The result of the battle of Tashichiao, and of General Kuropatkin’s attempt to advance southward, was known about three days after the evacuation of Newchwang. At the time General Alexeiev was losing the battle of Ma-shan and General Kuropatkin’s army had to retreat on Liaoyang without attempting to hold the fortified position at Haicheng, General Stoessel decided to abandon the campaign in the Kwan-tung peninsula and withdraw all his forces into the fortress of Port Arthur. The Japanese investing force thereupon established a line of batteries across the peninsula on the north of the Sui-shi valley, from Hao-sui bay, south of the Dalny peninsula on the east, by way of Sui-shi-tung and Ho-shi-tung to Louisa Bay on the west. It was evident to General Stoessel that General Nogi would attempt to carry the fortress by a frontal attack, and that in all probability he would follow the same route as had been taken ten years before, when Marshal Oyama had captured the fortress from the Chinese. On that occasion General Nogi, who was now commanding the attack, had led the central division of General Yamaji’s force, which had forced its way into the line of forts by the gap through which the Dalny high road passes. As on that occasion, the central attack was made almost simultaneously with a flanking attack on the north-eastern side--more directly towards Golden Hill, and a simultaneous flanking attack from the north by the gap through which the railway now runs. Consequently the troops defending were most strongly disposed to resist attacks by those routes. Surely enough the Japanese attempted to repeat the success of 1894 by identical tactics; but before these could be commenced the Russian forces at the extremities of the line would have to be displaced, as otherwise they would attack the advancing column on both the flanks. The Russian eastern position was Takushan, where a stout resistance was made. This point was held by four guns and three thousand infantry. The Japanese shelled the position from upwards of 3,000 yards with siege guns, and later with four howitzer batteries. On August 9 the defending force abandoned the position after inflicting severe losses on the Japanese. Casualties: Japanese, 1,400 men out of action; Russians, 900. The Russians were next called upon to defend the heights commanding Louisa Bay, and abandoned the hills on the south-east after several engagements spread over some days. On August 17 General Stoessel received a demand from Major Yamoka asking for the surrender of the fortress. The demand was refused.