WAR IN THE ORIENT

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Jan 4, 1905

WAR IN THE ORIENT.

ON December 23 the Japanese forces besieging Port Arthur stormed and carried the heights east of Houyangshukou. This marks the capture by them of another important position in the Port Arthur defenses. A considerable number of prisoners were taken, and these report that two Russian generals were killed in the battle, and another was wounded. The battle-ship Savastapol, which sought to escape the shells of the Japanese siege guns by going into the outer harbor, was attacked by Japanese torpedo boats, and now lies partially under water on the beach. While a detachment of the Japanese fleet is scouting in the direction from which the Russian fleet is expected to approach, the remainder of the fleet stands ready for a sudden dash to any locality where the Baltic fleet may be discovered.

In Manchuria the two great armies continue to face each other, with only slight skirmishes reported. The soldiers on both sides are living in dugouts, and there seems no present prospect of a collision of any consequence.

Russia has floated another loan to pay war expenses, and the work of mobilizing the war reserves goes on. Many of these thousands that are now going to Kuropatkin's assistance are utterly unskilled in the work of war. Pitiable scenes are reported taking place in the Polish provinces, where the men are being sent away to the war, leaving families in the most destitute circumstances. All Russia's plans now contemplate a long war.