THE WAR.

Manawatu Herald, 8 November 1904, Page 2

THE WAR.

DESCRIPTION OP THE SIEGE OP PORT ARTHUR. The Japanese Consul at Sydney has received a report from the Foreign Office showing that Port Arthur has been under fire since the middle of October. The report says:— - “On October 25tb the town was on fire. “ On the 29th the naval guns sunk a two-funnelled steamer. “On the 29th they bombarded forts Shoojushan, Niriushan, East Kelkanshan and the northern forts with heavy guns. The naval guns made 250 hits and, it has been ascertained} as a..result, the Niriu shan forts ‘ have been greatly damaged, while, at Shoojushan foris, one fifteen centimetre cannon was dis mantled and another cannon suffered great damage. At the northern forts, east of Keikanshan, one cannon was destroyed. On the same day part of the right column marohed to the trenches on Shoojushan and part of the central column charged against the trenches at Niriushan and in the .spnthern part of Sachingakishan. ■ Both attacks were successful and the positions were captured at a slight loss to us., , “ On the 28th 285 shells from the big guns hit,their marks also, the shells from the naval guns were Very effective. As a result the ammunition warehouse at the north of ithe fort was exploded. “ There were great losses in the various forts. The fortresses in the old city of Port Arthur were set on fire. “ The enemy made a counter attack on the 20th against our army in the Niriushan, but were repulsed with heavy loss. At the same ‘ time another party of the enemy made a vigorous attack 'upon Shoojushan. Our guards were compelled to give ,up that .part of the. hill, but afterwards, with the assistance of the artillery, succeeded in recapturing it. “The effect of the bombardment upon, the’town was most satisfactory. Three hundred and fifty shells from the big guns we?e fired'With absolute The naval guns exploded the ammunition warehouse west of Taiyoko and did great damage to three clearing ships, two of which were set on fire.” JAPS GOING TO FLOGD RUSSIAN TRENCHES. Mr Bennett Burleigh says the Russians hold the forts at Liaoti ahan, beyond Golden Hill. The Japanese are preparing to flood the Russian entrenchments with sea water, and are undermining the trenches with a view to dynamiting important positions. ~ - It is reported that all war ships, except the Pobieda, have been stink. The Sevastopol and Perisviet’s decks are two feet under water. The Retvizan has been burnt.