Evening Journal

SLIGHT GAIN BY THE JAPS
Desperate Fighting Continues at Port Arthur.

STOESSEL'S POSITION WEAKENED

Besieging Army Bending Every Effort to Gain Coveted Fortress In Spite of Staggering Losses, the Result of Repeated Assaults.

Shanhaikwan, Aug. 23. - Furious fighting on the plains between Louisa and Pigeon bays and the western end of the Russian fortifications at Port Arthur is reported by vessels arriving here. Chinese and foreign refugees from the fortress say the Japanese early Sunday morning concentrated their heaviest fire on the Russian line northwest and west of the new town and that after several hours of bombardment a distinct advance was made by General Nogi's troops.

At the same time the attack on General Stoessel's center and right was increased, the effect being an engagement of the whole garrison. The Japanese infantry were held in check until long after daybreak by the Russian fire, which was better directed than at any other time in the past week, but they gained ground early in the forenoon and before the middle of the afternoon held an appreciable advantage.

General Stoessel's troops were discouraged when the last of the refugees left Port Arthur, and the uneasiness of the noncombatants compelled to remain inside the lines now and then approached panic.

The Japanese are reported closer to the inner fortifications at all points than before. Although their gains of ground in many places are slight, the simultaneous advance all along the line has apparently encouraged the besieging army to fresh activity.

It is believed the opposing forces now are engaged in the struggle that will end only with the fall of the fortress. General Stoessel's position has grown weaker almost daily, and it remains only for the besiegers to break the inner line at two or three commanding points to force the Russian commander to surrender.

A DESPERATE STRUGGLE.

Japanese Have Made Repeated Assaults on Fortress, With Great Loss.

Liaoyang, Aug. 23. - The following by a Russian correspondent gives some idea of the terrible fighting before Port Arthur:

"With each additional report from Port Arthur wonder increases both at the persistence of the Japanese attack and the heroic stubbornness of the defenders of the fortress. The Japanese are literally throwing away thousands of lives in the hope of shaking the courage of the Russian troops.

"Major General Fock says he is confident the fortress cannot be taken, but that if it is taken the whole Japanese army will have to immolate itself on the slopes of the fortifications.

"There were five desperate assaults on Green hills on July 26, the Japanese returning each time with apparently inexhaustible re-enforcements. On the final assault, however, the Japanese broke badly, throwing away their guns, cartridge belts and even their boots to facilitate their flight, and leaving 7,000 dead or wounded.

"Our surgeons worked heroically, impartially aiding Japanese and Russians. The Japanese were so touched that they tearfully thanked the Russian surgeons.

"The assault on Green hills was repeated on July 27, and there were frequent hand to hand encounters, the Russians leaving the trenches to follow their enemies.

"The assaults of July 28 and 29 on the Wolf hills were not followed up, the Japanese being too severely shaken. We evacuated the Wolf hills chiefly for strategic reasons, as the hills made the line of defenses too long to effectually withstand the furious attacks of the Japanese.

"The assault of July 30 was made in the dark of night in the hope of surprising the Russians. Sixty thousand men were hurled against our 13,000, but we drove them back again and again at the point of the bayonet. It was another Shipka pass.

"The Japanese poured in fresh battalions, and the slopes, covered with the dead and dying, literally ran with blood.

"Our Thirteenth regiment was forced from its position, but the Fourteenth regiment came up and with the bayonet again dislodged the victors.

"As near as can be ascertained this assault cost the Japanese 10,000.

"The Japanese losses since the siege began have been 25,000 men. The explosion of one mine wiped out 500. This was an awful sight. A volcano of stones dismembered the bodies of the soldiers, while the sky was lit up with a purple glare, and the mud walls of the Chinese village were thrown down by the shock. After this fight General Stoessel collected 20,000 Japanese rifles.

"The Japanese installed twenty siege guns on the Wolf hills on Aug 8. Four of these are twelve inch guns.

"The Japanese fire an average of 500 shells daily, and they keep up their fire both day and night."