The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1905-01-05
The War.

Rihlung fort AT Port Arthur was CAP
tnred at 3 O'Clock, Thursday morning,
Dec 28. with 1000 Japanese casualties.
Seven dynamite mines exploded at 10
O'clock, Wednesday, made breaches in
the front wall through which large
body OF Japanese troops charged under
cover of a tremendous bonn bardment and
captured the first line of light guns. A
bitter fight resulted In the capture of
the fort. The garrison, numbering 100
men, escaped.
The fort on Sungshu Mountain was
! captured at / O'clock the morning Of
! Dec 81 The works were mined and
exploded at 10 O'clock a m Many Rus
slams were killed and buried in the de
bris. Those who remained in the forts
were captured. There was little opposi-
ton to the attack. The northeast set
ton Of the fort was destroyed, affordiDg
cover for the assauters The japanese
now hold forts guarding the entire west
ern half of the eastern fort ridge
When the fog, which prevailed at
| ChefOo, Monday, had slightly lifted, II
was seen that two Russian torpedo boat
destroyers were in this harbor. A later
clearing of the atmosphere showed a
total of four Russian torpedo boat de-
stroyers and one launch in the harbor
A bundle of dispatches was sent ashore
/ by the Russians
General Nogi, the commander of the
Japanese forces besieging Port Arthur
on Monday reported that he had receIv-
ed a letter from General Stoessel, the
Russian military commander, relating
to surrender
Port Arthur captulated, January LIST
'At five in the afternoon, January LIST
the Russiae bearer of a flag of truce
came into the first line of the Japanese
position south, and handed letter TO
the Japanese officers The letter is as
! follows:-
Judging by the general condition Of
the whole line of hostile positions held
by you find further resistance at Port
Arthur useless and for the purpose Of
preventing needless sacrifice of lives /
propose TO hold negotiations with refer
ence to captulation. should you con-
sent to the same you will please appoint
commissioners for discussing the order
and conditions regarding capitulation
and also appoint place for such com
missioners to meet the same appointed
by me
L take this opportunity to convey
to your excellency assurances of my
respect
(~igned) 'Stoessel
TO this Gen Noge replied
p" Il have the honor to reply to your
proposal to hold negotiations regarding
the conditions and order of capitulation
For this purpose l have appointed as
commissioner Major General Ijlchi,
chief of staff of our army. He will be
accompanied by some staff officers and
civil officials, they will meet your COM
missloners, January 2 noon at Shuishy-
ing. The commissioners of both parties
will be empowered to sign convention
for the capitalization without waiting for
ratification and cause the same to take
Immediate effect Authorization for
such plenary powers shall be signed by
the highest officer of both the negotiat-
ing parties and the same shall be ex-
changed by the respective commission.
ers
Il avail myself of this opportunity
to convey to your excellency assurances
of my respect.
(Signed) "'Nogi.' "
Gen Nogi reported to the army de
partment that on Jan. 8, the commission
ers of both the Japanese and Russian
armies concluded their conference and
that from the morning of Jan 4, the act
ual transfer of war material at Port Ar.
thur as property of the Japanese gov.
eminent, commenced.
The request of the Russians for food
medicines and physicians for their sick
and wounded has been granted
Itse, wantse and Tayangko forts were
taken over by the Japanese at noon
Tuesday
The Japanese captured 25 900 prison
ers at Port Arthur The total number
of the inhabitants is -. 900 of whom 20 =
900 are sick The officers are parolled
and the men held as prisoners of war