PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 79, 30 September 1904, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

♦ Chief interests in tho war operations now centres at Port Arthur, where, according to the St. Petersburg correspondent of a Paris journal, tho Japancso fleet is co-operating with tho investing land forces in raining shells into tho pork and town. Tlmt tho besiegers have now captured many of the eiovabions near to and dominating tho place is proved by the statement that Uio defenders, Vho have hitherto been lighting mostly under cover, are now exposed to a plunging fire from mo surrounding heights, and that the camngo is horrible. The capture- of a largo number of blockade-runno'rs by Togo's ships indicates a general exodus of civilians from tlvo doomed 'city. Mining and couuter-miniiig is going on in front of tho defences, and the Japanese are mid to have lost heavily by the explosion of a Russian counter-mine, but the authority for tho report ia not given. Tokio newspapers aro getting impatient at the slow progress of the siege, and even go co far m to suggest that the Japanese General shall commit suicide. When it is remembered that tho first Japanese troops did not land on tho peninsula, till sth May, and that every fltep southward towards Port Arthur has only been taken at heavy coat after desperate fighting, outsido observers aro not likely to endorso tho views of the gentlemen who sit at home at eaao in Tokio. Compared with other memorable sieges, the time occupied in the reduction of the place cannot be considered excessive. As to General Nogi, one of his sons fell in battle early in. tho war, and his patriotism should n«ed no stimulating, bince ho has been in charge of affairs tho grip of tho investors has been constantly tightening, and reports both from without and within the fortress show that its fall must now be imminent. From Manchuria thero k nr» fresh news. Both skies appear to bo feeling the strain of the war. Japan has issued an internal loan of eight millions, and has extended tho term of service of reservkita from five years to ten ; while the now Russian Minister of Uio Interior is conciliating publio opinion by withdrawing kw predeceftwpr'e

prohibition of an orgawising movement among the village communities for tho relief of aick and wounded. But thero is no nign of any~di«po«it,ioii towards peace, or of a tendency to relax military efforts. On the contrary, the Russians are about to mobilise another enormous army under General Gripenberg, and the Japanese expreae themselves confident of being able to match or even surpass their adversary's mmt po-werful levies, both in number and equipment.