The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1905-01-05

NdtSI0.
Her ships, which lie from Port Ar
thurs inner basin to Chemulpo in Co
rea, and along the Shantung PENN
sula, are battered hulks Of once proud
vessels, or, ANONYMOUSLY dismantled,
are informed in neutral Chinese har-
bors. Save three or four cruisers and
some lesser craft that lie in the ice
bound refuge of Vladivostok not
(warshlp now flies the Russian cross in
the waters of the northern or central
Pacific. And japanese, too, have had
their losses in the long drawn out op-
erations. Mines have struck from Ad-
mlral Togo's fleet list many fine ships
and smaller vessels since the morning
OF February 8 when he hurled his
fleet at the Russian ships in Port Ar
thur roadstead
The siege Of Port Arthur properly
dates from May 81, when, after en-
gaglng the first japanese army landed
a. Pltsewo, Stocssel was forced back
from the neck of the Kwantung pen
msula. The japanese landing was be-
gun on May and the Russian com
mander elected to give battle at his
northern-most line of defences. The
engagement was severe one and
drove the Russians back to the first of
the main defences of the position. A
few days later on May so, the Japan
csc occupied Port Dalny and on June
l4-l5 Gen. Stalkelberg, advancing to
the battles of Wafang Kau and Teles-
SUI With Togo's ships lying like
watchdogs around Port Arshur's sea-
ward side and Nogi advancing slow
ly but relentlessly by land, the ia
nous stronghold was under siege and
from then on until Gen. Stoessel, on
New Years day, sought terms of ca
pitulation, the operations have been
marked by almost ceaseless fighting,
commandments by the fleet alternating
with desperate attacks by land or as
saults by the combined naval forces.
When Gen. Stoessel and the rem
nant of his forces march out Of Port
Arthur the flag Of the rising sun will
once more floas from the ramparts Of
the position Japan won when she
first sent her new feet to give battle
and drove China from the seas.
Fortress an Inferno.
Chefoo, Jan. 2.-The Russian Off
GERS who. arrived today from Pors Ar
thur on the torpedo boat destroyers,
which escaped from that place, have
but single word" hell''-for what
the fortress has been for the past five
days, during which the japanese have
bombarded and assaulted it unceasing-
ly night and day. They use that word
unprofanely and ccnvincingly, declar-
ing that the horrors witnessed would
be beyond description. There was not
single spot i'll the town which was
safe from shrapnel. Many Of the
houses were struck and the wounded
refused to stay in them. Some lay
in the streets on heavy debris, ex-
posed to the bitter cold and some stag
gered back to the front, hurting
stones and defying The japanese till
taken prisoners or death came merci-
fully to end their sufferings. There
were five days and nights of this state
Of affairs.
Almost all the Russian ships, large
and small, were blown up in the en-
trance and inside the harbor. Our Of
fansive movements have been suspend
ed pending the negotiations.
The stock Of ammunition which had
been carefully husbanded for months
was almost gone and it was all too
evident that Japan was about to
grasp the prize which had cost her
an army Of men and countless treas
ure. The capture Of 203 Metre Hill
by the japanese was the garrison S
first vital stab. Then came the cap
ture of Rihlung, Sungshu and Pan
lung mountains. Gen. Stoessel had
announced that he would fight till the
last.
Ellis fight last night said Capt.
Kartzow, commander Of the torpedo
boat destroyer Vlastni, "looked like
the last.
"There was no stopping the Japan
csc, who came in droves and were
fighting with eyes fixed on the Lao
Tie mountain. Stoessel had killed a
Japanese army and exhausted his am
munition, but" added Capt. Kartzow,
tthey became more furious, ferocious
J and fateful than ever.
$50 the white FLAG went up
Negro Burglar Returned.