..lIs