PORT ARTHUR.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 198, 19 August 1904, Page 5

PORT ARTHUR.

i CONTINUOUS BOMBARDMENT. A REALISTIC DESCRIPTION. LONDON, August 18. The right wing of tlie Japanese besieging army is in the vicinity of Pigeon Bay, on the west of Port Arthur, and the centre, which is at Pa-li-shwang, two miles to the north of the fortress, is now being pushed further south. The steamer Decima, which has arrived at Chif v, reports seeing the bombardment proceeding on Monday night. The shells were visible over their whole ocurse. They moved in a curve, comet-like, from Pigeon Bay to Fort Arthur. The explosions showed great splashes of fire mounting skywards. The bombardment was being continued at other points. The Russian garrison did not reply to the Japanese guns. THE DEMAND FOR SURRENDER. STOESSEL'S REPLY. LONDON, August 18. Later details show that Major Tamaka, under a flag of truce, delivered to General Stoessel the Mikado's offer to remove non-com-batants from Port Arthur, and also a demand for the surrender of the fortress. The London Daily Express says that General Stoessel'* reply 'was courteous, but uncompromising. He refused to surrender. OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT. (Received 8.25 a.m.) LONDON, August 18. It is officially aimouneed that the Russian commander at Port Arthur has refused either to surrender or to expel non-combatants from the town. A DESPERATE FIGHT. WOLF HILL CREST CAPTURED. TWO MAXIMS RECOVERED. (Received 7.32 a..m) LONDON, August 18. Two nights' desperate fighting have led to the capture of the crest of Wolf's Hill, giving the Japanese a position nine hundred feet in height. The position was strongly | entrenched and defended with quickfirers, but a breach was eventually effected in the shelter trenches. Eventually the Japanese infantry appeared on the summit, and the Russians' left and rear, compelling them to retreat. The Russians abandoned two Maxim guns which kad been taken by them from one of the Japanese ; steamers sunk in the sealing opera- . tioKs at Fort Arthur. I

THE NAVAL ENGAGEMENT. FIGHT OF THE RURIK. GREAT RUSSIAN COURAGE. THE SURVIVORS. (Received 8.40 a.m.) LONDON, August 18. Details of the naval engagement show that the Russian cruiser Rαrik fought splendidly. 'When the ship was battered and crippled some of the crew sprang overboard, while others opened the port-holes in order to hasten its sinking, or served by the only two guns remaining. The captain and all the superior officers of the Rurik were lost, but 23 officers were among the 600 survivors. These have been landed at Sasebo, and of them 177 are wounded, many of them mortally. JAPANESE COMMANDER'S ACCOUNT. RUSSIANS IN CONFUSION. BRAVERY OF THE RETVISAN. (Received 7.32 a.m.) LONDON, August 18. Commander Ogura, of the Japanese battleship Mikasa, in describing the battle of the lOth inst., says that the Russians were lured to the south. In the engagement which ensued the Russian shells nearly all flew wide. In the evening a number of twelve-inch shells struck the Russian battleship Cesarevitch on the port side, and below the water line. The Cesarevitch then turned to itarboard, and the other vessels put their helms to port to avoid collitian. This caused them to fall into confusion, and the Japanese, taking advantage of the situation, poured in a hot fire, silencing the Russians excepting the Retvisan, which showed conspicuous bravery, and maintained a cannonade until a concentrated fire reduced her to fitful discharges from two guns, the diminished fire being due to the severe damage and the casualties revolting among the crew.

CESAREVITCH'S OFFICERS' ACCOUNT. REMARKABLE JAPANESE FIRE. FIRST SHELL KILLED WH'HOEFT. (Received 8.25 ajn.) LONDON, August 18. An exciting narrative of the fight of the CesareTitch is told by some of the surviving officers of that battleship. According to their account three twelve-inch shells struck the ship within five minutes. The first shell killed Admiral Withoeft, the second exploded within the barbette, while the third shattered the foremast. Yet another carried away the battleship's anchors. It was worthy of note, said one of the officers, that the nine-inch Krupp plates entirely resisted the projectiles. When she was approaching Kiaochau the Japanese torpedo-boats attacked the Cesarevitch five times. LOSSES OF THE JAPANESE. LONDON, August 18. Admiral Togo's latest report states that 225 Japanese were killed and wounded in the naval battle on tke 10th inst.