River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-10-06
| HARD FIGHTING
| AT PORT ARTHUR
RUSSIANS SEEK TO REGAIN CON-
troll OF WATER SUPPLY.
JAPS STILL IN POSSESSION
Loss on Both Sides Reported Heavy
Kuropatkin Said to Have Been
Successful in Checking
Kuroki's Advance.

Russians being the aggreSsors, oc-
Cured September % and 80 on the
west shore of Liaoti promontory, near
Pigeon bay. according to report
brought by Chinese who left Port Ar
thur September So The Russians al
ready apparently are attempting to
capture the heavy guns which the Jap
anese have mounted in that vicinity.
The Russians We're in considerable
force and they made several sorties,
dragging field artillery with them.
They were unsuccessful, however.
Three junks with 100 coolies arrived
here Sunday They left Port Arthur
because they were forced to carry the
wounded and bury the dead. They
say that the Russians lost heavily
during the attacks of September 10
and %, but the Japanese loss was
much heavier Several of the Chinese
who were employed in carrying dead
say that the dead were so numerous
that they were unable to form any
thing like an estimate of the number
who fell in attacking and defending
the supplementary forts near ltZ
mountain.
Try to Recover Lost Positions.
Toxic, Oct. 3.-The Russians are re-
ported to be desperately endeavorin%
to retake their lost positions, includ-
ing Fort Kuropatkin, in the hope of re-
storing the water supply of Port Ar
thur. They are said to have repeated
ly assaulted the Japanese after shell
ing from neighboring forts and batter
ies. The Japanese continue to hold
the positions Both sides are said to
have S, cred severely. The newly
mounted heavy Japanese guns are
said to command the entire harbor.
The position of the remnant OF the
Russian Port Arthur fleet is said to be
precarious and it is believed the yes
sells must soon emerge or be- de-
stroyed.
General Engagement Expected.
Advices from Manchuria are to the
effect that the Japanese and Russian
outposts and scouts continue in close
contact south southeast and east OF
Mukden. Skirmishes are occurring
daily and an aggressive general action
is expected soon. 1t is believed that
the general engagement will take
place near Tie pass and that Gen. Ku-
ropatIin is holding MuIden and posi-
lions along the Hun river merely 10
temporarily check the Japanese adj
vance.
Kuroki's Advance Checked.
St. Petersburg. Oct 3.-Gen. SAX
baroff. chief Of staff to Gen. Kuropatkin,
reports that the entire Japanese flank
ing movement east of Bentsiaputze has
received a serious check, He states that
the Cossack brigades have stopped the
Japanese advance toward Yangsingtung
and Fengtaipu.
West of Mukden and rs miles down the
Hun river the Japanese have been tenn
porarily driven out from Tschantan and
II supply boats have been burned. This
shows that the Japanese are using the
river to bring up supplies and that their
operations are being opposed, they not
having succeeded in approaching nearer
than Tschantan along the line OF the
Hun river.
First Stage of War Over.
Mukden, Oct. 3. - The prolonged ac-
tivity on both sides, emphasizing a new
situation, clearly shows that the battle
of Liaoyang was rightfully described as
the end of the first stage of the war, maxi
ing necessary the adoption Of new tao
tics by the Japanese and rehabilitation
in order to meet the proved fact that II
the Russians are caught in a decisive
conflict it must be on their own ground
and terms and with their full knowl-
edge. 1t is therefore supposed that the
Japanese are intrenching, but it is not
improbable that they will still attempt
a fianking movement east. The contest
has reached a stage possessing what
ever dignity is due in war to antagonists
having the highest mutual respect and
has entered upon the more serious ap-
plication of the uncertain war period.
It is notable that both armies have
ceased determinations or attempts to
make capital from unconvincing and dis
credited stories of torture and the use Of
illegitimate weapons and also the mis-
use of the white and Red Cross figs, while
the petty treatment of prisoners has dis
appeared and there is more liberal in
depreciation Of the exigencies Of the
conflict
1t is estimated that 10000 Chinese ref
ugees are now at Mukden, but the ma
tives appear unintelligent. In view of
the possibilities of the situation, the ma
tive authorities are storing grain outside
the fighting line preparing against fam
Inc though such state of affairs would
necessarily be restricted on account of
the abundance of the crops.
The aspect of Mukden and it's environs
is now one OF dust and desolation.
The natives have fled and the wooden
parts of their houses have been used for
firewood.
poue AnofhaY. QH00 0On