Distinguished Visitors for Port Arthur.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume xxii, Issue 6456, 28 December 1904, Page 2

Distinguished Visitors for Port Arthur.

Japanese Reinforcements.

Reported Japanese Reverse at

Port Arthur,

deceived Deo 29, at 8.13 a.in.

London, Dec; 27

Tha"Manshu Mam" with ten foreign attaches on board, <wenty-one legislators, the Secretary of: the Diet, and ft LieatenantOommander, has sailed from Yokohama for the neighbourhood of Port Arthur. Japan intends actively drilling and equipping troops until Marshal Oyama's tot-il reaches half-a-million. N Japan is also reinforcing the artillery at the Shaho by seventy guns. The "Daily Telegraph" states that Nozi's successes are tending to isolate the Laotishan promontory, and to split the Russian forces, Advices from Port Arthur received at Chefoo prior to the Talinchiatun successes, state that 5000 Japanese with many machine guns dashed along the railway over the frozen ground, and carried several trenches. They reached the watercourse, but suffered terribly from the fire from the Pazassan, Antigushan, and Shanshusan forts. A fierce bayonet encounter occurred at midnight, under the searchlights. On the Russians in the Payasaan fort threatening to cut off their retreat, the Japanese retreated, leaving several guns, 303 rifles, and 80 prisoners behind them. It is estimated that 600 were killed.