Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-20
CAPTURED BY JAPANESE
HEIGHTS AND RAILWAY BRIDGE
NEAR PORT ARTHUR TAKEN.
Russian Garrison Reduced to 5000
Regulars and the Militia Occupied
With Guard Duty.

CHEFOO October 20-The most impor-
tant recent events at Port Arthur include
the capture by the Japanese of further
minor positions Eear Rihlung mountain and
the severe damage of a Japanese torpedo
beat destroyer by striking floating mine.
According to Chinese advices which reach
ed here today and which are confirmed in
essential points by Japanese letters from
Fort Dalny the japanese made assaults on
the remaining cutter works of Rihlung
mountain at dawn October and were re-
pulsed The following day the Russians
rade an attack on the Japanese trenches
and they in turn were repulsed. The Jap
anese Immediately followed with another
assault, resulting in the capture of iron
railroad bridge and the heights south of the
bridge which is five hundred yards from
tie main fortress.
The Importance of these captures lies in
the fact that they curtail the Russian fire
in harrassing Japanese who may attempt
to advance on the trenches located on the
slope of Rihlung mountain. This attack
seems to Lave been surprise for the Rus
SLAMS, the Japanese claiming that they lost
or1y fifty men. Since the capture of the
Joints mentioned the japanese assert that
they have successfully resisted numerous
sorties in attempts to recapture them.
SOI L1c VI ocStIOySAS
At 10 o'clock in the morning of October
u, seven Russian torpedo boat destroyers
emerged from the harbor of Port Arthur
and later they were followed by two more
destroyers. This squadron proceeded to
Shaopingtau ami bombarded the Japanese
left flank. Four Japanese torpedo boat de-
stroyers hurried to the scene and the Rus
sans retired to the harbor followed by the
Japanese. The pursuit ceased upon enter
ing the mined area. One Japanese Destroy
er while returning hit a mechanical mine
and was severely damaged, but she man
aged to reach Port Dalny and is now being
repaired.
Meanwhile the Japanese siege guns con-
tinued to drop big shells in the harbor, the
Japanese claiming that they damaged the
Russian gunboat Giliak, which Is alleged to
have been hit three times. and to nave
changed her anchorage from the east basin
to the shelter of Tiger Hill. It Is also be-
leved that the funnel of another Russian
Warship was pierced as a dense cloud of
smoke followed the landing of shell on
board of her.
A Chinaman who arrived here today de-
clares that during the japanese assault en-
RiElung mountain the Russian battle ships
fired almost necessarily to the north.
The Japanese at Taku mountain have
dropped ceaseless storm of shells on the
Chinese town. and many rifle bullets also
fell in the place. The Chinaman adds that
japanese loss was considerable He says
he left Port Arthur October IS because he
was frightened by the shells
Privations of the Garrison.
1t is asserted that the Russian force at
Port Arthur now numbers 5000 men, ex-
Guiding the militia, which is not engaged in
the fighting. but patrols the streets, doing
provost duty, guarding the arsenals &c.
Winter clothing is very scarce at Port
Arthur, shoes particularly. The Russian
soldiers are wearing Chinese shoes and
some of them are unable to obtain even
these and wrap rags about their feet. The
garrison is greatly worn out by the many
months of exhausting. anxious labor and
fighting. The town is full of wounded
Flour is plentiful and the slaughter of
horses, mules and donkeys continues.
Chinese who have reached Chefoo from
Port Dalny say that Japanese reinforce
ments continue to arrive daily. The Japa-
nese confirm this. A junk which reached this
port today from Port Dalny was allowed to
leave only condition that she take no
coolies, whom the Japanese are using in
large numbers in constructing warehouses
and removing the dead and wounded. The
wounded are taken to the railroad and
thence are transported to Dalny, from
which port they are shipped to Japan. The
Japanese have practically completed i'm
mense warehouses between Port Dalny and
Port Arthur and have therein supplies suf-
preparations have been made at Niuchwang
and therefore the Japanese expect the re-
lease of sixty transports Bext month
News Brought by Coolies.
A junk which left Liaou promontory yes
terday was driven by a gale and arrived
here tonight. bringing 100 coolies who left
Fort Arthur because they feared injury
from Japanese shells. The coolies say that
last Thursday there was fierce fighting for
several hours on the slopes of Rihlung
mountain between comparatively small
forces, during which the Japanese lost 800
killed or wounded. The coolies were unable
to give details of the fighting, but appar-
emily 1t was the result of one of the numer-
Gus sorties made by the Russians against
the japanese who We're attempting to ad-
vance from their trenches.
japanese wounded say that the soldiers
in the trenches suffer severely from the
cold. although the Japanese army is now
almost completely supplied with winter
outfits.
1t is said that the Port Arthur garrison
is frantic for news of the operations of Gen.
kuropatkin. from whom the defenders ex-
pect relief.
The news that the BaIf4c fleet had sailed
for the Pacific was announced to the gar
riSon and greatly encouraRed the Russians