The preliminary bombardment prior to the latest general assault of Port Arthur commenced on the 19th ult. and seems to have boon of a very severe character. On Wednesday, the 2nd November, the fall of Port Arthur was rumoured in Tokio, as in Yokohama, especially in shipping circles, but in th evening the rumour turned out to be entirely unfounded. For some weoksd in fact ever since Liaoyang, there ha, been a feeling of depression rather intensified by the news of the departure of the Baltic fleet. The moment was well chosen by the authorities to lift the veil over the operations round Port Arthur, by the issuance st 8 sories of official bulletins on Tueoday evening. Ther by the nows of the subst gress accomplished was lightened by optimistic editorials. Muny Tokio papers celebrated the Emperor's birthday by printing pictorial supplements—and literary articles appropriate to the season. Lllustrated journalism is " growing tendency in Tokio and now almost all the metropolitan papers daily publish art pictures and woodcuts. Returning to the operations of Port Arthur, the Japanese casualties there up to the Sist July were 4,023, and those of August (nainsly of the' first general attack) 14,839. The final capture of the strong-hoid will probably cost over 30,000 men.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.