The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-10-08
10000 JAPANESE SLAIN
StOessel Reports Heavy Losses OF
Besiegers at Port Arthur.
DISPLAYED FRENzlEp BRAVERY
Japanese Efforts Were to Take Posi-
ton On High Mountain, and the Car
mace Was Terrible, the Mountain
Side Being strewn WITH pead.

81. EtltlSNNl Z, III o if"'fs
Nicholas has at last received General
stoessers official report OF the desp'-
rate four-days assault of the hesieaers
upon Port Arthur from September ID
TO September a9. irom which 1t appears
that the unofficial report from CheInp
WAS bv no means exareerated. The
Japanese displayed frenz.ed bravery
but they lost 10000 men, and their OILY
success was the capture OF two ro-
doubts guarding the water works. rhoF
prepared for the assault by a general
bOmhsrdmeut. and then launched their
attacks simultaneously from the north
and west. Night aud day they fought
under cover of a continual lombard
ment from their siege guns. and finally
reached the TedOUbts on the north sida
but only after the defenses there We're
completely demolished by she'll fire
from the west. The Japanese efforts
were directed chiefly against The CONF
manding position on High Mountain,
which faces Pigeon Bay. slightly south
of Fort Else The mountain is 500 feet
high. and if 10 had fallen its possession
would have given the japanese trc-
mendous lever against the chain OF m
ner defenses. The carnage there was
terrible. and eliminated September %
when the Japanese succeeded in reach
ing and Occupying The Russian armorea
shelter trenches. whence they expected
about the next day to storm the sum-
nit. During the night Lieutenant
PoggorSky. of The navy, at the head OF
n detachment of volunteers. descended
upOn the trenches and blew them mp
with pyroxylin bombs. producing a
panic among the bpsiegers, who Ned
leaving the mountaInside strewn with
dead The japanese then abandoned
further attempts. hut after a day or
two 10 rpcuporate, according 10 Cen
eral Stoessels second dispatch dated
September 30. they resumed the bonn
bardment OF the city and outer works,
and began 10 construct ziezag APP
proaghes. evidently getting nearer from
which to- lannch their assault
The loss OF the wafer works is not
considered vital. as there is a fresh
water lake and numerous wells as well
as condensing apparatus within the
defenses.
General Stocssel recommends Com
eral Kondralenko. Lieutenant Poeenrs-
Ky. Colonel Irmau, of the artillery. and
Captain BychaH of the Fifth Siberian
regiment. for the ST Georges cross.
The complete character OF the re-
pulse Of the Japanese has evidently
greatly inspired The garrison of Port
Arthur. General St0essei says the GAL
lantry of the Russian troops was bp-
yOnd praise. and adds that the garrison
will hold ont TO the last drop of blood.
General Stoessers report created
great rejoicing and revived the hope n
his ability 10 defend the fortress. After
the failure OF the storming operations,
the war office would not be surprised If
the japanese changed their plan to 4
regular engineering siege. 80 fresh
news has been received from Mukden.
According to the war Offices informa-
ton, everything continues quiet there.
Grand Duke Boris, a cousin Of En-
per0r Nicholas. leaves St Petersburg
in 10 days 10 rej0in the army.
Major General Orion has been as
signed to duty on the general staff
thus ending the reports that he would
be tried by court martial and dis
missed from the army. the fact being.
az repeatedly stated in the dispatches
Of the Associated Press, that General
Orion was simply deprived of his com
mand by General Kuropatkin for his
failure TO carry out his orders al Lao
Yang.