Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-07-15
STILL CLAIM VICTORY.
Russians Positive Japs Lost 10000 at
Port Arthur.

st. petersburg, July lf.-A'oo A'A.
The general staff, although 1t has no
further news up to the present hour or
the reported Japanese disaster at Fort
Arthur, maintains that there is no rea-
son to doubt the fact that the japanese
have suffered substantial repulse,
pointing out that it is significant II the
report is untrue that no denial has been
issued from Toxic, which did not hesi-
tate to deny the Russian reports of the
loss of the battleship Shikishima and
other stories. The officials who have
carefully studied the Japanese methods
are not surprised that they should at
tempt a general assault without pre-
| lminary bolnbardment, such as lasted
| for three days prior to the Russian as
sault on Plevna at the time of the Rus
so-Turkish war and the still longer
bombardment of Sebastopol, the chief
| draw back of a bombardment being that
| it warns the garrison of what is COM
| ing.
The experts say the Japanese may
have hoped TO take the fortress by sur
prise. giving up the bombardment after
Rear Admiral Withoeft's squadron went
out Saturday, and dismantled their
siege batteries.
An officer who has just returned here
from the front said to the correspond
ent of The Associated Press that the
terrible losses reported to have been
sustained by the besiegers of Port Ar
| thur were not unlikely in view of the
| extraordinary, almost fanatical deter
| mination of the Japanese, never hesi-
tating before the most terrible chances.
Some of the forts at Port Arthur are
fronted by bitches four or five fathoms
! deep hewn out of the solid rock. Whole
regiments could easily be engulfed in
| these chasms.
| The rumors enamating from st. Pc
tersburg that Port Arthur has fallen
arose only smiles from the Russian Of
| fiCerS.
| 1t is not impossible that fighting is
now progressing at Tatchekiao as Rus
sian advices show that the Japanese
were within a few miles of that place.
| coming MP in two columns from the
| south on each side of the railroad and
| in two columns from the east on the
Siuyen roads. The extent of the Rus
sian resistance will probably be esti-
mated by the character of Gen. KurO-
ki's and Gen. NordZu's advances Of
H9icheng.
large force of Japanese within
| striking distance of Hal Cheng would
| render it impossible for the Russian
cOmmanGer-in-ch to remain at Tat
! chckiaO in which event there will be
fight at Hal Cheng the result of which
will be much more important than the
| engagement at Hal Chow.
! The general staff denies that the Rus
slams We're driven out of their en-
| trcnchments at Sikseyan or that fight
! ing occurred at that place.
| Gen. Sakharoff reports that Japanese
cavalry advanced, July II, towards
New Chwang encountered Russian cav
airy and that a slight skirmsh followed.
! There is now good reason to believe
! that the report of Japanese disaster
| before Port Arthur came from the
| Russian consul at Che Foo
Arrangements have almost been COM
pleted for the transmission of wireless
| reDOrtS between the Lao Tishan prom
ontory, south of Port Arthur, and Che
| Foo. whereby st. Petersburg will be
| advised daily of the progress of events
at Port Arthur. AS heretofore pointed
out in these dispatches. the authorities
| here do not regard this as a Violate
| of Chna's neutrality.
| Although there is no confirmation
| here of the Toxic report that the jap
anese have taken New Chwang without
opposition. it does not create surprise,
the abandonment Of that place being
considered only matter of time.