Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-06-03

IL was swept at effective range b,
the concentrated fire of the whole
Russian position which covered (,
front OF Six miles. Under such cir.
oumstances no troops could keep tn,
formations in which they original,
advanced to the attack. 1t was on
reaching the village of Mauchiagint
that the issue hung longest in th,
balance. From that point the under
taking seemed almost impossible
Che attack, however, made headwa,
10y sheer weight of numbers of fresh
troops, the fourteen-hours' struggle
against frontal attack and cross fir,
from the gunboats at last shaking
the morale of the defense, Then
with one link of the chain gone. In,
whole fabric of the defense gave
way.
-Four gunboats, two destroyers and
two torpedo boats sent to Por,
Arthur early Monday morning by
Vice-Admiral Togo effected a careful
reconnaissance, facing a heavy fire
from the land batteries. They dis.
covered new Russian searcblighl
station and one or two new forts on the
Liaoti Shan promontory. No. 3 gun
boat was struck by shell, which
killed petty officer, injured three
men and damaged one of her guns
The other boats escaped without
damage.
The Japanese on Friday night OF
last week made another attempt tc
block Port Arthur by sinking mer
chant vessels in the harbor entrance
The attempt was discovered through
the operations of searchIight, aud
one Japanese gunboat and two tor.
pedo destroyers were sunk. The
merchantmen then retired,
TWO HUNDRED laps GO DOWN,
The Japanese lost 200 killed and
a number of horses in the fight a,
Vsgenfuchu Monday. The Russians
opened fire at 8 in the morning, and
after two hours and half of long
range firing, the Japanese, under
General Akkisina, prepared to charge
and crush the force which had been
harassing them for II days.
The Russians literally cut the
whole squadron into pieces. This
was the first time lances were used.
and they struck terror into the en-
envy. In some cases the lances
pierced the riders through and
wounded their horses. Some of the
lances could not be withdrawn from
the bodies into which they had en-
tered. The japanese infantry, mum.
berlng four battalions Of 800 men to
a company, and eight squadrons of
cavalry attempted to advance, but
the Russian batteries opened, and
soon the slope up which the enemy
was advancing was covered with
black spots, and the enemy was
forced to scatter and retire.
The Japanese land attack at Port
Arthur was begun Tuesday morning.
Russian forces that were driven
southwark from Dalny and Kin
Chou by the Japanese are assisting
the garrison at Port Arthur, and the
Russian Navy has joined in the
movement to repulse the enemy.
The second Russian position which
is now being held by General Stoes
sells men before Port Arthur, is by
no means so strong as that carried
last week. The hills, along which
are mounted numerous guns. are at
right angles to the Japanese advance,
whereas the KInchaul position, lost
last week, was magniicently chosen,
being open only to the guns of the
fleet. This second line cannot be
long held, and the Russians must
fall back upon Port Arthur so soon
as General Oku resumes his forward
movement, as the Japanese can out
flank the second line and place can
non so that it will be rendered unten-
able.
General Oku, commanding the
Japanese army now investing Port
Arthur, has Issued proclamation to
the people of the Liaotung PENN
sula setting forth that Japan was
forced TO appeal to arms on account
OF the unlawful aggression of Russia
IN China and Korea. The procla-
nation declares that the Japanese
army is fighting for the cause of
justice and pledges protection to
persons and property and non-inter-
ference with orderly persons. 1t
promises ample remuneration for all
houses and food supplies requisi-
toned and warns the people to refrain
from assisting the Russians, under
penalty of severe punishment.