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Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 134, 3 December 1904, Page 5

THE FIGHTING AT PORT ARTHUR.

RJRTHiR FEARFUL SLAUGHTER. DESPERATE STRUGGLE AT METHE HILL. WHOLE COMPANIES MOWED DOWN. UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO RECAPTURE THE POSITION. CRITICISM OF JAPANESE ARMY METHODS. (By Electbio Telegraph— <Cof?bight — Pbess Association.]

LONDON, 2nd December. Particulars, now available regarding the capture of Fort 203, Metre Hill, by the besiegers of Port Arthur last Thursday show that the battle was of a most sanguinary nature. Mr. Bennet Burleigh telegraphs to the Daily Telegraph that the first division of stormers suffered heavily. Simultaneously, the ninth and eleventh divisions pf stormers. advanced and menaced the Erlmigshan and Keekwanshah forts. The Japanese casualties during twentyfour hours numbered fifteen thousand { ?). Fort 203 commands Etscshan, Ahtszshan, and Taiyangkow, besides the town and the easte/n portion of the harbour. The Daily Express states that terrific Russian fire during four successive charges mowed down the Japanese literally in companies. ■ After being reinforced, the besiegers made a fresh advance, the Russian fire perceptibly slackened, and finally the Japanese reached the trenches, clubbing and bayoneting the Russians, who bravely stood their ground. Fort 203 battery contained several 47 millimetre q.uickfirers and several 15 centimetre guns. The north-eastern, south-western, and central defences are built of earth and focks. The western- summit is very Strongly defended, armoured covers ericircling the approaches.