The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1904-10-21
JAPANESE MAKE GAINS
ARE NOW WITHIN FIVE HUNDRED
YARDS OF MAIN FORTRESS
At PORT ARTHUR.
GARRISON IS ALMOST WORN OUT
FIGHTING FORCE IN BEsIEGED
TOWN NUMBERS ONLY FIVE
THOUSAND MEN.

Chefoo, Oct 21-The important re-
cent events at Port Arthur include the
capture by the Japanese of further
minor positions near Rihlung noun
tain and the severe damage of a Japa-
nese torpedo boat destroyer by strik-
ing a floating mine.
According to Chinese advices which
reached here during the day and which
are confirmed in essential points by
Japanese letters from Port Dalny the
Japanese made assaults on the remain
ing outer works of Rihlung mountain
at dawn Oct. 8 and were repulsed.
The following day the Russians made
an attack on the Japanese trenches
and they in turn were repulsed. The
Japanese Immediately followed with
another assault, resulting in the cap
ture of an iron railroad bridge and the
heights south of the bridge, which is
500 yards from the 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 Rih-
lung mountain. This attack seems to
have been surprise for the Russians,
the Japanese claiming that they lost
only fifty men, Since the capture of
the points mentioned the Japanese as
sert that they have successfully resist.
ed numerous sOrtieS in attempts to re-
capture them.
At 10 o'clock on the morning of Oct.
IL seven Russian torpedo boat Destroy
ers emerged from the harbor of Port
Arthur and later they were followed
by two more destroyers. This squad
ron proceeded to Shaohingtau and
bombarded the Japanese left flank.
-Four Japanese torpedo boat destroyers
hurried to the scene and the Russians
retired to the harbor, followed by the
Japanese. The pursuit ceased upon
entering the mined area. One Japa-
nese destroyer, while returning, hit a
mechanical mine and was severely
damaged, but she managed to reach
Port Dalny and is now being repaired.
Drop Big Shells in the Harbor.
Meanwhile the Japanese siege guns
continued 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 have changed
her anchorage from the east basin to
the shelter of Tiger hill. It is also be-
lieved that the funnel of another Rus
sian warship was pierced, as a dense
cloud of smoke followed the landing
of a shell on board of her.
A Chinaman who arrived here dur
ing the day declares that during the
Japanese assault on Rihlung mountain
the Russian battleships 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 into the place.
The Chinaman adds that the fighting
was very severe and that the Japanese
loss was considerable He says he
left Port Arthur Oct. 18 because he
was frightened by the shells.
1t is asserted that the Russian force
at Port Arthur now numbers 5000
men, excluding the militia, which is
not engaged in the fighting but patrols
the streets, doing provost duty and
guards the arsenals, etc.
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 exhaustive fight
ing. 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 re-
inforcemerlts continue to arr