The Bourbon news., 1904-08-26
BES|EGED FORTRESS.
Final Assault on Port Arthur
is Imminent.
Hundreds of Japanese Guns Have Been
Pouring Destruction Into the
Russian Ranks and Weak
ened Their Lines.


With each additional report from
Port Arthur wonder is increased both
at the persistency of the Japanese at
tack and the heroic stubbornness Of
the defenders of the fortress. The
Japanese are literally throwing away
thousands of lives in the hope of shal1-
ing the courage of the Russian troops.
Maj. Gen. Feck says he is confident
the fortress can not be taken, but that
If it is taken the whole Japanese army
will have to immediate itself on the
slopes of the fortifications
There were five desperate assaults
on Green hill, July 26, the japanese re-
turning each time with apparently
inexhaustible reinforcements On the
final assault. however, the Japanese
broke badly, throwing away their
guns, cartridge belts and even their
boots to facilitate their fight, and
leaving 1000 dead or wounded
Lao Yang, Aug 24-According to
the latest information from Port Ar
thur, furious attack throughout Au-
gust 19 and August 20 was repulsed
WIFI ISlllAG tOOO. LlO uCWS w dS It
ceived here with the greatest joy.
There has been serious fighting in
this region, but there has been small
skirmish at Anshanshan, where Japan
csc troops attacked a Russian outpost
and were driven off with a loss of six.
TOXIC, Aug. 25.-The final assault or
Port Arthur is imminent, hundreds Of
Japanese guns continue to pour a de-
structive fire into the city and harbor,
along the lines of forts and entrench-
ments preparatory for the infantry as
sault. 1t is evident that the Russian
lines have been weakened and partly
penetrated in the vicinity of Autzshan
and Ttzshan forts. The entire line of
Russian defenses immediate about the
harbor are within range of the Japan
ese guns. A number of Russian forts
and batteries continue to be vigorous.
The Japanese death roll will be heav-
lily increased before they are captured.
The direction of the Japanese at
tack creates the impression here that
the city and defenses on either side of
the harbor entrance will fall first. The
final stand will be. made at Liao Tis-
,Zan. Japanese official channels of in.
formation remained close and the navy
department announcement of the strik-
ing of a mine by the battleship Sevas-
topol and the firing upon the Russian
forts by the cruisers Nisshin and Ka-
suga Tuesday are the only disclosures
made for several days. 1t is believed
that both sides have suffered heavy
losses and that the final record will
make the siege the bloodiest since Sc
dan. The Japanese are supremely
confident of the ultimate result The
leaders of the government await the
outcome in calm assurance The peo-
pie are everywhere decorating streets
and houses and erecting arches and
flagstaffs in preparation for national
celebration of the expected victory.
st. Petersburg, Aug. 25.-In spite of
the anxiety which is felt regarding the
fate of Port Arthur, the war Office and
the admiralty were practically closed
Wednesday on account of the christen-
ing of the royal infant, and no official
dispatches were given out
So far as can be ascertained no fur.
ther news Of the progress of the fight.
ing before the beleaguered fortresses
has been received except that contain
ed in reports from foreign sources.
These latter are conflicting. some Of
them representing that the Japanese
assault has become exhausted and 9th.
ers claiming that the Japanese have
captured Etzeshan fort, belonging to
the western line of 'defenses If this
position has been taken and occupied,
it is realized that unless the Japanese
are at once dislodged the chain of forts
will be preached and the position of
Port Arthur rendered critical
The simple fact that the day to
which a large portion of the public
looked forward with superstitious
dread passed without the fall of the
fortress suddenly encourages the pop
ulation hope that the christening of
the czarovitch will mark turn in the
tide. Reports that Gen. Kuropatkin
is about to make an important move
continue to be circulated, but the char
acter of the move is not limited at AS
the reports from the front agree that
the rains have ceased and that the
roads are drying, resumption of mill
tary activity is expected. Since his
retirement from Simoucheng and the
Yangze pass it is estimated that more
than $4,000 reinforcements have reach.
ed Gen. Kuropatl1in.
London, Aug. 25.-The correspond.
ent of the Times at Shanghai in dis
patch dated August "a says that or.
ders from Emperor Nicholas have
been conveyed to Capt. Reitzenstein,
commanding him forthwith to disarm
the cruiser Askold and the torpedo
boat destroyer Crozovoi, and that ''the
flags on both vessels were lowered at
Z o'clock tonight"
Russian Refugees.
Berlin, Aug. 25.-The number Of
Russian fugitiveS from military serv-