PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 134, 3 December 1904, Page 4

PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

The great importance attached to the possession of Fort 203, Metre Hill, still receives added proof this morning in a report that the Russians have alreadyattempted to recapture jt, but without success. The fort is to-day described as commanding Itzesian and Antszshan, besides the town a»d the eastern shores of the harbour, which will be fouad to be consistent with out description of yesterday,, though if it be that Santihian is identical with Fort 203, it would seem to be a very hot corner for the Japanese to hold oa to with the heavy guns of Antszshan, Itzeskan, and Sungshoo (pee ttlan of yesterday) turned on to it. The lastnamed will probably be the next to ££ « rt Tie Ja P an€se ara eMd to have had 15,000 men put out of action during these assaults in 2.4 hours, but obviously thfe computation must be largely guesswork. The number of guns reported to have been contained ih Fort 203 may bo a statement of fact, and if so it is convincing proof of both- the importance and extraordinary strength of the position. With bte attenuated garrison Stoessel can hardly hope to retake it, but he will certainly make it a hot place to hold. Oyama's report on the recent fighting on the Russian left flank in Manchuria claims that it ended in fovour of the Japanese, and the statement is entitled to credence. Could Stoessel but hold Port Arthur for the next tiiree months, the next battle on the Sha-ho might well prove ne inconclusive as the last, but if, as the Japanese aver, it will fall within three weeks, and Nogi with , his tried army be added to the field force of Manchuria, then the odds will be against the Russian. The St. Petersburg papers now confess that the reservists are deserting in hundreds and thousands, and no wonder, for weeks ago the Viennese journals confirmed the stories of discontent and suffering. One paper says:— "The reports from the Russian provinces which have been received in circles where authentic and Sober information concerning the condition of Russia is a matter of vital interest, concur in showing the state of feeling disclosed by the recent disturbances among Russian reservists to be more general and more intense than the European publif has yet understood. With dvery train-load of poor fellows , taken from their homes and sent as unwilling sheep to the slaughter for. to them, an incomprehensible cau3e, this feeling broadens and deepens until it has now well-nigh reached the point at which it is causing the gravest embarrassment , to the Russian military authorities." Both the discontent and distress may be expected to reach their climax during the severe months of winter. At latest accounts there was serious rioting amongst Workmen -at Odessa and other towns in Southern Russia.