RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR

Bruce Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 98, 23 December 1904, Page 6

RUSSO - JAPANESE WAR

General Stoessel cabled to the Czar j a stirring story of the assaults commencing on November 20 and lasting 12 days. He claimed that he had definitely repulsed the Japanese, with a loss of 20,000 men. He attributed the result to the prayers of the Mother of Empresses. . ! Cabling on the 10th inst., Stoessel admits that the Japanese on the 6th had captured Vysso-kaia Hill after three ! repulses, and states that the warships ' were suffering from the uin shells. General Tserpitsky died of his wounds. i General Stoessel adds that the spirit I of the troops was excellent. A shell wounded Admiral Wirren slightly. On the night of the 9th mst. shells repeatedly hit the hospitals at Port Arthur, killing seven patients. Many of the sick, clad in white, fled into the snowy streets, presenting a pitiful sight. Seyeral died from exposure. . The Japanese on Sunday afternoon destroyed by means of mines the breastworks of the North Fort of East Kee-kwan-shan, charging immediately. A fierce fight with hand grenades followed. The resistance was so stubborn and the fire of the machine guns so severe that operations were suspended. General Samejima at 7 o'clock in the evening again assaulted, capturing the place shortly before midnight, and rendering the position secure before the morning. The Japanese captured five nine-centi-metre field guns, two machine guns, and a great quantity of ammunition. They found 50 dead Russians. The Japanese casualties were not heavy. General Stoessel was again wounded, but not seriously. Stoessel reports that 12,000 of the garrison (including sailors) are on half rations. Commander Mizzenon, who escaped from Port Arthur in a boat to Chifu, reports that on the evening of the 17th the Japanese repulsed repeated attacks on outposts at San-tao-qung-tzu, Timg-hai-tse-kon, and Hsing-tung-tun. Admiral BirilerT, writing to the Novoe Nremya, urges the cessation of the agitation for the despatch of a third squadron. -He describes the Baltic fleet as an "* normously strong one, and ;qual to t n c Japanese squadron. He ieclares th at Admiral Rozhdestvensky h as every chance of success, since Adm iral Togo's vessels and personnel have evidently suffered severely. Sixteen vessels of the Baltic fleet passed Cape Point on the 19th. Four colliers are awaiting them at Lorenzo Marquez. There are feverish preparations at Litrau for the despatch of a third squadron. "^JOnly indispensable repairs ire beii^g effected. ,«.