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Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 132, 1 December 1904, Page 5

STUBBORN FIGHTING AT PORT ARTHUR.

PROGRESS OF THE SIEGE. GUNS SWEEPING THE HARBOUR. CRIPPLED WARSHIPS THROWN INTO CONFUSION. ATTACKS ON RUSSIAN ENTRENCHMENTS. ♦ EXCESSIVE JAPANESE LOSSES. THE OPERATIONS IN MANCHURIA. [By Electric Telegraph— C op? bight — Press Association.]

(Received December 1, 7.41 a.m.) LONDON, 30th November. The Standard's Tokio correspondent states that an unofficial report has been received, stating that the Japanese had hauled up large calibre guns on top of the 203 Metre Hill, the fire from the guns sweeping the harbour, and throwing the greatly crippled warships into confusion. ATTACKS ON THE FORTS. FOUR THOUSAND JAPANESE KILLED. (Received December 1, 8.55 a.m.) LONDON, 30th November. Mr. Bennet Burleigh, the correspondent of the London Daily Telegraph, reports that the Japanese exploded mines under the north-east corner of the Russian main defences, near the Erlungshan forts, throwing a portion of the glacis into a great moat. The besiegers also assaulted another of the minor Keekwan forts. In a subsequent rush the struggle lasted about an hour. Four thousand Japanese were slain. DESPERATE FIGHTING DAILY. PREPARING TO RUSH A POSITION. EXPECTED FALL IN TWENTY DAYS. (Received December 1, 8.55 a.m.) LONDON, 30th November. The Japanese claim that they have captured two additional north-eastern forts and about one-third of the west at Keekwan, at the same time effecting a major lodgment at Pigeon Bay. This wj^ll have the effect of turning the Russian position on the 203 Metre Hill. The Japanese add that their troops are now tunnelling from the gorge below Liaotishan, which they hope to damage and then rush the place. Desperate fighting takes place daily. The besiegers' losses are admittedly excessive, but they insist that within twenty days fhe place must fall. GENERAL NOGf'S REPORT. THE FIGHTING AT METRE HDLL. TRENCHES RUSHED AGAIN AND AGAIN. i A SORTIE REPULSED. LONDON, 30th An official report has been received at Tokio from General Nogi ' regarding the attacks upon the Russian entrenchments around Sungshushan and the group of forts to the eastward. General Nogi says: — "Wn firmly occupied the top counterscarps and adjoining works. "The time to storm has not yet come. We are now destroying tho casements and other caponieres." The report adds: — "In the attack on 203 Metre Hill, several charges were made, which enabled us to capture shelter trenches ndar the summit. "We are holding the position gained, and endeavouring to capture the whole fort." Advices from Chefoo state that the positions occupied by the Japanese attacking Erlungshan and Keekwanshan are most promising. A detachment of the Eleventh Division, after several days' bombardment, advanced on the afternoon of 24th November (last Thursday). The trenches guarding the south-eastern Keekwanshiin forts were rushed again and again. The Japanese artillery poured fire against Erlungshan and xintszshau forts. Ihe possession of the trenches was stubbornly contested for five horn's. The Japanese were seyera' times repulsed, but they finally gained possession. Many of the assailants carried sandbags, behind which they entrenched themselves in the captured positions. A sortie from the fort was repulsed after two hours' fighting. The Tokio correspondent of the Daily Express says that General Nogi has stopped tho general assault. The sappers have resumed operations.

THE BALTIC FLEET. JAPANESE ANXIOUS. RUSSIAN DESTROYER DISABLED. LONDON, 30th November. The Japanese are beginning to watch for the Baltic Fleet with some concern. The Russian destroyer Prouzetelni was badly damaged in a gale, and had to be .dry-docked at Brest, the French naval station on the south-west coast. SAILORS AT SHANGHAI. DRUNKEN BRAWLS. LONDON, 30th November. The Daily Mail states that the Russian sailors interned at Shanghai are proving troublesome owing to the slackness of the regulations. Drunken brawls are frequent.