Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 133, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 December 1904 — WAR FOR THE WEEK. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WAR FOR THE WEEK.

LITTLE INFORMATION FROM THE FAR EAST. Great Port Arthur Fortress Remains Unconquered Sapping and Mining Now Taking Place of Direct Assaults —Stocssel Believed to Be in Distress. ~ The lack of Information from Japanese sources concerning conditions at Port Arthur is sufficient evidence that the great fortresses are still unconquerable, and that further sapping and mining by the besiegers has taken the place of direct assaults. There have been neither official nor semiofficial statements from Tokio, nor censored dispatches from General Nogi’s headquarters, which bring information down later than Nov. 7. At that time the Japanese were retaining the Iveekwan moat, but were suffering heavily from Russian fire. On the other hand, it is clear that if General Stoessel had had any success in driving the Japanese out of positions they won in attacks at the end of October we would have heard of it. The arrival of the Russian torpedo boat destroyer Rastoropny at Chefoo was the event of the week, bnt, whatever dispatches it may have brought, the authorities at St. Petersburg have not seen fit to make public any containing facts of later date than Nov. 2. The Rastoropny was sunk by the Russians themselves, and such a «acrifiee of a valuable vessel Justified the Inference that its mission had been one of the gravest importance. It was natural to think that General Stoessel was asking the Czar for permission to surrender. At St. Petersburg it Is insisted, however, that General Stoessel

reports that conditions are good, and that be will be able to hold out for months to come. Rumors, nevertheless, persist that he has informed the Czar that unless he can be supplied with food and ammunition the end of his power of resistance will soon come. The general has himself been wounded in the head, but not seriously enough to prevent his continuing to exercise the command. Artilery duels along the Shakhe River seem to be increasing in severity. The Russians attacked Oku on the west of the line early in tho week, and later Kuroki made an attack on the east. Neither attack was on a large scale. Winter weather has now set In, introducing entirely new conditions for fighting A Shanghai correspondent *aya a steamer which has arrived from Chefoo reports that three other Russian torpedo boat destroyers left Port Arthur with the Rastoropny, which was sunk by Its commander in Cbefoo harbor. The Japanese caught two of them, but the other escaped und has not been heard from since. An official report received at Tokio states that as a result of the success of the Japanese in blowing up Songsliusban fort the occupation of the “outer embankment” of Port Arthur became complete. Another official report says that a shell from a Japanese naval gun exploded a powder magazine on Saturday, near the arsenal nt Port Arthur. The words “outer embnnkmeut” In the first official report nre believed here to mean that the Japanese nt last have succeeded in capturing the chain of forts constituting the "fortified eastern ridge,” including the forts on Songshushan, Erlung and Keekwan mountains. It Is declared at St. Petersburg that there is every Indication that Field Marshal Oyama Is gradually developing a big movement with the object of occupying Mukden. Dysentery and typhoid fever have appeared at the fortress, and the deaths from these diseases average ten dally. It is stated also that the dissatisfaction among Geu. Stoesscl's subordinates la increasing. At the Russian emlwssy in Rome the belief is expressed that the Russian second Pacific squadron will go from Sues direct to Jibutil, as Mnssown ami Assnb, he ports of Evythrea, lack provisions, coal and dockyards; but, if necessary for urgent reasons, there is nothing to prevent them from landing there if they respect Italian end neutrality laws. Gov. Odell of New York, according to tit New York Times, has been offered the presidency of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company and will accept after retiring from office at Goverinr.

FORT BLOWN UP BY JAPS.