The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1904-09-19
Japanese again Attacking
Fortress.
WAR HAS BEEN "HELLTSH"
Sherman's Definition of Armed
Conflict Re.affirmed in the
Far East.

CHEFU, Sept 10. 49, Local students
of the military situation at Port Ar.
thur, basing their deductions upon re-
cent developments there, are of the
opinion that another grand assault Is
either occurring at the present time
or is imminent. This opinion is based
on the very heavy bombardment of the
Russian stronghold that occurred on
Sept. 16, for such bombardment
forms the usual prelude to an assault;
on the arrival here of important mes
sengers from Port Arthur at time
when the running OF the blockade is
extremely perilous, on recent author
ttatiye statement that the Japanese
siege works are completed and on
reports from japanese sources that at
Port Dalny an assault was expected to
take place in a few days. These re-
ports were received last week.
In addition to the foregoing. there
is the common kuowielepp that the
JaparcSe rpaizr that their continued
inactivity increases the resisting pow
er of the russian garrison ami their
consequent desire TO make such period
Of inactivity rs brief as possible.
According to Lieutenant Prince Rad
ziyil of the russian army, who has
reached here from Port Arthur bear
ing dispatches from Lieutenant Gen
eral Stoessel, the commander i'm chief
of the forces Of the Russian strong
hold, to General kuropatkin. the tenn
per of the belligerents at Port Arthur
has reached an absolutely merciless
stage.
Prince RadZivil served with the Brit
ish in the Boer war, and he says that
until he became aware of the state Of
affairs at Port Arthur he had no idea
that war could be so horrible.
1t was set forth in these dispatches
some weeks ago that serious suspi-
cions were entertained by both belliger-
ents that the other was misusing the
Red Cross flag. The suspicious have
been increased by the commission of
various acts by the soldiers of both
armies, until now even flags of truce
or surrender are not respected by ell
ther side.
Prince Radzivil declares that the
men of both armies are absolutely VEN
omOus in their antagonism. Lieuten-
ant General Stoessel has addressed
his garrison, saying that the present
mood of the japanese indicates clearly
the necessity Of resisting them to the
last drop of Russian blood, because If
the japanese soldiers entered the for
tress 1t undoubtedly would be impos-
sible for their officers to control them
and prevent massacre. For this rea.
son Lieutenant General Stoessel Is ]
making no objection to civilians leav-
ing Port Arthur.
When the 300 women who are in /
Port Arthur engaged in hospital work |
were advised to leave, they replied |
that they would rather face the pos.
Sibility of massacre than desert their
posts.
In consequence of the fact that flags |
Of truce are ignored numbers of Jana
nese dead who have been lying on
the slopes of the hills of the northeast
iefenses for weeks past are still un-
buried, and the stencil in Port Arthur
from decOmposing bodies when the
wind is in the right direction is al
most unbearable. The Russian sol
Hers, who are in some cases posted
)nly fifty PAGES from heaps of decay
ng dead, have constantly TO wear over
heir noses handkerchiefs soaked in
'amphor, as otherwise they would be
Unable to remain at their posts.
In the course of the assaults which
oOk place In the four last days of
August two companies of japanese
according to Prince Radzivil.
ound themselves at the mercy of the
russians and hoisted white flag. To
his, however, the Russians paid no
Ittention and continued to volley rap
dly into the helpless ranks of the enc
ny. In the meantime Japanese troops
n the rear of the companies that had
aised the white flag Saw what their
omrades had done and expressed their
IisapprOval of the surrender by firing |
nto their rear. AS result of this fire
rom friend aud foe 600 men were an
INFLATED. The dead fell among the
Iecomposing bodies of previous as.