The Oskaloosa herald., 1904-07-28
ONLY ONE mile
TO PORT ARTHUR
JAPANESE HAVE CAPTURED THE
BIG WEST FORT.
LILO YANG IS ALSO CAPTURED.
Kuroki's Army Also Wins a Great
Victory in Driving the Russians
From Fortified Position
at Kiaotung.
LIo YANG is ALSO CAPTURED.
scripps-McRae Telegram.

it is reported there that the Japanese
have captured the western fort at
Port Arthur and are now within one
mile of the main defenses, which they
are bombarding. The Russian garrr-
SON is said to have been reduced by
lighting and sickness to twenty thou
sand.
Lao Yang Captured.
ST. Petersburg, July 23.-Rumors
are in persistent circulation here that
Gen. Kuroki has turned the Russian
left flank and captured Lao Yang.
VIadivostok Fleet OFF Toxic.
Toxic, July 23.-A telegram receiv-
ed this afternoon reports heavy firing
at 10: 80 this morning off Boso penin-
sula which is at the east entrance to-
Toxic bay. 1t is presumed the shots
were fired by the Russian Vladivostok
squadron.
The yladivostok squadron was
sighted yesterday on the east coast
of Japan, north of Yokohama, moving
rapidly southwark.
Kuroki Captures kiaotung.
Toxic, July 23.-Gen, Kuroki, after
severe fight, occupied Kiaotung only July
| l9. The place had been fortified by the
| Russians, who defended it stoutly. In
| the fighting Gen. Kurokfs troops drove
the Russians from their strongly fortl-
fed position on the Chi river, which is
northwest of Molten pass and east OF
Anping, inficting upon the enemy more
| serious losses than they sustained them
selves. The fight began on the lSth
and ended on the 10Th. The japanese
lost 424 men in killed and wounded. The
Russian losses are estimated at l,00O.
The Battle.
Gen. Kuroki began his advance early
in the morning Of the 18th. He uncoV-
cred and followed the enemy along the
Chi river The Russians seemed to DC
retiring to the northward, when sudden
ly two battalions with eight guns turned
and attacked the Japanese advance guarC
vigorously. At this point the japanese
suffered before relief came, one com
: pany losing all its officers. At lat'
hour II The attfEne5R hs-Sss4s S 5st
ton was developed. They occupied al
eminence on the banks of the Chi Thi
river guarded their left flank and higl
precipices protected the Russians on th'
right. The only approach to their posi-
4 tion was through a narrow defile. Tht
fighting continued until dark, when The
japanese forces bivouacked. The Rus
slams made two counter attacks. bu
were repulsed in each case.
A Midnight Engagement.
The Japanese renewed the attack al
midnight, posting their artillery in tn,
valley below and on the high ground tt
the south of the Russian position. ThC
main japanese body was assigned to at.
tack the Russian center; a small detacE'
ment was sent toward the right fianh
and another 10 watch the enemy's left
flank. After these positions had beer
taken the fighting ceased for time, but
it wassresumed at dawn. The Russians
had 80 guns in action, and they Wig
: orously shelled the japanese. To this
fire the japanese replied, and the BON
bardment lasted, for four hours.
During this time the Japanese infan.
try moved forward, the fiankers had sue.
ceeded in scaling the heights on the
Russian right by three o'clock in the
afternoon, at which hour the main force
was ordered to storm the Russian cen.
: ter. The Japanese artillery protected
this movement splendidly, but the in.
fantry met with severe fire and los
heavily in gaining the heights.
The final successful charge was de.
, livered at half past five in the after.
{ noon. The Japanese succeeded in par.
, italy cutting off the Russian retreat
and this soon became rout. The en-.
emy went in two directions, to the north.
ward and TO the eastward.
The Losses.
J The Russian forces engaged included
in addition 10 the artillery seven bat.
! talions of infantry and regiment oi
Cossacks The enemy left 131 dead anC
900 rifles on the field Prisoners taker
estimated the Russian losses at 1000
The Japanese lost one officer and 81 mer
killed and is officers and 351 mel
. wounded
Discredited at st. Petersburg.
St Petersburg, July 23.-There is M
7 official confirmation Of Gen. Kuroki's re
port that the Japanese have captured
Kiaotung. No such place as this is laiC
Z down on Russian maps, the nearest ap
3 proach TO it being Kantziatum, which i!
only 12 miles from Liaoyang on tn,
Saimatsza road. II the Japanese column
which Gen. Herschelmann was oppos
ing on July 18th and 18th has continued
to advance TO this pointea general en-
!. gagement might have already been prog
ressing. The general staff gives M
credit to this view and is inclined tt
think the incident is the Russian retire
ment from Sikhoyan to Contzianzi, re
, ported in Gen. Kuropatkin's dispatch o
July 49,,
A dispatch from Gen. Kuropatkin Il
the emperor, which brings events up t
, July 20, has been received, but has no
} yet been given out. 1t is said to repor
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