The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1904-08-04
IsAlmost Completely Surrounded
by the Three japanese Armies
at Port Arthur.
SITUATION REGARDED AS CRITICAL
The Russian General Must Now Either
Fight or Withdraw His Whole
Army to the North.
There Are Some Unofficial indications
That Matters Are Rapidly Matur-
ing For Either An Engage.
ment or q Retreat.

st. Petersburg, July 30.--It is an
nounced that there was no news from
Port Arthur and no more reason to
credit the report that it had fallen
than the many similar ones previously
in circulation.
Che Foo, July 30-Refugees who
have just arrived from Port Arthur
confirm previous reports that gen
eral assault has been begun by the
Japanese on that fortress and they
declare that the Russians are sau.
guine that the japanese could not
succeed in capturing the place even
though they had twice as many troops.
The Russians. according to- the rcfu-
CESS story are still hoping for succor
from Gen. Kuropatkin. They are un-
willing TO believe the reports of his
defeat at Ia Tche kiao The refu-
gees further confirm the reports that
the Russian fleet is in a state of re-
pair, but say that the fleet Is unwill-
ing TO attack that of Adm. Togo on
account Of the mines which the Jap
auese place nightly at the entrance to
the harbor. II was believed at Port
Arthur that If the Vladivostok squad
ron or endorsements from Gen. Ku-
ropatkin should arrive the Russian
fleet would take the risk of going
out
ST. Petersburg, Aug. Although
public attention has been distracted
from the events of the war during the
past week. first because of the fear Of
al;
ond because of the assassination Of
Minister of The Interior Won Plehve,
the situation at the front is regarded
as critical.
The envelOping movement of the
three Japanese armies of Gems. Kuro.
XII NOd2u and Oku around Gen. Kuro-
patkin's position appears TO he almost
complete, and the extended line OF
the japanese seems to be the only
drawback to concerted action. 1t In
realized here that the Russian gen.
eral must now either fight or with
draw the whole army northward. He
is being closely pressed ar Hal Cheng.
At that place Gen. Kurold's northern
column makes II extremely danger
Gus TO remain there, because, while
holding the position to give battle
against the Japanese, whose advance
is notoriously always slow and care
ful. Gen. Kuroki might pass through
and cut his railway communications
TO Lao Yang.
While nothing is definitely known
there are some unofficial indications
that matters are rapidly maturing for
either 4 battle or a retreat. For in
stance, me refusal TO accept further
press kilograms at Hai Cheng is shown
by the fact that one of the press cor
respondents had to ride through to
Mukden 10 file an account Of the Ia
Tche Kiao fight. This might be con-
strued either that preparations are
making for a retirement or that the
wires are very crowded incident to
a concentration at Hal Cheng or Lao
Yang.
A few days are expected to deter
mine which course Gen. kuropatkin
has elected to pursue.
There Is no inclination here to doubt
that there may have been pretty SO.
we're fighting at the outer positions OF
Port Arthur possibly accompanied by
a bombaTdment from the sea- but 1t
is not believed that the Japanese are
yet ready 70 storm the fortress RI.
Adm. without, in command Of the ma
val forces at Port Arthur, is relied
on TO put TO sea If the condition of the
fortress becomes desperate. While
no definite information is obtainable
the report that the fortress is short
of ammunition Is considered by the
public as the most disquieting feature
of the situation there.
The Vladivostok squadron is expect
cd back IN port Sunday or Monday.
London, Aug. 1.-The correspond
ent of the Daily Mail at New.Chwang,
in a dispatch dated July 81, says that
there has been heavy fighting for two
days in the marshes south of Hal
cheng during the gradual Russian re-
tirement from To Tobe Kimo.
Gas In the PHILIPPINES.